BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of April 25, 2005

 

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Monday, April 25, 2005 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners Albert E. McKee, Chair, and James D. Richardson present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Mary Repar requested agenda documents be made available on the Country’s website.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner McKee and motion carried to remove item #8 from the Consent Agenda, pending additional information from the Prosecutor, and to approve the remainder of the Consent Agenda as follows:

1.       Minutes of April 18, 2005.

2.       Set public hearing to consider Resolution 2005-15 Supplemental Budget #2 for 10:00 AM Thursday, May 5, 2005.

3.       Acknowledge receipt of Wind River Public Development Authority 2004 Annual Report.

4.       Acknowledge receipt of letter from Public Development Authority (PDA) requesting transfer of Wind River rental payments and request to negotiate a contract with County related to grant funds allocated to Wind River Nursery site.

5.       Authorize Treasurer to transfer pro-rated rental payments from County to Public Development Authority for Wind River rentals.

6.       Acknowledge submission of application for funding to United Way of Klickitat & Skamania Counties to implement pre-school & adult non-swimmer lessons during school year.

7.       Resolution 2005-16, revising the 2005 Annual Road Program.

8.       Resolution 2005-18, declaring maintenance of an index identifying all public information & records held by County unduly burdensome.

9.       Resolution 2005-19, assigning County Road Project number to Washougal River Steel Bridge Anti-Jump Fence project.

10.    Contract with City of North Bonneville to provide incarceration services for City inmates.

11.    Contract amendment #1 with Employment Security for 60-day extension to provide janitorial services for office building located at 704-A SW Rock Creek Drive.

12.    Certification of Sponsor Match for Wind River Boat Ramp Improvement Grant.

13.    Appointments to Skamania-Klickitat Family Service Network Board: Scott Pineo-position #5 representing Skamania County; Karen Porter-position #6 representing Mid-Columbia Children’s Council; Brenda Dalke-position #7 representing Dept of Social & Health Services.

14.    Appointments to Human Services Advisory Board: Shari Dolan-position #5; Lori Derryberry-position #10; Robert Tubbs-position #12; Patty Tubbs-position #15.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner McKee and motion carried to acknowledge receipt of letters from Auditor Mike Garvison and Keith Brown/Teresa Robbins opposing proposed Resolution 2005-18 declaring maintenance of an index identifying all public information and records held by the County to be unduly burdensome.

 

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

 

John Carlson, Emergency Management Coordinator, gave an update on Mount St. Helens activity, recent Amtrak derailment, Community Emergency Response Teams training activities, and the need for elected officials, county employees and first responders to complete training courses by October 31, 2005 to meet National Incident Management System compliance.

 

Bridget McLeman, Program Manager for Children’s Home Society advised of the Kinship Caregivers Support Program that provides support for relatives raising related children and available funding for emergent basic needs.

 

Larry Mulcihy, past Safety Committee Chair, introduced new Chair John Ostenson, and presented accident/incident reports reviewed by the Safety Committee.  Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner McKee and motion carried to agree with the Safety Committee’s findings for report numbers 2005-4, 2005-6, 2005-7, 2005-9, 2005-E-5, and 2005-E-6.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:20 a.m. Monday, April 25, 2005 and reconvened at 2:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners McKee and Richardson present.

 

The Board met in executive session from 2:30 p.m. until 3:35 p.m. regarding personnel, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 3:35 p.m. Monday, April 25, 2005 and reconvened at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 26, 2005, with Commissioners McKee, Pearce and Richardson present.

 

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

 

Tod LeFevre, Public Works Director/County Engineer, reported on activities for the Road Department, Solid Waste, and Building Department.

 

Scott Bryan, Public Works Project Engineer, gave an update on the Metzger Road project, which included a storm sewer plan, road plan, and right of way acquisition.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:45 a.m. Tuesday, April 26, 2005 and reconvened at 11:00 a.m. the same date, with Commissioner McKee, Pearce and Richardson present.

 

The Board met to discuss a request from Brad Andersen, attorney representing the Broughton Trust, owners of the old Broughton Mill site, to seek congressional support to sponsor an amendment to the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area (CRG-NSA) Act to create a new land use designation Destination Resort Area for the old Broughton Mill site.  Present for discussion included Brad Andersen; Jason Spadero, President of the Broughton Trust; Martha Bennett, Columbia River Gorge Commission (CRGC) Director, Peggy Bryan, Skamania County Economic Development Director, Prosecutor Peter Banks, and local citizens.  Discussion included the need to increase the tax base in Skamania County, the need to create jobs, the need for all agencies to support each other, the need to develop the private property into a resort for tourism, support for the project, existing traffic congestion in the area, unique property location, the need for economic development in areas outside the existing urban areas, concern with asking for congress to sponsor an amendment to the Act when CRGC hasn’t reviewed the proposed project, changes needed to Commercial Recreation zone, concern with working relationship with the County and CRGC, and the suggestion to go to the CRGC and request support for the proposed legislation.  Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to sign letters to Congressmen Richard “Doc” Hastings and Brian Baird requesting support to sponsor an amendment to the CRG-NSA to create a Destination Resort Area new land designation for the old Broughton Mill site, contingent upon meeting with the CRGC on May 10, 2005 to advise that the County is moving forward with seeking congressional support and to ask for the support of the CRGC.

 

The Board advised that they would be touring Public Works projects starting at 12:00 p.m. today, with site visits to Mt. Pleasant Transfer Site, Washougal River Steel Bridge, Bushlach Road, Metzger Road, and Berge Road.

 

The meeting recessed at 12:20 p.m. Tuesday, April 26, 2005 and reconvened at 10:05 a.m. Thursday, April 28, 2005 with Commissioners McKee, Pearce and Richardson present.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve payments to Ray Schultens in The Dalles, OR for two transit bus engine replacements for Senior Services vehicles #610 and #611.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to approve vouchers for the period ending April 27, 2005 in the amount of $326,312.99.

 

Auditor Mike Garvison asked for clarification of payments for vouchers for Wind River Public Development Authority bills.  The Board advised they would review this request.

 

Following discussion of proposed Resolution 2005-18, declaring maintenance of an index identifying all public information and records held by the County to be unduly burdensome, the Board agreed to return the Resolution to the Prosecutor for changes.

 

Commissioner Pearce advised of an informational Open House for the Washougal River Steel Bridge anti-jump fencing project to be held at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 17, 2005 at the American Legion Cape Horn Post 122, 10221 Washougal River Road.

 

The meeting adjourned at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 28, 2005.

 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON