BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of December 5, 2005

 

The Board participated in a staff workshop from 9:10 a.m. until 10:05 a.m. on Monday, December 5, 2005 to discuss the legislative agenda, with no action taken.

 

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Monday, December 5, 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 for week of November 28, 2005.

2.       Certification of 2006 Property Tax Levies from Taxing Districts: Cemetery District, Hospital District, Emergency Medical Services, Port of Skamania County, Home Valley Water District, Fire District #1, Fire District #2 & Fire District #5.

3.       Contract with Challenger/British Soccer to provide for youth summer soccer instruction and outdoor soccer fields or training area.

4.       Contract with Dept of Community, Trade & Economic Development to provide funding for continuation, development & implementation of projects of Community Mobilization to reduce the incidence of substance abuse & violence for youth & families.

5.       Interagency agreement with Dept of Agriculture: Fairs Program to provide funding to design & construct a handicap accessible ramp to the Fair Grandstands.

6.       Agreement with Clark County to assist with labor, equipment rental, assigned contractors & subsistence when Skamania County does not have adequate personnel or equipment available.

7.       Contract with Dept of Community, Trade & Economic Development to provide funding to administer the National Scenic Area Act in Skamania County.

8.       Memorandum of Understanding between Skamania County Sheriff’s Office and Skamania County Law Enforcement Guild eliminating Civil Service Rules for testing for new hire, lateral & promotional positions within the Sheriff’s Office.

9.       Resolution 2005-59 authorizing signature of local agency agreement with Dept of Transportation for Rural County Two-Lane Roadway Program & assigning County Road Project Number.

10.    Agreement with Dept of Transportation for funding for Rural County Two-Lane Roadway Program.

11.    Resolution 2005-60 establishing Restrictions on Home Valley Park Bridge.

 

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 10:45 a.m. Monday, December 5, 2005 and reconvened at 1:35 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners McKee, Pearce and Richardson present.

 

A public hearing was held to consider an application from Lois Jemtegaard to transfer 19.24 acres from Current Use Farm and Agricultural Land to Farm and Agricultural Conservation Land.  Said property is located on Fitzgerald Road, tax parcel numbers 01-05-18-0-0-0202 (5.24 ac), 0203 (2.50 ac), 0204 (6.42 ac), and 0205 (5.00 ac).  Sharon DoByne, Administrative Assistant for the Assessor gave a staff report and recommended approval of the transfer.  Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve the transfer of tax parcel numbers 01-05-18-0-0-0202 (5.24 ac), 0203 (2.50 ac), 0204 (6.42 ac), and 0205 (5.00 ac) from Current Use Farm and Agricultural Land to Farm and Agricultural Conservation Land with the caveat that if the property is sold or transferred to a new owner the acreage shall be returned to commercial agricultural production.

 

The meeting recessed at 1:45 p.m. Monday, December 5, 2005 and reconvened at 2:00 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners McKee, Pearce and Richardson present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director to discuss the West End Subarea Plan, Swift Subarea Plan, and the 1977 Comprehensive Plan “A” amendment, with no action taken.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to authorize Marilyn Butler, Director of Administrative Services to sign an Authority to Confirm Coverage of Blue Cross and Kaiser Permanente health insurance for 2006 with Mercer Health and Benefits.

 

The meeting recessed at 2:25 p.m. Monday, December 5, 2005 and reconvened at 9:10 a.m. Tuesday, December 6, 2005, with Commissioners McKee, Pearce and Richardson present.

 

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss the legislative agenda and department efficiencies, with no action taken.

 

Brad Uhlig, Solid Waste Supervisor reported on activities at the solid waste transfer facilities.

 

Tod LeFevre, Public Works Director/County Engineer reported on activities for the Building Department, Building Department/Fire Marshal, engineering, surveying/right of way, bridges, and equipment, rental and revolving fund.

 

Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director reported on the pending application list, upcoming Columbia River Gorge Commission meeting, upcoming Department of Natural Resource stakeholder/partnership meeting regarding Table Mountain Natural Resource Conservation Area, National Scenic Area historic building survey, and upcoming Western Water Resource Inventory Area 29 meeting.

 

Peter Banks, Prosecutor and Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director discussed the recent decision by the Forest Service to remove Hemlock Dam and a request from the Board to consider appealing the Forest Service’s decision.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:15 a.m. Tuesday, December 6, 2005 and reconvened at 1:35 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners McKee, Pearce and Richardson present.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 1:35 p.m. until 1:55 p.m., with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 1:55 p.m. Tuesday, December 6, 2005 and reconvened at 2:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners McKee, Pearce and Richardson present.

 

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

 

Commissioners McKee and Pearce advised they would be attending a joint special meeting of the Commissioners of Lewis, Skamania, Cowlitz and Wahkiakum Counties at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 7, 2005 at Longview City Hall Training Room, 1525 Broadway, Longview, WA to take action on proposed Watershed Management Plan for Water Resource Inventory Areas 25 and 26.

 

The meeting recessed at 2:50 p.m. Tuesday, December 6, 2005 and reconvened at 10:15 a.m. Thursday, December 8, 2005, with Commissioners McKee and Richardson present.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding real estate from 10:15 a.m. until 10:30 a.m., with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, December 8, 2005 and reconvened at 11:00 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners McKee and Richardson present.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner McKee and motion carried to approve vouchers for the period ending December 8, 2005 in the amount of $100,235.74.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner McKee and motion carried to approve payroll for the period ending November 30, 2005 in the amount of $966,485.82.

 

The Board discussed the Civil Service budget with the Director of Administrative Services and requested a letter be sent to the Civil Service Commission advising that no overtime would be authorized for the month of December 2005.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:20 a.m. Thursday, December 8, 2005 and reconvened at 1:40 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners McKee, Pearce and Richardson present.

 

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss donated leave, PUD privilege tax, Civil Service budget, snowplowing costs, comprehensive planning, and Sheriff’s budget, with no action taken.

 

The meeting adjourned at 2:50 p.m. Thursday, December 8, 2005.

 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON