BOARD OF
SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Meeting
for Week of July 4, 2005
In observance of Independence Day, no meeting was held on
Monday, July 4, 2005. The meeting was
called to order at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 5, 2005 at the Commissioner’s
Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners Paul
Pearce, Acting Chair and James D. Richardson present, opening with the Pledge
of Allegiance.
Mary Repar advised of concerns regarding environmental
issues due to increased development in the County.
Commissioner
Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to approve
the Consent Agenda as follows:
1.
Minutes
for week of June 27, 2005.
2.
Set
public hearing for 1:30 PM July 25, 2005 to consider Ordinance 2005-06 rezoning
Tax Lot # 03-08-14-0-0-0200-00 from Special Management Forest to General
Management Small Woodland within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.
3.
Lease
agreement with Wind River Public Development Authority for office space in
Building #2025 at Wind River site to house Firewise Project.
4.
Contract
with Georgia Jacobs for janitorial services at Firewise Project office in
Building #2025 at Wind River site.
5.
Letter
of agreement with Port of Cascade Locks to accept community donations received
by Community Events & Recreation for annual July 4th fireworks
display.
6.
Clark
Regional Services Agency to provide funding for exercise for mock terrorist
incident.
7.
Abacus
Technology, Corp to develop, plan & execute exercise for mock terrorist
incident.
8.
Contract
with Bridgeview Catering to provide 80 box lunches for tabletop/functional
exercise.
9.
Lease
agreement with Dept of General Administration for two-month extension of real
property located at 704-A SW Rock Creek Drive for Employment Security
Department.
10.
Letter
of Agreement with Employment Security Dept for janitorial services at
Employment Security facility located at 704-A SW Rock Creek Drive.
11.
Declare
vehicles on recommended equipment list surplus, set purchase price for county
department/junior taxing districts, and authorize Equipment, Rental &
Revolving Fund manager to initiate contract with Zakula Beal Auctioneer to sell
remaining surplus equipment at August 6, 2005 public auction.
Tony
Estey, Buildings and Grounds Director reported on repairs, maintenance, and
remodels at various facilities and grounds for the months of May and June 2005.
Terry
Blaisdell, Central Services Director reported on personnel, email traffic,
computer replacements and new equipment purchases for various departments, and
gave updates on the new phone system, various projects and programs.
The
meeting recessed at 10:35 a.m. Tuesday, July 5, 2005 and reconvened at 11:00
a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce and Richardson present.
Marilyn Butler, Director of Administrative Services gave a presentation
on the projected status of the 2006 Budget.
The
meeting recessed at 11:40 a.m. Tuesday, July 5, 2005 and reconvened at 1:10
p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce and Richardson present.
The Board met in executive session from 1:10 p.m. until 1:20 p.m.
regarding personnel, with no action taken.
The
meeting recessed at 1:20 p.m. Tuesday, July 5, 2005 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m.
the same date, with Commissioners Pearce and Richardson present.
Al
King, Intergovernmental Policy Manager for the County Road Administration Board
gave an overview of his report on Skamania County’s Equipment, Rental and
Revolving (ER&R) Fund. Discussion
included reserve level guideline determination, rates in relation to reserve
level, mechanic staffing levels, and ER&R organization. Commissioner Pearce advised he would be the
Commissioner’s representative for annual ER&R department heads meetings.
The
meeting recessed at 2:40 p.m. Tuesday, July 5, 2005 and reconvened at 10:05
a.m. Thursday, July 8, 2005, with Commissioners Pearce and Richardson present.
Commissioner
Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve
payroll for the period ending June 30, 2005 in the amount of $954,076.81.
Commissioner
Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to approve
vouchers for the period ending July 7, 2005 in the amount of $511,322.22.
Norm
Wurzer, Public Works Engineering Technician gave a report on the Home Valley
Bridge repair and use options for consideration which included removal of the
bridge using county funds ($60,000), removal of the bridge using state funds
designated for bridge removal ($104,500), repairing the bridge to accommodate
small vehicular traffic ($128,910 plus $2,200 annual maintenance), and
repairing the bridge to allow pedestrian traffic only ($23,580 plus $600 annual
maintenance). Public Works recommended
removal of the bridge. Discussion
included concerns with pedestrians crossing the railroad tracks from Home
Valley Park Campground to get to the Wind Mountain Store and the need for a
reduction in the speed limit through Home Valley due to pedestrian traffic
crossing the highway. The Board advised
they support repairing the bridge for pedestrian traffic only.
Tod
LeFevre, Public Works Director/County Engineer reported on activities for the
Road Department, Solid Waste, Building Department/Fire Marshall, engineering
projects, bridges, and the equipment, rental and revolving fund.
Karen
Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director reported on an
upcoming meeting and activities/issues regarding Columbia River Gorge
Commission, and gave updates on ordinance revisions and Water Resource
Inventory Area 29.
The
meeting recessed at 11:15 a.m. Thursday, July 8, 2005 and reconvened at 1:35
p.m. the same date with Commissioners McKee, Pearce and Richardson present.
The
Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss private road requirements and
Public Utility District privilege tax, with no action taken.
A
public hearing was held, continued from June 20, 2005, to consider a request from Shelly Moore for a variance to
Skamania County Private Road Standards for White Dog Road (private), located
off of Buschlach Road at milepost 0.05, to allow a road grade in excess of 8%
to exceed the minimum 100-foot guideline length. Receipt was acknowledged of letters from Shelly Moore and Fire
District #4. Rich Lang, County Surveyor
presented a staff report of the road grade and lengths at various mileposts,
advised that Public Works previously supported the variance because the road
existed prior to the establishment of private road standards, and further
advised that Public Works was unaware of potential future development at the
time of their recommendation.
Discussion included future development along White Dog Road (private),
potential impact on property owners for future development, drainage, and.
safety concerns on the steepest sections of the road. Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson
and motion carried to approve the variance request with the stipulation that no
section of the road shall exceed a 16% grade unless that section is paved.
The
meeting adjourned at 3:25 p.m. Thursday, July 8, 2005.
BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS
SKAMANIA
COUNTY, WASHINGTON