BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of April 24, 2006

 

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Monday, April 24, 2006 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners Paul Pearce, Chair, James D. Richardson and Albert E. McKee present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

A plaque was presented to Debi Van Camp for 25-years of dedicated service to Skamania County. 

 

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

1.       Minutes of April 17, 2006.

2.       Appoint Bernice McCollum as County representative on South Central Workforce Development Council, and acknowledge letter of nomination from Skamania County Economic Development Council.

3.       Resolution 2006-22 Intent to vacate Beacon Rock Moorage Road from milepost 0.00 to 0.33 (end), direct the County Engineer to report on proposed vacation & abandonment, and set a public hearing for 1:30 PM Monday, May 15, 2006 to consider action vacating Beacon Rock Moorage Road.

4.       Resolution 2006-17 adopting Policy on Use of Herbicides in Proximity to Sensitive Areas in Skamania County.

5.       Interagency agreement with WA State Historical Society to furnish security for the Lewis & Clark exhibit on April 5-11, 2006.

6.       Intergovernmental agreement amendment A with Office of Crime Victims Advocacy amending budget for improvement of criminal justice & community response to violence against women.

7.       Contract with Haworth Family Shows, Inc to provide carnival at annual County Fair & Timber Carnival through August 2008.

8.       Contract with Dept of Community, Trade & Economic Development to provide funding to produce a draft report comprised of the results from a series of public involvement meetings with comments to serve as the basis of the Vision Statement for the County’s Comprehensive Plan for the entire county.

9.       Interlocal agreement with Port of Skamania County for appropriation of county funds from .08 sales tax to the Port for expansion of the upper floor interior of the Tichenor Building.

10.    Contract with IKON Office Solutions to provide copier leasing and support for nine coping machines.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner McKee and motion carried unanimously to approve a voucher to Sprint in the amount of $36.09.

 

John Carlson, Emergency Management Coordinator reported on monitoring of Mount St. Helens, Community Emergency Response Team program, National Incident Management System compliance, Self Defense Kit training, amateur radio testing, Emergency Operations Center progress, Partners in Preparedness Conference, and gave an update on the Community Wildfire Protection Plan.

 

Mark Mazeski, Senior Planner gave a staff report for the Final Plats for School House Subdivision and Skye Subdivision, submitted by Jason Thompson located on the south side of Huckins-Buhman Road, creating six lots in each subdivision; and advised the Planning Commission recommended approval of both Final Plats.  Commissioner McKee moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to approve the Final Plat for School House Subdivision.  Commissioner McKee moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to approve the Final Plat for Skye Subdivision.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:45 a.m. Monday, April 24, 2006 and reconvened at 11:00 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and McKee present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop to review and discuss information regarding a Hearing Examiner System.  Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director advised that a hearing examiner conducts required hearings and makes quasi-judicial decisions regarding land development applications and administrative appeals of land use decisions in place of the Board of Adjustment and Planning Commission that are supported by an adequate record and are free from political influences.  She also advised that a hearings examiner system could be used for road vacations, abatement and removal of junk vehicles, Board of Equalization, Board of Health, discrimination complaints under personnel policies, and civil infractions, among other issues.  Benefits of using a hearing examiner system would allow local legislative and advisory bodies to concentrate on policy-making and could reduce local government liability exposure.  Discussion included public involvement at hearings, costs, and sharing hearing examiners with other counties.  The Board directed Karen Witherspoon conduct additional research and report back to the Board.

 

Ole Helgerson, WSU Cooperative Extension Agent gave an update on the Community Wildfire Protection Plan.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:55 a.m. Monday, April 24, 2006 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and McKee present.

 

A public hearing was held, continued from March 23, 2006, to consider an application from Mike and Rene Chadwick to transfer 21.7 acres from Current Use Farm and Agricultural Land to Farm and Agricultural Conservation Land for property located at 31 Souther Lane, Underwood, WA.  The purpose of the continuance was to allow the applicant 30-days to submit an acceptable management plan to the Assessor for review prior to the continued hearing.  The Assessor advised that he had not received a management plan from the applicant.  Mr. Chadwick stated he was not aware the management plan was to be submitted prior to the continued hearing.  Commissioner McKee moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to require a management plan to be submitted to the Assessor within three weeks, and after review of the plan and a site visit by the Assessor, if the plan is deemed acceptable the application would be approved, if the plan is deemed not acceptable, the property would revert to market value.

 

The meeting recessed at 2:00 p.m. Monday, April 24, 2006 and reconvened at 2:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and McKee present.

