BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of March 13, 2006

 

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Monday, March 13, 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.

 

Commissioner McKee moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to acknowledge a letter from Mitch Patton regarding zoning and land use in the Westend.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner McKee and motion carried unanimously to acknowledge receipt of a letter from Ole Helgerson regarding recommendations for GIS planning.

 

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

1.       Minutes for week of March 6, 2006.

2.       Acknowledge receipt of North Country Emergency Medical Service 2005 Activity Report.

3.       Acknowledge new Incident Report Form Involving Non-County Employee.

4.       Contract with Laxson Appraisal Services for County owned property.

5.       Contract amendment #8 with Dept of Ecology to revise the scope of work for Water Resource Inventory Area 29 Phase 3 planning.

6.       Contract with Advanced Entry Systems to furnish & install two power doorway openers on the first floor of the Courthouse at the hallway entrance and at Rock Creek Recreation Center main entry doors.

7.       Lease agreement with Dept of Transportation (DOT) to place a GPS antenna on the Courthouse roof for use as a base station for DOT Real Time Network.

8.       Request from Public Works for computer monitor replacement.

9.       Authorization to purchase 800 MHZ & VHF radio infrastructure for Region IV Homeland Security Communications interoperability using Homeland Security funds.

 

Darlene Dickson, Senior Services Director advised of the need to develop a county transportation plan and gave updates on vehicle procurement and effects of the state budget.

 

Commissioner McKee moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to contribute $2,000 in financial support to assist Skagit County in paying the salary for a Washington, D.C. timber lobbyist who has been doing and will continue to do much to support Skamania County issues.

 

The Board discussed a request from Public Works for a wavier of the personnel policy for in-house recruitment.  Following discussion of the need for a change in the current policy, Commissioner McKee moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to amend Section 4.3.2 of Skamania County Personnel Policy to allow employees currently within their probationary period to apply for in-house positions within their department, and to require that if a probationary employee is selected for a new job within the department, a new six-month probationary period would begin when the employee takes the new position.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:55 a.m. Monday, March 13, 2006 and reconvened at 11:05 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and McKee present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Dan Wallenmeyer, Noxious Weed Coordinator, Ken Bajema, Weed Board member, and Scott Pineo, Community Events and Recreation Director to discuss options for control of Eurasian watermilfoil at Drano Lake, Wind River, and Rock Cove, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:25 a.m. Monday, March 13, 2006 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and McKee present.

 

Rick Weaver, President of Central Washington Comprehensive Mental Health gave a presentation on a proposal for reorganization of system management for mental health, chemical dependency, and developmental disabilities in Skamania County.

 

The Board advised they would be meeting with Buildings and Grounds staff at the Buildings and Grounds Office at approximately 2:30 p.m. today for a roundtable discussion.

 

The meeting recessed at 2:20 p.m. Monday, March 13, 2006 and reconvened at 9:05 a.m. Tuesday, March 14, 2006, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and McKee present.

 

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss the personnel policy, with no action taken.

 

Commissioner Pearce clarified that the Board’s motion of March 13, 2006 amending Section 4.3.2 of Skamania County Personnel Policy was a policy change and not a waiver of current policy.

 

Sealed bids were opened for one (1) 50-cubic yard drop box with retractable lid and two (2) 39-cubic yard recycle containers.  One bid was received from Cascade Container-Fab Company of Ridgefield, WA in the total amount of $27,113.64.  Commissioner McKee moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to refer the bid to Public Works for evaluation and recommendation. 

 

Dan Wallenmeyer, Noxious Weed Control Coordinator presented a report on Title II project activities.

 

Scott Bryan, Assistant County Engineer reported on activities for the Road Department, Solid Waste, Building Department, engineering, and surveying/right of way.

 

Larry Douglass, County Road Maintenance Superintendent presented the 2006 summer work schedule.

 

Commissioner McKee moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to approve Resolution 2006-11 adopting Skamania County Department of Public Works Road Classification and Maintenance Guidelines Users Manual, and rescinding Resolution #570-A Road Maintenance Standards for Skamania County approved in 1984.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:45 a.m. Tuesday, March 14, 2006 and reconvened at 11:00 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and McKee present.

 

Representatives from Millennium Digital Media Systems, LLC and Wave Division Holdings, LLC (Wave) advised of reaching an agreement with Wave for an affiliate of Wave to purchase those assets, which comprise the franchise to operate a CATV system within Skamania County.  Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner McKee and motion carried unanimously to approve the assignment of franchise to Wave, pending document approval by the Prosecutor.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:25 a.m. Tuesday, March 14, 2006 and reconvened at 1:20 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and McKee present.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 1:20 p.m. until 1:25 p.m., with no action taken.

 

The Board recessed briefly from 1:25 p.m. until 1:35 p.m.

 

The Board met in executive session with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and McKee present to evaluate the qualifications of an applicant for public employment from 1:35 p.m. until 2:05 p.m., with no action taken.

 

The Board recessed briefly from 2:05 p.m. until 2:35 p.m.

 

The Board met in executive session with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and McKee present to evaluate the qualifications of an applicant for public employment from 2:35 p.m. until 3:25 p.m., with no action taken.

 

The Board recessed briefly from 3:25 p.m. until 3:40 p.m.

 

The Board met in executive session with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and McKee present to evaluate the qualifications of an applicant for public employment from 3:40 p.m. until 4:45 p.m., with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 4:35 p.m. Tuesday, March 14, 2006 and reconvened at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, March 16, 2006, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and McKee present.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried unanimously to approve vouchers for the period ending March 16, 2006 in the total amount of $64,376.01.

 

Walt Loehrke, Columbia River Gorge Commission (CRGC) member reported on the CRGC meeting of March 14, 2006.  Discussion included development in Multnomah County, budget audit, Management Plan amendments, clean air quality study, and Forest Service proposed land sales.

 

The Board advised they would be attending an Elected Officials luncheon meeting at 12:00 p.m. today at River’s Edge Café in Stevenson.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:35 a.m. Thursday, March 16, 2006 and reconvened at 11:30 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and McKee present.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 11:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m., with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 12:00 p.m. Thursday, March 16, 2006 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and McKee present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with the Assessor’s staff to review and discuss current use assessment programs, with no action taken.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding personnel and litigation from 2:10 p.m. until 3:30 p.m., with no action taken.

 

The meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, March 16, 2006.

 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON