BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of April 3, 2006

 

The Board met with the Counseling Center staff at the Counseling Center office at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, April 3, 2006 to introduce the new interim director.

 

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Monday, April 3, 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.

 

James Russo, Patricia Culver, and Ellen Penswick advised of concerns regarding the proposed casino at Cascade Locks and possible impacts to the County.

 

Mary Repar advised of a recent visit to the Forest Service Arboretum in Stabler and advised of her concern regarding preservation of the facilities at the Wind River site.

 

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

1.       Minutes for week of March 27, 2006.

2.       Notice of Completion of Public Works Contract for Columbia River Contractors, Inc.

3.       Notice to public of solicitation for 2007 Title III Projects.

4.       Set public hearing for 2:30 PM Monday, April 24, 2006 to consider a request from Dave Creagan & Jerry Sauer for a variance to Skamania County Private Road Standards for proposed Marble Mountain Drive (private), located 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.

5.       Resolution 2006-19 amending the Community Action Team 2006 Work Plan.

6.       Agreement with Dept of Licensing appointing County Auditor as agent for purpose of licensing and titling services for vehicles and vessels.

7.       Agreement with Dept of Ecology to provide funding to collect necessary background & baseline data to identify gaps to be filled in order to develop Western WRIA 29 Instream flow recommendations.

8.       Agreement with Leanne Haight to provide boarding, feeding & care for horses seized from owner by Sheriff.

9.       Ratify Chair’s signing of Annual Certification of 2005 County Roads Engineering, Certification of Road Fund Expenditures for Fish Passage Barrier Removal, and Certification of 2005 Road Fund Expenditures for Traffic Law Enforcement to County Road Administration Board.

 

Terry Blaisdell, Central Services Director reported on an upgrade to the phone system, computer replacements, new equipment purchases for various departments, and gave updates on various projects and programs.

 

Auditor’s staff presented a request to pay leave cash out for retiring employees, not approved in the current budget, from the cumulative reserve salaries and wages fund.  The Board requested the Auditor’s staff to discuss this request with the Director of Administrative Services.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner McKee and motion carried unanimously to acknowledge receipt of an appraisal report for County owned real property located on Cook-Underwood Road in Cook, tax parcel #03-09-34-2-1-1300-00.

 

 

Commissioner McKee moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to acknowledge receipt of an appraisal report for County owned real property located on Hamilton Avenue in Underwood, tax parcel #03-10-23-2-2-0700-00.

 

Commissioner McKee moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to surplus County owned real property located on Cook-Underwood Road in Cook, tax parcel #03-09-34-2-1-1300-00, authorize the sale of said property at a public auction, and direct the Clerk of the Board to advertise the surplus real property sale.

 

Commissioner McKee moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to surplus County owned real property located on Hamilton Avenue in Underwood, tax parcel #03-10-23-2-2-0700-00, authorize the sale of said property at a public auction, and direct the Clerk of the Board to advertise the surplus real property sale.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner McKee and motion carried unanimously to set the minimum bid at $20,000 for County owned real property located on Cook-Underwood Road in Cook, tax parcel #03-09-34-2-1-1300-00, and set the minimum bid at $35,000 for County owned real property located on Hamilton Avenue in Underwood, tax parcel #03-10-23-2-2-0700-00.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:45 a.m. Monday, April 3, 2006 and reconvened at 11:00 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and McKee present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with several County departments to discuss a countywide geographical information system.  Discussion included goals, the need for future information, county resources, cost, and updates to the system.

 

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss Risk Pool and summer college hiring, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 12:10 p.m. Monday, April 3, 2006 and reconvened at 1:35 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and McKee present.

 

A public hearing was held, continued from March 20, 2006, to consider Ordinance 2006-03 amending all sections of Skamania County Code Title 15 Buildings and Construction.  The hearing was closed to public comment on March 20, 2006.  Marlon Morat, Building Inspector clarified proposed language in Appendix B Fire-flow Requirements for Buildings.  The Board discussed authorizing the Fire Marshal to reduce or exempt fire-flow requirements in Section B103.1 of Appendix B.  Commissioner McKee moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to adopt Ordinance 2006-03 and to include the word “exempt” in Section B103.1 of Appendix B Fire-Flow Requirements for Buildings.

 

The Board reviewed and discussed a request from Sheriff Dave Brown to reconsider their previous decision on February 16, 2006 regarding approval of an exceptional qualification at Step B of Range 18 for Deputy Jay Johnston, and requested consideration of action to approve at Step C of Range 18, retroactive to date of hire, based on four years of patrol experience, multiple instructor certifications, in-service training and high school diploma.  Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner McKee and motion carried unanimously to approve an exceptional qualification for Deputy Jay Johnston at Step C of Range 18, retroactive to the date of hire.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Sheriff Dave Brown to review and discuss proposed amendments to the Noise Regulations Ordinance.  The Sheriff explained proposed changes, which included elimination of the decibel method of noise measurement, redefining land classifications, and a new definition titled Public Disturbance Noise, which would also allow for enforcement of barking dog issues.  Discussion included public disturbance noise, exemptions, enforcement of barking dogs, and decibel method of noise measurement.  The Sheriff advised he would make suggested changes to the proposed ordinance for the Board’s review.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner McKee and motion carried unanimously to acknowledge receipt of a letter from Washington Counties Risk Pool granting a 30-day time extension to make a decision whether or not to withdraw the County’s letter of notification to terminate its membership in the Washington Counties Risk Pool.

 

The meeting recessed at 3:25 p.m. Monday, April 3, 2006 and reconvened at 9:45 a.m. Tuesday, April 4, 2006, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and McKee present.

 

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss Community Events and Recreation staff level, with no action taken.

 

Commissioner McKee moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to award the bid for the purchase of a mini-excavator for the Solid Waste Department to Bobcat of Portland, OR for the total amount of $25,181.38.

 

Commissioner McKee moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to award the bid for the purchase of one (1) 50 cubic yard drop box with retractable lid and two (2) 39 cubic yard recycle containers for the Solid Waste Department to Cascade Container-Fab Co of Ridgefield, WA for the total amount of $27,113.64.

 

Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director reported on the pending application list, long-range project schedule, 2006 critical areas update process, upcoming Columbia River Gorge Commission meeting, and Water Resource Inventory Areas 27 and 28.

 

Tod LeFevre, Public Works Director/County Engineer reported on personnel, Road Department, Solid Waste, Building Department/Fire Marshal, engineering, surveying/right of way, bridges and equipment, rental and revolving fund.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner McKee and motion carried unanimously to approve a contract with Technical Assistance for Community Services, Inc. to provide an interim director for Skamania County Counseling Center.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:50 a.m. Tuesday, April 4, 2006 and reconvened at 11:00 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and McKee present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Public Works to review and discuss a proposed policy for use of herbicides in proximity to sensitive areas in Skamania County.  Discussion included the need to consider public comment on the proposed policy and the need to include the policy as an amendment to the Integrated Vegetation and Pest Management Plan.

 

Commissioner McKee moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve a request from Scott Pineo, Community Events and Recreation Director to fill the vacant Fair Office Coordinator position and to increase the position from 50% to 80% time at pay Range 13.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:45 a.m. Tuesday, April 4, 2006 and reconvened at 2:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and McKee present.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 2:30 p.m. until 3:20 p.m., with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 3:20 p.m. Tuesday, April 4, 2006 and reconvened at 10:05 a.m. Thursday, April 6, 2006, with Commissioners Pearce and Richardson present.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried unanimously to approve vouchers for the period ending April 6, 2006 in the total amount of $115,260.28.

 

The meeting adjourned at 10:10 a.m. Thursday, April 6, 2006.

 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON