BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

MEETING for WEEK of November 17, 2003

The Board met in executive session regarding litigation from 9:00 a.m. until 9:50 a.m., with no action taken.

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Monday, November 17, 2003, with all Commissioners present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance.

A Proclamation was approved recognizing the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout Day on November 20, 2003.

Brent Holman, Public Works Director/County Engineer, gave an update on data collection for the in-water fill material portion of the Drano Lake Project, advised of an upcoming training for contract documentation and administration, and upcoming meetings regarding various projects. He gave a report on a drainage problem at Mt. Pleasant Grange and presented recommendations to correct the problem. Following discussion, motion was approved to grade the property to allow runoff to drain into the natural swale on the east side of the property in order to preserve the historical nature of the building, which is used to benefit the public. The Public Works Director was directed to draft a written agreement to be signed by the property owners prior to commencement of grading.

Consent Agenda Items were approved as follows:

A. Minutes of November 10, 2003.

B. Washington State Liquor Control Board, liquor license renewal for Wind River Market.

C. Acknowledge Notice of Completion of Public Works Contract for K.W. Peterson Co., Inc. for supply and delivery of crushed aggregate.

D. Denial of Claim for Damages submitted by Brent Holman.

E. Denial of Claim for Damages submitted by Chuck Byran

A contract was approved with Tapani Underground, Inc. for the Drano Lake Improvement Project.

A contract was approved with the U.S. Forest Service Gifford Pinchot National Forest to provide funding for law enforcement services for the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

A contract was approved with Qwest, Inc. for installation of hardware/software to provide for a public safety emergency communications systems.

A contract was approved with Klickitat-Skamania Development Council to provide protective payee services for ADATSA patient’s living stipends.

Contract amendment #1 was approved with North Country Emergency Medical Services, extending the term to include October, November and December 2003 for providing emergency medical services during the winter recreational months.

An application to the Department of Ecology was approved for a change/transfer of water rights for the Wind River Nursery property from the U.S. Forest Service to Skamania County.

Motion was approved to ratify the action of November 13, 2003 requesting an extension and amendment to the USDA Forest Service Rural Community Assistance Program Grant for Wind River Nursery Project and designation of signing authority.

Alice Meyers, Skamania County Forest Youth Success Coordinator, presented a report of program accomplishments and a video of the Forest Youth Success Program.

Ole Helgerson, WSU Cooperative Extension Agent, reported on 4-H activities and programs, forestry management, and gardening and pest management issues.

Andrew Lembrick, Wildfire Director for the Title III Firewise Program, gave an update on program activities, projects and workshops.

An authorization was approved for the purchase of a designjet plotter for Title III Firewise Project, with Commissioners Talent and McKee voting aye. Commissioner Quinn voted nay, citing that approval should have been obtained prior to the purchase.

Motion was approved to accept the Personnel Committee’s recommendations of approval for amendments to Chapters 1, 9 and 12 of the Personnel Policy.

Resolution 2003-46 was approved, amending Chapters 1, 9 and 12 of Skamania County Personnel Policy as follows: Chapter 1 – amending the definition of suspension; Chapter 9 – amending Section 9.2(B)(3), adding new Subsection 9.5.3, and adding new Subsection 9.6.3; and Chapter 12 – amending Sections 12.6.2(C) and 12.8.4(B).

A joint Resolution 2003-48 with Clark, Klickitat and Skamania Counties was approved, appointing Karen Peterson as trustee to Fort Vancouver Regional Library to Position No. 1 as Clark County designee.

The meeting recessed at 12:15 p.m. Monday, November 17, 2003 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. the same date, with all Commissioners present.

A public hearing was held to consider vacating a portion of St. Martin’s Springs Road between milepost 0.24 and milepost 0.34 (end). Rich Lang, County Surveyor, presented the Engineer’s Report and recommended vacation of the road between milepost 0.24 and 0.34 (end). Following discussion with representatives from Carson Hot Springs Resort regarding the need for a parking and for a new alignment of the road, motion was approved to vacate a portion of St. Martin’s Springs Road between milepost 0.24 and milepost 0.34 (end), and direct the County Engineer to proceed with a resolution of vacation, with the understanding that Carson Hot Springs Resort will construct a new road, at their expense, according to County Road Standards and dedicate the new road to the County as county road right-of-way.

A request from the Buildings and Grounds Director was approved to reinstate a total of 20.32 annual leave hours lost during the months of May, June and July 2003 for the Director because of staffing shortages due to illness and medical leave

The Board met with the Buildings and Grounds Director, representatives from the Fair Board, and the Fair Grounds Maintenance Supervisor and discussed the duties of the Fair Grounds Maintenance Supervisor.

The meeting recessed at 3:00 p.m. Monday, November 17, 2003 and reconvened at 3:20 p.m. the same date, with all Commissioners present.

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss the budget, with no action taken.

The meeting recessed at 4:15 p.m. Monday, November 17, 2003 and reconvened at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, November 20, 2003, with Commissioners Talent and McKee present. Commissioner Quinn was attending a Water Resource Inventory Area 28 & 29 meeting in Longview, WA.

Vouchers for the period ending November 20, 2003 were approved in the amount of $191,644.39.

The meeting recessed at 10:10 a.m. Thursday, November 20, 2003 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Talent and McKee present.

Brent Holman, Public Works Director/County Engineer presented a proposed draft resolution for consideration, increasing the authorization for the Public Works Director/County Engineer to make change orders to public works construction projects from the current amount of $5,000 to $25,000 or 10% of the total project cost, whichever is greater, without approval by the Board of Commissioners. A letter was acknowledged from the Auditor regarding suggested modifications to the draft resolution. Following discussion, motion was approved to amend Resolution 2002-02, adopting the Department of Transportation and the American Public Works specifications for road and bridge construction, changing “2002 edition” to “current edition” in paragraphs #1 and #3 and to approve Resolution 2003-52, setting limits to approve design changes and change orders to public works construction projects up to a cumulative total of $25,000 or 10% of the awarded project cost, whichever is greater, per project, without approval by the Board of Commissioners.

Larry Douglass, County Road Superintendent, discussed concerns with vandalism to equipment and vehicles parked at the Fair Grounds parking lot during construction season and asked the Board to consider allowing this area to be fenced. No action was taken as a result of this discussion.

Following adjournment, the Board made a site visit to District #3 Shop in Underwood to discuss possible community uses.

The meeting adjourned at 2:15 p.m. Thursday, November 20, 2003.

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON