BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of June 27, 2005

 

The Board met in executive session, with Commissioners Albert E. McKee, Chair, Paul Pearce and James D. Richardson present, from 9:10 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. regarding litigation, with no action taken.

 

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Monday, June 27, 2005 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners Albert E. McKee, Chair, Paul Pearce and James D. Richardson present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve the Consent Agenda as follows:

1.       Minutes of June 20, 2005.

2.       Notice of Completion of Contract for Mid-Columbia Asphalt for supply & delivery of crushed aggregate.

3.       Acknowledge Governor’s appointment of John Crumpacker to Boundary Review Board.

4.       Resolution 2005-24, updating the 2005 Work Plan for the Community Strategic Plan.

5.       Resolution 2005-25, amending Resolution 1998-05 establishing a Courthouse facilitator & setting fees for Pro Se Litigants by increasing surcharge & including reference to amended statute.

6.       Interagency Agreement with Dept of Natural Resources to provide funding for law enforcement patrol of the Dougan Falls Recreational Safety Corridor on selected weekends & holidays.

7.       Contract with Military Dept Emergency Management Division to provide supplemental funding to enhance local emergency management program.

8.       Interagency Agreement with Dept of Ecology to provide funding for community litter cleanup activities using work crew inmates.

9.       Contract with Systems Products Company to provide high-density storage system in Sheriff’s existing evidence storage room.

10.    Contract amendment #2 with Sound Resolutions to extend the term to complete the scopes of work for Water Resource Inventory Area 29 Phase 3 planning.

11.    Lease Agreement with Gretchen Kempton for rental of Underwood Park house.

 

John Carlson, Emergency Management Coordinator, gave an update on Mount St. Helens activity, search and rescue missions, Amtrak derailment review meeting, Community Emergency Response Teams training activities, National Incident Management System compliance requirements, bioterrorism and radiological exercises, nationwide ham radio field day, and reported on upcoming Emergency Operations Center Region IV funded exercises.

 

Rick Jessel, Counseling Center Director, reported on programs for mental health, substance abuse, and developmental disabilities.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to declare four positions in the Sheriff’s Department as market positions due to the level of responsibility and authority that exceeds that of the non-administrative personnel they supervise and assign salary ranges as follows:

§         Undersheriff           Two ranges above Chief Criminal Deputy

§         Chief Criminal Deputy      Two salary ranges above the Patrol Sergeant (per Labor Contract)

§         Jail Superintendent        Same range as Chief Criminal Deputy

§         Chief Civil Deputy             One range below Chief Criminal Deputy

 


Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to approve the following contracts:

§         Agreement with the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) on the general terms and conditions that govern work to be performed under any program agreement between DSHS and the County and a letter to DSHS from the County conditioning the interpretations and understandings of certain language in said agreement.

§         Agreement with Human Services Council to provide funding for in-home personal care services for elderly and disabled citizens as authorized by DSHS and Aging Case Managers.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:40 a.m. Monday, June 27, 2005 and reconvened at 11:00 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners McKee, Pearce and Richardson present.

 

A public hearing was held to consider repealing the resolution that adopted the West End Community Comprehensive Subarea Plan and associated Plan maps and ordinances that repealed the moratorium on acceptance of rezone applications, adopted the West End Interim Zoning, and extended the moratorium for parcels located within the West End.  Prosecutor Peter Banks gave a summary of a lawsuit filed by eleven West End citizens appealing the designation of 95 acres of Neighborhood Commercial in the Five Corners area, included in the adoption of the West End Community Comprehensive Subarea Plan and associated Plan maps, advised of reviewing the complete record, recommended that the appropriate action would be for the County to withdraw past actions adopting the West End Community Comprehensive Subarea Plan and Plan maps, and revisit the issue at a later date.  Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director advised that due to other time sensitive actions happening in the Planning Department, this issue would not be revisited until 2007.  Comments received from the public included requests to keep the current Plan, rescind the 95 acres of designated Neighborhood Commercial, and need to move forward with the Plan before 2007.  Letters were presented from R. Robert Burns, Keith Brown, Teresa Robbins, Cyndi Soliz and Paul Smith, Jim Hutchison, and Dennis Gogolski.  Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve Resolution 2005-20 repealing Resolution 2004-42 that adopted the West End Community Comprehensive Subarea Plan and Associated Plan Maps and authorize Planning and Community Development to revisit the issue of a West End Community Comprehensive Subarea Plan no later than 2007.  Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve Ordinance 2005-08 repealing Ordinance 2004-05 that repealed the Moratorium on the acceptance of rezone applications for parcels located within the West End and that adopted Skamania County Code Chapter 21.67 entitled West End Interim Zoning.  Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve Ordinance 2005-09 repealing Ordinance Nos. 2002-06, 2002-18, 2003-03, 2003-12, 2004-02 and 2004-04 that extended the moratorium on the acceptance of rezone applications for parcels located within the West End.

 

The meeting recessed at 12:25 p.m. Monday, June 27, 2005 and reconvened at 1:40 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners McKee, Pearce and Richardson present.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve a termination of purchase and sale agreement with John Crumpacker, dba Life-Kind, LLC for property owned by the County located on Rock Creek Drive.

 

Proposed Title III Projects for 2006 were presented by the applicants as follows:

 

Skamania County Forest Work Crew, sponsored by Skamania County Sheriff’s Department.  To reimburse Skamania County Sheriff Department for the supervision of in-custody inmates who perform a variety of projects to promote and enhance the ecosystem of federal forests in and around Skamania County.    The funds requested are to provide supervision of six Work Crew men for 10 hours a day for 52 weeks.  Total project cost - $129,653.00.

Skamania County Sheriff’s Emergency Services, sponsored by Skamania County Sheriff’s Department.  To enhance and improve the level of search and rescue services in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and Columbia River Gorge NSA, as well as reduce and improve response times to all types of emergency calls.    The funds requested are to maintain one full time Road Deputy Sergeant position and one-quarter-time Road Deputy wage and overtime.   Total project cost - $130,783.00.

North Country EMS St. Helen’s Project, sponsored by North Country Emergency Medical Services.  To continue to provide emergency medical services to visitors, recreationalist, residents, and employees of the northwest area of Skamania County including Mt. St. Helen’s National Volcanic Monument located in Skamania County.  This project requests funding for personnel to staff an ambulance and rescue vehicle for the months of June (weekends only), July, August, and September.  Total project cost - $35,000.00.

Skamania County Forest Youth Success, sponsored by Stevenson-Carson School District and WSU Cooperative Extension.  To continue to provide summer employment for high school age youth to conduct projects on the national forest, to teach forest ecology and management, and to conduct an after-school program for younger students that teaches forest ecology and management, as well as life skills.  The program request for 2006 includes continued funding for a program director, assistant coordinator, eight crew leaders, the employment of up to 48 youth, and operating supplies and services.  Total project cost – $235,354.00.

Skamania County Forest Explorers, sponsored by ESD 112 and WSU Cooperative Extension.  A multi-year program designed to develop and implement an after school forest ecology education program for 4th through 8th grade students attending the following schools: Cape Horn-Skye, Canyon Creek, Skamania, Mill A, and Mt. Pleasant; and a 5 day/4 night residential summer camp at USFS Camp Adams for students ages 10 to 15.  Total project cost - $55,679.00.

Skamania County Firewise Planning for Woodland Dwellers, sponsored by WSU Cooperative Extension.  Project plan is to complete GIS analyses, conduct survey planning and field surveys, continue to provide firewise education, and provide wildfire risk analysis.  The request includes salary and benefits for a full time wildfire coordinator and four part-time surveyors, office services (photocopying and mailing), travel, training and Central Services consulting to facilitate data gathering and management.  Total project cost - $172,116.00.

Wildfire Evacuation Congregate Care Planning & Response, sponsored by Oregon Mountain River Chapter – American Red Cross.  To improve the ability of the Oregon Mountain River Chapter to prepare and respond to a wildfire evacuation of Skamania County citizens; enhance volunteer recruitment, management and training; maintain equipment and supplies; and provide communications with local agencies responding to a wildfire.  Total project cost - $10,000.00.  Note: This application will be amended to include providing support operations to search and rescue missions in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to set a public meeting for 11:00 a.m. Monday, August 29, 2005 to receive public comment on Title III proposals for 2006 and consider final approval of projects.

 

Marilyn Butler, Director of Administrative Services advised of the need for six additional new phones at the Emergency Operations Center, at a cost of approximately $1,500.00, that needs to be included in the installation of the new phone system.  The need for additional phones was identified as a significant problem during the recent Amtrak derailment.

 

The Board advised they would be participating in an all-day tour of the Northwoods area with Public Works on Tuesday, June 28, 2005.

 

The meeting recessed at 3:50 p.m. Monday, June 27, 2005 and reconvened at 10:05 a.m. Thursday, June 30, 2005, with Commissioners McKee and Richardson present.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner McKee and motion carried to approve vouchers for the period ending June 30, 2005 in the amount of $368,564.44.

 

Sharon Tiffany, Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center Director, reported on exhibits, events, marketing and fund raising, and administration activities.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner McKee and motion carried to acknowledge receipt of the Order Granting Summary Judgment to the Department of Natural Resources and Skamania County and dismissing the action challenging the approval of a forest practices application issued by the Department of Natural Resources for timber harvest at the Wind River site.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 30, 2005 and reconvened at 2:10 p.m. the same date with Commissioners McKee, Pearce and Richardson present.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to approve the Skamania County Law Enforcement Guild Collective Bargaining Agreement for 2005-2007.

 

The meeting adjourned at 2:15 p.m. Thursday, June 30, 2005.

 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON