By Dennis Box-The Courier-Herald

Talks between the various parties pursuing Lake Tapps and the reservoirs' drinking water rights have taken a couple of interesting turns recently.

The mayors from the three surrounding cities, Bonney Lake, Auburn and Sumner, made a purchase offer of $33 million to Puget Sound Energy but were turned down by the utility company, owner of the lake.

PSE pointed to an exclusive negotiating agreement with Cascade Water Alliance, an eastside water alliance. Cascade had offered 37 million, giving a $10 million down payment with the remaining $27 million to be paid after the drinking water rights clear legal appeals.

Following the cities' offer, Cascade met with the Lake Tapps Community Council and Oct. 23 met with the mayors and Rep Chris Hurst, D-Greenwater, at the Tukwila Community Center.

Mayor Pete Lewis of Auburn described the meeting as &#8220pretty disappointing.”

Lewis said the mayors had requested to meet with elected officials from the cities that are members of the Cascade Water Alliance, but only Mike Gagliardo, general manager for Cascade and Grant Degginger, chairman of the alliance, showed up.

&#8220Grant said he was the only one allowed to talk to us,” Lewis said. &#8220He asked us if there was any part of the agreement memorandum (with PSE) that we didn't understand.”

Apparently, the officials had emergencies taking place and could not attend.

A letter was sent to Degginger, signed by the three mayors Oct. 26, that said:

&#8220Please do extend our warmest regards to all of the elected officials from the CWA cities who had emergencies take place and were unable to attend the meeting.”

The letter stated the cities would like to meet with elected officials of the alliance &#8220as was originally planned. Therefore, at this point in time, it is our understanding that it would provide no value to either group to meet again.”

Gagliardo said Cascade is still on schedule with PSE to close the purchase agreement.

&#8220We expect it to be completed by the year's end or January,” Gagliardo said. &#8220We are moving forward in the discussions with the tribes (Muckleshoot and Puyallup).”

Dennis Box can be reached at dbox@courierherald.com.