BOARD OF
SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Meeting
for Week of January 24, 2005
The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Monday,
January 24, 2005 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in
Stevenson, with Commissioners Albert E. McKee, Paul Pearce and James D.
Richardson present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mary Repar, advised of volunteering as the City of
Stevenson’s representative for Skamania County Health Advisory Board, and
inquired about the proposed transfer of the Wind River Nursery property to the
Public Development Authority.
Brent Holman, Public Works Director/County Engineer,
advised of a Federal Highway Engineers open house to present the Wind River
Road rebuild project from Paradise Campground to Old Man Pass, completion of a
salary survey for Washington Association of County Engineers, continued ice
storm clean up, and snow accumulation.
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 approve the Consent Agenda, as follows:
1.
Minutes
of January 17, 2005.
2.
Special
occasion liquor license for American Legion Cape Horn Post #122.
3.
Contract
with Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency for funding to develop a mass
clinic implementation plan for the County Health Plan.
Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve a request submitted from Ole Helgerson, WSU Extension Agent, for Title III support for the 2006 WSU National Fire Plan proposal.
Marilyn Butler, Director of Administrative Services, gave an update on the proposed conveyance of the Wind River Nursery (WRN) property to the Public Development Authority (PDA). Mary Repar requested the Board to exercise more oversight of the PDA’s use of the money received from the harvest of timber at the WRN site.
The meeting recessed at 11:15 a.m. Monday, January
24, 2005 and reconvened at 11:30 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners McKee,
Pearce and Richardson present.
A public hearing was held, continued from January 10, 2005, for deliberations for a variance request from Walter Wagner to the applied conditions to the Deer Meadow Retreat Short Plat to upgrade Griffing Road (private) to comply with Skamania County Private Road Standards. The hearing was closed to public comment on January 10, 2005. Rich Lang, County Surveyor, gave an overview of the variance request and advised that a site visit determined that most of the road is outside of the 60 foot road easement. Board discussion included the location of the existing road, the need for property owners to resolve the issue of the location of the road, and agreed that the 20’ required easement could be met. Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to deny the variance based on the finding that the request did not meet any of the requirements for granting a variance pursuant to Skamania County Code 12.03.100(A).
The meeting recessed at 11:45 a.m. Monday, January
24, 2005 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners McKee,
Pearce and Richardson present.
Representatives from Stabler Community Council met
with the Board to discuss possible options to stop the process proposed by the
Forest Service to remove Hemlock Dam on Trout Creek which forms Hemlock
Lake. Ann Lueders, President and Walt
Loehrke of Stabler Community Council gave a history of the dam, advised of
concerns from the Council and community, which included the loss of a social,
cultural and recreational area if the Dam is removed, and requested support
from the County in contacting congressional leaders. Discussion included costs to maintain the dam, fish issues, silt
buildup, possible partnership with the Forest Service, and the need to act
before the Forest Service publishes the final Environmental Impact
Statement. The Board advised they would
address this issue at upcoming meetings with legislators and the Forest
Service. Walt Loehrke advised that
Stabler Community Council would move forward to set meetings with congressional
leaders.
The meeting recessed at 2:55 p.m. Monday, January
24, 2005 and reconvened at 3:05 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners McKee,
Pearce and Richardson present.
The Board met in executive session from 3:05 p.m.
until 3:30 p.m. regarding personnel, with no action taken.
The meeting recessed at 3:30 p.m. Monday, January
24, 2005 and reconvened at 9:10 a.m. Tuesday, January 26, 2005, with
Commissioners Pearce and Richardson present.
The
Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss scheduling, upcoming
meetings, personnel, and review current projects, with no action taken.
Commissioner
Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to approve
vouchers for the periods ending December 31, 2004 in the amount of $521,890.50
and January 24, 2005 in the amount of $62,044.22.
John
Carlson, Emergency Management Coordinator, gave updates on Mount St. Helens,
recent ice storm, Community Emergency Response Teams classes, and an upcoming
bioterrorism exercise.
Commissioner
Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve
a request from the Auditor for continuation of a part-time employee through
December 31, 2005 to be paid from the Auditor’s O&M Fund to help with
document preservation.
The meeting recessed at 10:35 a.m. Tuesday, January
25, 2005 and reconvened at 11:00 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce
and Richardson present.
The Board met in executive session from 11:00
a.m. until 11:45 a.m. regarding litigation, with no action taken.
The meeting recessed at 11:45 a.m. Tuesday, January
25, 2005 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce
and Richardson present.
Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner
Richardson and motion carried to approve a voucher to Bud Clary Chevrolet for
the purchase of a Chevrolet Suburban jail transport vehicle.
The
Board participated in a staff workshop with Public Works to review department
services and goals, with no action taken.
Tony
Estey, Buildings and Grounds Director, advised of the amount of debris
stockpiled at the Rock Creek site from the recent ice storm and discussed
options for disposal of the debris.
The
meeting recessed at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, January 25, 2005 reconvened at 10:00
a.m. Thursday, January 27, 2005, with Commissioners Pearce and Richardson
present.
Sealed
bids were opened for supply and delivery of crushed aggregate. Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by
Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to refer the following bids to Public
Works for review and recommendation.
James Dean Construction, Inc., Glenwood, WA Mid-Columbia
Asphalt Co, The Dalles, OR
District No. 1 $119,200 District
No. 1 $102,075
District No. 2 $ 92,000 District
No. 2 $ 85,875
District No. 3 $ 42,000 District
No. 3 $ 35,850
Total including sales tax
$270,924 Total
including sales tax $242,676
Bid
award for one 10-12 yard dump truck was tabled until Tuesday, February 1, 2005.
Dan
Wallenmeyer, Noxious Weed Coordinator, presented a draft 2004 Year End Report
and gave updates on noxious weed control.
Nicole Rohan-Hallatz, Weed Control Title II Coordinator, advised of
applying for grants for noxious weed control.
The
meeting adjourned at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 27, 2005.
BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS
SKAMANIA
COUNTY, WASHINGTON