 

A public hearing was held to consider a request from Dave Creagan and Jerry Sauer for a variance to Skamania County Code 12.03.040(B)(5) Private Road Standards for proposed Marble Mountain Drive (private), to be constructed off of Forest Service 90 Road (private) at milepost 8.30, to allow a road grade in excess of 8% to exceed the minimum 100-foot guideline length.  Rich Lang, County Surveyor gave a staff report of the proposal which would require extensive excavation to reconstruct an existing logging road up the ridge at varying grades to access parcels for three proposed short plats.  Two road designs proposed by the applicants’ surveyor were presented for consideration.  Commissioner McKee moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to acknowledge receipt of a letter from the Gifford Pinchot Task Force regarding concerns for driving hazards in winter conditions due to the road grade. Discussion included access for emergency services, stormwater runoff, and roadway width.  Commissioner McKee moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to approve a variance for proposed Marble Mountain Drive (private) with a beginning grade of 14.26% for 450 feet, increasing to 14.75% for 1500 feet, and finishing at 15% for the final 350 feet, as proposed by the applicants’ surveyor, with the roadway width and a stormwater plan to be approved by the County Engineer.

 

The meeting recessed at 3:10 p.m. Monday, April 24, 2006 and reconvened at 3:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and McKee present.

 

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss a forest service meeting and Noxious Weed staffing, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 4:05 p.m. Monday, April 24, 2006 and reconvened at 9:45 a.m. Tuesday, April 25, 2006, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and McKee present.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 9:45 a.m. until 10:00 a.m., with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 25, 2006 and reconvened at 10:10 a.m. the same date, with Commissioner Pearce and McKee present.

 

Rich Lang, County Surveyor reported on the Road Department, engineering, and surveying/right of way.

 

Richard Robinson, Project Engineer gave an update on the status of the contract with Forest Hill Timber Management.

 

Marlon Morat, Building Inspector discussed changes from a previous workshop to the draft Fire Protection Ordinance.  The Board was in agreement to move forward with the process for approval of the Ordinance.

 

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

 

The Board advised they would be participating in a site visit to Woodard Creek at 1:30 p.m. this afternoon.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:45 a.m. Tuesday, April 25, 2006 and reconvened at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, April 27, 2006, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and McKee present.

 

A public hearing was held to consider Resolution 2006-21 Supplemental Budget #1 for 2006 to supplement budgets for various funds due to unanticipated expenditures and revenues unknown at the time of passing the 2006 budget.  Commissioner McKee moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to approve Resolution 2006-21 Supplemental Budget #1 for 2006.

 

Commissioner McKee moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to approve vouchers for the period ending April 26, 2006 in the total amount of $377,528.97.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding potential litigation from 10:30 a.m. until 10:45 a.m., with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:45 a.m. Thursday, April 27, 2006 and reconvened at 11:1 0 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and McKee present.

 

Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director and Charly Boyd of Advanced Planning Solutions, Inc. gave an update on Water Resource Inventory Areas 27 and 28 water reservation.  Commissioner McKee moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to use the allotment of .4 cfs for wells, .4 cfs for community systems, and .21 cfs for community use in the Lewis River Watershed.  Other discussion included an update on the Columbia River Water Resources Management legislation.

 

Marilyn Butler, Director of Administrative Services presented a cost comparison between Washington Rural Counties Insurance Fund and Washington Counties Risk Pool for liability insurance coverage.  Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner McKee and motion carried unanimously to remain with Washington Counties Risk Pool for liability insurance.

 

The meeting recessed at 12:00 p.m. Thursday, April 27, 2006 and reconvened at 3:00 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce and Richardson present.

 

Commissioner Pearce gave an opening statement regarding the surplus sale of County owned real property and advised of the terms of the sales.

§         Tax Parcel No. 03-10-23-2-2-0700-00.  Described as follows: 15,000 sq ft, Lots 4, 5 and 6 Hamilton Avenue, located via Cook-Underwood Road off of State Highway 14 to Cooper Avenue, to Packard Street, to Hamilton Avenue, in Underwood, WA,  Minimum bid was set at $35,000.  At the close of bidding, the sale was awarded to Fred Newman for the total amount of $50,750.

§         Tax Parcel No. 03-09-34-2-1-1300-00.  Described as follows: 0.29 acres, Lot 4 Old Town Site, located on Cook-Underwood Road off of State Highway 14 in Cook, WA.  Minimum bid was set at $20,000.  No bids.

 

The meeting adjourned at 3:15 p.m. Thursday, April 27, 2006.

 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON