BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of November 7, 2005

 

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Monday, November 7, 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 Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to approve the Consent Agenda as follows:

1.       Minutes for week of October 31, 2005.

2.       Acknowledge receipt of an email letter from Shawna Pham regarding Animal Control Officer.

3.       Letter to Governor Christine Gregoire requesting assistance in reclaiming lost funding for completion of instream flow data collection for Planning Units with adopted watershed plans for Western Water Resource Inventory Area 29.

4.       Notice of Completion of contract for Ever-Green Tree Care, Inc. for removal of hazardous limbs/trees at County facilities & parks.

5.       Authorization to Central Services to purchase replacement computers for various departments.

6.       Set public hearing for 10:00 AM Thursday, December 1, 2005 to receive public comment on community needs for low-income residents in Klickitat & Skamania Counties and the use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Public Service funds for 2006.

7.       Equal Employment Opportunity Information for Local Governments for compliance requirements for 2005 Community Development Block Grant Public Service funds.

8.       Contract with Zakula Beal Auctioneers for sale of ER&R surplus equipment (1989 Chevy 4x4 pickup).

9.       Contract with Slayden Construction group granting permission to deposit material at County’s North Bonneville stockpile site.

10.    Contract amendment #2 with Creagan Excavating, Inc. for snowplowing FS 90 Road to access residents during the 2005-2006 winter season.

11.    Agreement with WA ST Parks & Recreation Commission to provide funding for snow plowing at Wind River area & Lone Butte Sno-Parks.

12.    Memorandum of Understanding between Skamania County Sheriff and Skamania County Juvenile Dept to provide a Juvenile Dept employee to assist with STOP grant duties 12-15 hours per month from 11/1/05 to 9/30/05.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried unanimously to approve Resolution 2005-52 joint with Clark, Klickitat and Skamania Counties appointing William F. Yee to Position #3 as Skamania County’s designee to serve as trustee of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library.

 

Tony Estey, Buildings and Grounds Director reported on maintenance and repairs at various facilities and grounds.

 

Terry Blaisdell, Central Services Director reported on personnel, email traffic, computer replacements and new equipment purchases for various departments, and gave updates on various projects and programs.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:25 a.m. Monday, November 7, 2005 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce and Richardson present.

 

A public hearing was held to consider Ordinance 2005-07 revising Skamania County Code Title 22 Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area (NSA) to bring the text into compliance and consistency with the National Scenic Area Management Plan, revised by the Columbia River Gorge Commission (CRGC) and Forest Service in 2004; Ordinance 2005-10 map amendment for parcel number 01-05-03-3-0-1000-00 from undesignated to Special Management Area (SMA) Forest; and Ordinance 2005-11 map amendment for parcel number 03-09-32-3-0-0200-00 from SMA Open Space to SMA Forest, both included by the Forest Service in the revised Management Plan.  Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to acknowledge receipt of comment letters from the CRGC and Forest Service.  Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director presented a summary of written comments from the CRGC and Forest Service, submitted prior to the hearing, changes to Section 22.20.020 Development Review for Water Resource Zone Protection, and the NSA review process.  Present for discussion were CRGC representative Jennifer Kaden, Forest Service representative Virginia Kelly, and two members from the public.  Discussion included clarification of language in various sections of the proposed ordinance, concern from the CRGC and Forest Service regarding agency response time limits for submitting comments, and the need to elaborate on what constitutes a response.  Suggestion was made to add language to the effect that communication with the Administrator would be considered a response, including requests for additional review time.  The hearing was closed to public comment.  Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve Resolution 2005-07 revising Skamania County Code Title 22 Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area with changes, as submitted from the Planning Department based on comments from the CRGC and Forest Service, to include similar language as suggested regarding agency response, and to include changes recommended from the Planning Department for Development Review for Water Resource Zone Protection; Resolution 2005-10 map amendment for parcel number 01-05-03-3-0-1000-00 from undesignated to Special Management Area (SMA) Forest; and Ordinance 2005-11 map amendment for parcel number 03-09-32-3-0-0200-00 from SMA Open Space to SMA Forest, included by the Forest Service in the revised Management Plan.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to authorize the Chair to sign a letter to the Columbia River Gorge Commission supporting the Gorge-Wide Management Plan amendment for historical buildings.

 

The meeting recessed at 2:35 p.m. Monday, November 7, 2005 and reconvened at 2:40 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners McKee, Pearce and Richardson present.

 

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

 

The meeting recessed at 4:10 p.m. Monday, November 7, 2005 and reconvened at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 8, 2005, with Commissioners McKee and Richardson present.

 

Brad Uhlig, Solid Waste Supervisor reported on the status of equipment at the Solid Waste Transfer sites.

 

Tod LeFevre, Public Works Director/County Engineer reported on activities for the Road Department, Building Department, Engineering, bridges, and equipment, rental and revolving fund.

 

John Ostenson, Safety Committee Chair, reported on the October 11, 2005 Safety Committee meeting and presented accident/incident reports reviewed by the Safety Committee.  Safety Committee members submitted a letter recommending an amendment to the Safety Policy to include Safety Committee review of non-employee incidents and accidents that involve county owned property and/or county program activities regardless of whether they occur on county property or private property.  Discussion included Safety Committee responsibilities and the need to have separate forms for employees and non-employees.  The Board requested a workshop be set with the Safety Committee to further discuss this issue.  Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner McKee and motion carried to agree with the Safety Committee’s findings for report numbers: 2005-E-20, 2005-E-14 and 2005-E-15 and to return report numbers 2005-21 and 2005-22 to the Safety Committee for additional information.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:55 a.m. Tuesday, November 8, 2005 and reconvened at 4:25 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners McKee and Richardson present.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 4:25 p.m. until 4:35 p.m., with no action taken.

 

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss budgets, health insurance, public health and risk pool, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 4:55 p.m. Tuesday, November 8, 2005 and reconvened at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, November 10, 2005, with Commissioners McKee and Richardson present.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner McKee and motion carried to approve vouchers for the period ending November 10, 2005 in the amount of $361,810.02.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner McKee and motion carried to approve payroll for the period ending October 31, 2005 in the amount of $957,643.51.

 

A public hearing was held to consider Resolution 2005-51 Supplemental Budget #4 for various department funds due to unanticipated expenditures and revenues unknown at the time of passing the 2005 budget.  Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner McKee and motion carried to approve Resolution 2005-51 Supplemental Budget #4.

 

Walt Loehrke, Columbia River Gorge Commission (CRGC) member reported on the CRGC meeting of November 8, 2005.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, November 10, 2005 and reconvened at 2:25 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners McKee and Richardson present.

 

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss a designated smoking area(s) plan, homeless plan requirements, public health strategic planning, Senior Services expense voucher, Community Development Block Grant public hearing, and budget workshop schedule, with no action taken.

 

The meeting adjourned at 3:20 p.m. Thursday, November 10, 2005.

 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON