BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of March 6, 2006

 

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Monday, March 6, 2006 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners Paul Pearce, Chair and James D. Richardson present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance. 

 

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

1.       Minutes for week of February 27, 2006.

2.       Special occasion liquor license for American Legion Post 122 for March 18, 2006.

3.       Set public hearing for 1:45 PM Monday, March 20, 2006 to consider Ordinance 2006-03 amending all chapters of Skamania County Code Title 15 Buildings & Construction.

4.       Set public hearing for 1:30 PM Thursday, March 23, 2006 to consider an application from Mike & Rene Chadwick to transfer 21.7 acres from Current Use Farm & Agricultural Land to Farm & Agricultural Conservation Land for property located at 31 Souther Lane in Underwood, WA.

5.       Set public hearing for 10:00 AM Thursday, March 23, 2006 to consider Resolution 2006-16, repealing Resolution 2006-02 that amended the 1977 Comprehensive Plan “A” & associated map that included all land geographically located within the boundaries of unincorporated Skamania County into Comprehensive Plan “A”. 

6.       Letter of agreement with Teresa D. Johnson CPA, Inc to prepare the 2005 Balance Sheet worksheet which reconciles beginning cash with revenue, expenditures & other cash transactions to the ending cash at the Treasurer’s Office.

7.       Contract with Mid-Columbia Asphalt Company for supply & delivery of crushed aggregate to various stockpiles.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to approve a request from the Sheriff to increase funding approved in the 2006 budget from $7,500 to $8,458.38 for a new K-9 drug investigation animal.

 

Tony Estey, Buildings and Grounds Director presented the 2005 Year End Report and reported on maintenance and repairs at various facilities and grounds.

 

Terry Blaisdell, Central Services Director reported on personnel, email traffic, computer replacements, new equipment purchases for various departments, and gave updates on various projects and programs.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:40 a.m. Monday, March 6, 2006 and reconvened at 1:35 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce and Richardson present.

 

A public hearing was held to consider a request from Jeff Bragato for a variance to Skamania County Code 15.04.050(B) Property Line Setbacks to construct a garage 17.5 feet from the center of the roadway on property located at Northwoods -Cabin #24.  Marlon Morat, Building Inspector gave a staff report and advised that the buildable area is limited due to the required lake setback and previously installed drain field, and recommended approval of the variance.  Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to grant a variance to Skamania County Code 15.04.050(B) Property Line Setbacks to construct a garage 17.5 feet from the center of the roadway at Cabin #24 at Northwoods, tax lot #96000024000000.

 

The meeting recessed at 1:45 p.m. Monday, March 6, 2006 and reconvened at 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 7, 2006, with Commissioners Pearce and Richardson present.

 

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss Buildings and Grounds succession, with no action taken.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 9:40 a.m. until 10:00 a.m., with no action taken.

 

Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director reported on the pending application list, upcoming Board of Adjustment vacancy, designating Nicole Hollatz to represent the County at White Salmon River Watershed Management Committee meetings, 2006 Critical Areas update process, Comprehensive Plan “A”, visioning surveys for Swift Subarea Plan, Westend Subarea Plan, upcoming Columbia River Gorge Commission meeting, and Water Resource Inventory Areas.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director to discuss a transmittal letter from Martha Bennett, Columbia River Gorge Commission Director requesting a letter providing the County’s intentions to revise Skamania County Code Title 22 to enact changes made in the Management Plan that improves protection of historic buildings in the National Scenic Area.  Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to authorize the Planning Department to add this project to the long range planning task list and to send a letter from the Board to the Gorge Commission notifying them of the County’s intent to complete the text amendment to Title 22 before November 2006.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Tod LeFevre, Public Works Director/County Engineer to discuss right of way issues, personnel, and Solid Waste, with no action taken.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 11:50 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 7, 2006 and reconvened at 1:50 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce and Richardson present.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to allow two part-time Solid Waste Laborers positions to be increased from 75% to 90% effective immediately, contingent on a $10,000 increase in grant funding from the Department of Ecology.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to change the policy to allow persons who fill in temporarily for more than 30 continuous days to be paid at a higher rate than the current rate for temporary persons, if requested by the Elected Official or Department Head, and that each event would require a separate request that must be approved by the Board of Commissioners.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to approve a request from Peter Banks, Prosecutor for a Range 13-A for Joanne Gildersleeve, effective March 1, 2006, for temporary office assistance in the Prosecutor’s office.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to approve a request from Scott Pineo, Community Events and Recreation Director for a Range 11-A for Elizabeth Morgan, effective January 1, 2006, to temporarily fill the vacant Fair Office Assistant position.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to appoint Hans Strauss as an interim Buildings and Grounds Lead Worker for all non-custodial Buildings and Grounds employees, effective immediately through December 31, 2006.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to appoint Scott Pineo as Interim Director for Buildings and Grounds, effective April 1, 2006, and directed that the two Buildings and Grounds Lead Workers would report directly to the Interim Director.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to increase Central Services Computer Technician to a minimum average of 16 hours per week in the Central Services Department and work the remaining hours of the work week in the Public Works Department as a County Road Maintenance Worker II, effective March 13, 2006.

 

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss Buildings and Grounds Department, Metzger Road, supplemental budget, State Road 14 access to the Interpretive Center, and Counseling Center Director applications, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 2:40 p.m. Tuesday, March 7, 2006 and reconvened at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, March 9, 2006, with Commissioners Pearce and Richardson present.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to approve vouchers for the period ending March 9, 2006, 2006 in the total amount of $215,342.10.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to approve payroll for the period ending February 28, 2006 in the total amount of $995,672.00.

 

Jim Shank, Department of Natural Resources presented a quarterly report on the projection of income from state forest board lands in Skamania County, and gave updates on future sale activities in Skamania County.

 

John Ostenson, Safety Committee Chair presented reports from the Safety Committee meeting of February 21, 2006.  Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to agree with the Safety Committee’s findings and recommendations for reports #2005-26, #2006-01, #2006-02, #2006-E-02, and #2006-E-04.

 

The meeting adjourned at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, March 9, 2006.

 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON