BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of January 17, 2005

 

No meeting was held on Monday, January 17, 2005 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.  The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 18, 2005 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners Albert E. McKee, Paul Pearce and James D. Richardson present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Public Works Director Brent Holman, Sheriff Dave Brown, and Buildings and Grounds Director Tony Estey reported on damages from the recent weather related ice storm, which included numerous downed trees, coordinating with the City of Stevenson for clearing streets and sidewalks, clearing blocked roads, power outages, minimal damage to county facilities, concern with falling ice and potential for flooding, and the designation of Rock Creek Center for citizens without power or heat.  Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to allow all county residents to dispose of storm debris at the old mill site at the Rock Creek cove area through the end of February 28, 2005.

 

Ole Helgerson, WSU Extension Agent, reported on 4-H activities, forestry, gardening and pest management, Forest Youth Success program, Forest Explorers program and the Firewise project.

 

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

1.       Minutes of January 10, 2005.

2.       Liquor license renewals for Bungalow Bar & Grill and Eagle’s Cliff General Store.

3.       Certification of Property Tax Levy from Home Valley Water District.

4.       Contract renewal with Senior Services, Inc of North Bonneville to operate a senior services center in North Bonneville.

5.       Contract renewal with Skamania County Economic Development Council for business recruitment & retention & community development activities.

6.       Contract renewal with the Chamber of Commerce to promote tourism and provide visitor information.

7.       Contract renewal with City of Stevenson for incarceration services for municipal inmates.

8.       Contract renewal with City of Stevenson for law enforcement services within City limits.

9.       Contract amendment #2 with Kennedy/Jenks Consultants to extend contract period for Wind River Nursery Water Project.

 

The Board met in executive session from 10:55 a.m. until 11:35 a.m. regarding litigation, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:35 a.m. Tuesday, January 18, 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 with Central Services Director Terry Blaisdell to review department services and goals, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, January 18, 2005 and reconvened at 3:05 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners McKee, Pearce and Richardson present.

 

Dan Peterson, Development Specialist for the Southwest Washington Tribal Health Alliance gave a presentation on a proposed Community Nursing Center, possibly in Skamania County, to serve the Chinook Tribe and other low-income residents, and the Southwest Washington Tribal Health Alliance.  The presentation included a brief history and overview of the Alliance, projects currently in the planning and development stages, health issues, and Southwest Washington Tribal Community Nursing Centers Project.  Discussion with the audience included available health services, costs for health care and prescriptions, transportation to health care facilities, project funding, partnership with local health care facilities, and training opportunities for nurses.

 

The meeting recessed at 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, January 18, 2005 and reconvened at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, January 20, 2005, with Commissioners McKee, Pearce and Richardson present.

 

Sealed bids were opened for one 10-12 yard dump truck as follows:

1.       Roberts Motors, Portland, OR                                    No bid.

2.       Brattain International Trucks, Portland, OR            $115,499.01           

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to refer the bids to Public Works for review and recommendation.

 

Jeannie Smith of Carson Builders Supply addressed the Board with concerns regarding limited purchases from their store by County departments, billing costs that exceed the purchase amounts, and asked the Board to support equitable purchases among local businesses.  Discussion included convenience and cost for purchases, limited department budgets, and disparity between hardware store purchases.

 

Scott Pineo, Community Events and Recreation Director, gave updates on the recreation program, Teen Adventure program and hold harmless agreements for teen dances, Fairgrounds activities, swim center activities, Rock Creek Recreation Center activities, host recruitment for parks and boat launches, and the Underwood Park rental.  Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to nominate Scott Pineo as Skamania County’s representative for Skamania/Klickitat Community Network.

 

Prosecutor Peter Banks advised of two references to Boundary Line Adjustments (BLA) in Skamania County Code and problems experienced by title companies in cases of foreclosure by lending institutions of properties involving boundary line adjustments.  Jim Copeland of Skamania County Title Company explained that if a BLA is approved by the County for a parcel secured by a lending institution and the lending institution forecloses on the parcel, an illegal lot is created unless the lender signs a partial reconveyance or amends the legal description at the time of the BLA.  Following discussion with several County departments, recommendation was made to amend the BLA language in Skamania County Code to require documentation from the property owner that the lender has approved the BLA and access to the parcel exists prior to approval of a BLA.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:45 a.m. Thursday, January 20, 2005 and reconvened at 1:25 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners McKee, Pearce and Richardson present.

 

Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director, gave updates on the pending application list, end of the year report for 2004, County ordinance updates, upcoming meetings for Water Resource Inventory Area 29 and Columbia River Gorge Commission, and presented a report on water and fish related groups active in Skamania County prepared by Watershed/Shorelines Planner Charly Boyd.

 

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss the Legislative Rally, reclassifications, and position approval, with no action taken.

 

The Board advised that they would be making a site visit to Griffing Road (private) at 3:30 p.m. today.

 

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

 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON