BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of August 1, 2005

 

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Monday, August 1, 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.

 

Mary Repar submitted a letter regarding Resolution 2005-18 declaring maintenance of an index identifying all public information and records held by the county to be unduly burdensome.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve the Consent Agenda as follows:

1.       Minutes for week of July 25, 2005.

2.       Claim for Damages from Lori & Peter Nelson.

3.       Acknowledge Klickitat County Commissioners reappointment of Commissioner McKee to the Klickitat Citizens Review Committee representing Skamania County, for a three-year term expiring June 30, 2008.

4.       Acknowledge submission of grant application to Dept of Community, Trade & Economic Development for funding to improve criminal justice & community response to violence against women.

5.       Administrative Closeout Report of Community Development Block Grant for Public Utility District No. 1 Carson Water Improvement Project.

6.       Contract with IBM Business Partner to provide software maintenance for the Sheriff’s Office server running the Spillman software system.

7.       Contract with Zakula Beal Auctioneers for sale of 2005 ER&R surplus equipment.

8.       Contract with Michael R. Dudley to direct & organize youth tennis club.

 

Tony Estey, Buildings and Grounds Director reported on repairs, maintenance, and remodels at various facilities and grounds for the month of July 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 Board discussed an upcoming meeting at the Port of Cascade Locks regarding the proposed casino on August 9, 2005, a Forest Explorers Camp on August 3, 2005, Greater Columbia Behavioral Health, Workforce Development, and the Community Wildfire Plan, with no action taken.

 

Ray Blaisdell inquired about the possibility of acquiring a water storage tank currently stored at Home Valley Park.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:00 a.m. Monday, August 1, 2005 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners McKee, Pearce and Richardson present.

 

A public hearing was held to consider Ordinance 2005-12 amending Skamania County Code Title 3 Revenue and Finance by adding a new Chapter 3.50 entitled Trial Court Improvement Account to fund improvements to Superior and District Court staffing, programs, facilities, or services as appropriated from time to time by the Board of County Commissioners using funds appropriated for various court-related purposes.  Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to approve Ordinance 2005-12.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve a grant application to the Salmon Recovery Funding Board for the Hamilton Creek Restoration Project.

 

The meeting recessed at 2:00 p.m. Monday, August 1, 2005 and reconvened at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 2, 2005 with Commissioners McKee, Pearce and Richardson present.

 

Tod LeFevre, Public Works Director/County Engineer reported on activities for the Road Department, Solid Waste, engineering projects, bridges, and the equipment, rental and revolving fund.

 

Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director, reported on agenda topics for an upcoming Columbia River Gorge Commission meeting on August 9, 2005, gave updates on proposed text changes to Title 22 Skamania County Management Plan for the National Scenic Area and Title 21 Zoning, requested authorization to add a second full time permanent Planning Technician position due to the increased amount of development and the number of long-range planning projects, as previously discussed, and gave an update on filling a vacant Office Assistant 3 position.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to authorize a second full time permanent Planning Technician position and the use of $13,196.66, budgeted in 2005for the WRIA Associate Planner position, to fund the second Planning Technician position from October 1, 2005 through December 31, 2005.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to approve Resolution 2005-35 determining the designation of forest and agricultural lands within the National Scenic Area and development regulations adopted under Skamania County Code Title 22 meet requirements of the Growth Management Act for conservation of forest, agricultural, and mineral resource lands.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director to discuss zoning for places of worship and the Planning Department’s fee schedule.  The first topic discussed was zoning for places of worship, and a petition received from four local churches requesting to add a zoning provision to allow churches as a permitted use.  The Board authorized the Planning Department to initiate the planning process, schedule an amendment into the long-range planning project list and to schedule a second workshop with the Board when this project comes up for review.  The second topic discussed was proposed Resolution 2005-32 replacing all previous Planning Department fee schedule resolutions and setting a new fee schedule.  The Board requested changes to the proposed resolution to reflect the estimated costs for the application or activity.

 

The meeting recessed at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday, August 2, 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 budgets, personnel, training, State Auditor, public records, surplus property, and health insurance, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, August 2, 2005 and reconvened at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, August 4, 2005 with Commissioners McKee, Pearce and Richardson present.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve vouchers for the period ending August 4, 2005 in the amount of $161,701.08.

 

Public Works gave a presentation on the proposed 2006 Annual Construction Plan, which included state requirements, priority determination, day labor, Six-Year Road Program review, proposed 2006 Annual Construction Program, Salmon Falls right of way purchase and preliminary construction, and 2006 budget considerations.  The Board authorized Public Works to revise the 2005 Annual Road Program and initiate a County Road Project Number for the Salmon Falls Road improvement project.

 

The Board discussed a Skagit County lawsuit regarding the definition of beneficiaries for county trust and purchase lands.

 

The Board met in executive session from 11:30 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. regarding potential litigation, with no action taken.

 

The meeting adjourned at 11:45 a.m. Thursday, August 4, 2005.

 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON