BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of January 24, 2005

 

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Monday, January 24, 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.

 

Mary Repar, advised of volunteering as the City of Stevenson’s representative for Skamania County Health Advisory Board, and inquired about the proposed transfer of the Wind River Nursery property to the Public Development Authority. 

 

Brent Holman, Public Works Director/County Engineer, advised of a Federal Highway Engineers open house to present the Wind River Road rebuild project from Paradise Campground to Old Man Pass, completion of a salary survey for Washington Association of County Engineers, continued ice storm clean up, and snow accumulation.

 

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

 

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

1.       Minutes of January 17, 2005.

2.       Special occasion liquor license for American Legion Cape Horn Post #122.

3.       Contract with Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency for funding to develop a mass clinic implementation plan for the County Health Plan.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve a request submitted from Ole Helgerson, WSU Extension Agent, for Title III support for the 2006 WSU National Fire Plan proposal.

 

Marilyn Butler, Director of Administrative Services, gave an update on the proposed conveyance of the Wind River Nursery (WRN) property to the Public Development Authority (PDA).  Mary Repar requested the Board to exercise more oversight of the PDA’s use of the money received from the harvest of timber at the WRN site.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:15 a.m. Monday, January 24, 2005 and reconvened at 11:30 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners McKee, Pearce and Richardson present.

 

A public hearing was held, continued from January 10, 2005, for deliberations for a variance request from Walter Wagner to the applied conditions to the Deer Meadow Retreat Short Plat to upgrade Griffing Road (private) to comply with Skamania County Private Road Standards. The hearing was closed to public comment on January 10, 2005.  Rich Lang, County Surveyor, gave an overview of the variance request and advised that a site visit determined that most of the road is outside of the 60 foot road easement.  Board discussion included the location of the existing road, the need for property owners to resolve the issue of the location of the road, and agreed that the 20’ required easement could be met.  Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to deny the variance based on the finding that the request did not meet any of the requirements for granting a variance pursuant to Skamania County Code 12.03.100(A).

 

The meeting recessed at 11:45 a.m. Monday, January 24, 2005 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners McKee, Pearce and Richardson present.

 

Representatives from Stabler Community Council met with the Board to discuss possible options to stop the process proposed by the Forest Service to remove Hemlock Dam on Trout Creek which forms Hemlock Lake.  Ann Lueders, President and Walt Loehrke of Stabler Community Council gave a history of the dam, advised of concerns from the Council and community, which included the loss of a social, cultural and recreational area if the Dam is removed, and requested support from the County in contacting congressional leaders.  Discussion included costs to maintain the dam, fish issues, silt buildup, possible partnership with the Forest Service, and the need to act before the Forest Service publishes the final Environmental Impact Statement.  The Board advised they would address this issue at upcoming meetings with legislators and the Forest Service.  Walt Loehrke advised that Stabler Community Council would move forward to set meetings with congressional leaders.

 

The meeting recessed at 2:55 p.m. Monday, January 24, 2005 and reconvened at 3:05 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners McKee, Pearce and Richardson present.

 

The Board met in executive session from 3:05 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. regarding personnel, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 3:30 p.m. Monday, January 24, 2005 and reconvened at 9:10 a.m. Tuesday, January 26, 2005, with Commissioners Pearce and Richardson present.

 

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss scheduling, upcoming meetings, personnel, and review current projects, with no action taken.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to approve vouchers for the periods ending December 31, 2004 in the amount of $521,890.50 and January 24, 2005 in the amount of $62,044.22.

 

John Carlson, Emergency Management Coordinator, gave updates on Mount St. Helens, recent ice storm, Community Emergency Response Teams classes, and an upcoming bioterrorism exercise.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve a request from the Auditor for continuation of a part-time employee through December 31, 2005 to be paid from the Auditor’s O&M Fund to help with document preservation. 

 

The meeting recessed at 10:35 a.m. Tuesday, January 25, 2005 and reconvened at 11:00 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce and Richardson present.

 

 The Board met in executive session from 11:00 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. regarding litigation, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:45 a.m. Tuesday, January 25, 2005 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce and Richardson present.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve a voucher to Bud Clary Chevrolet for the purchase of a Chevrolet Suburban jail transport vehicle.

 

The Board participated in a staff workshop with Public Works to review department services and goals, with no action taken.

 

Tony Estey, Buildings and Grounds Director, advised of the amount of debris stockpiled at the Rock Creek site from the recent ice storm and discussed options for disposal of the debris.

 

The meeting recessed at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, January 25, 2005 reconvened at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, January 27, 2005, with Commissioners Pearce and Richardson present.

 

Sealed bids were opened for supply and delivery of crushed aggregate.  Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to refer the following bids to Public Works for review and recommendation.

 

James Dean Construction, Inc., Glenwood, WA                  Mid-Columbia Asphalt Co, The Dalles, OR

District No. 1            $119,200                                              District No. 1            $102,075

District No. 2            $  92,000                                       District No. 2    $  85,875

District No. 3            $  42,000                                       District No. 3    $  35,850

Total including sales tax           $270,924                                   Total including sales tax $242,676

 

Bid award for one 10-12 yard dump truck was tabled until Tuesday, February 1, 2005.

 

Dan Wallenmeyer, Noxious Weed Coordinator, presented a draft 2004 Year End Report and gave updates on noxious weed control.  Nicole Rohan-Hallatz, Weed Control Title II Coordinator, advised of applying for grants for noxious weed control.

 

The meeting adjourned at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 27, 2005.

 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON