BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of October 24, 2006

 

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss the budget from 9:25 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 24, 2006 with Commissioners Paul Pearce, Chair, and James D. Richardson present, with no action taken.

 

The meeting was called to order at 10:05 a.m. Tuesday, October 24, 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 October 17, 2006.

2.       Liquor license renewal for Wind River Market.

3.       Authorization to purchase safety door restrictor for Courthouse elevator upgrade to comply with code.

4.       Contract with Kathleen Carlson to provide administrative support, marketing & data entry services for remaining Community Emergency Response Training classes & a communications workshop.

5.       Temporary license agreement & stipulation for well access with William & Lisa Robak for observation of two domestic water wells for static water level measurements during the Wind River Nursery Aquifer test.

6.       Ratify approval of contract with Boart Longyear Company to provide well driller/pump services for Wind River Nursery Aquifer test.

7.       Ratify approval of contract with Waterwell Development & Surveys to provide an Aquifer Test Well Survey for Wind River Nursery.

8.       Ratify approval of contract with Water Truck Services, Inc to provide water truck services for Wind River Nursery Aquifer test.

9.       Rescind contract with Zakula Beal Auctioneers and postpone sale of 2006 surplus vehicles.

 

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

 

John Carlson, Emergency Management Coordinator reported on monitoring of Mount St. Helens, Community Emergency Response Team program, National Incident Management System compliance, Mass Casualty Incident Trailer, Self Defense Kit training, Emergency Operations Center progress, search and rescue, and pandemic flu.

 

Sheriff Dave Brown advised of possible upcoming budget issues with regards to a recent accident fatality.

 

Dolores Morgan, Interim Counseling Center Director reported on staffing, computer software needs and Human Services Advisory Board appointments.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 10:55 a.m. until 11:55 a.m., with no action taken.

 

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

 

A public hearing was held to consider a request from Brian and Jody Bea for a variance to Skamania County Code Chapter 12.03.040(B)(5) Private Road Requirement Design Standards for a proposed unnamed private road to be located off of Loop Road at approximately milepost 1.4 on the left to allow the road grade to exceed the maximum 12% grade requirement for lengths of 100 hundred feet or less.  Rich Lang, County Surveyor gave a staff report and recommended a conditioned approval, citing that the extensive excavation to construct a road up the ridge to access the parcels would result in an undue hardship to the applicants.  Brian Bea advised of his agreement with the proposed conditions.  The hearing was closed to public comment.  Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to acknowledge receipt of a letter from Gordy and Kami Rosander regarding concern that vehicles may have difficulty stopping at the bottom of the proposed road in icy or snowy weather.  Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve the variance, based on an undue hardship to the applicants, with two approach conditions and seven private road conditions as set out in the Final Order.

 

The meeting recessed at 2:05 p.m. Tuesday, October 24, 2006 and reconvened at 2:20 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce and Richardson present.

 

A public hearing was held to consider a request from Mark Emter for a variance to Skamania County Code Chapter 12.03.040(B)(1) Private Road Requirement Design Standards to allow a driving surface of less than the 20-foot surface dimension requirement for an existing 48-foot long, 14.5 foot wide bridge on an existing unnamed private road used to access the property located near the west county line south of the Lewis River.  Rich Lang, County Surveyor gave a staff report and recommended conditioned approval due to an undue hardship to add width to the existing bridge.  Mark Emter advised of his agreement with the proposed conditions.  The hearing was closed to public comment.  Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve the variance, based on an undue hardship to the applicant, with two private road conditions as set out in the Final Order.

 

The meeting recessed at 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, October 24, 2006 and reconvened at 9:05 a.m. Wednesday, October 25, 2006, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and McKee present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Public Works to discuss a Columbia Gorge Biomass Feasibility Study, review of 2005 right of way purchasing, Road Department retirement schedule, and Road Department snow plan, with no action taken.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Planning and Community Development to discuss a hearing examiner and the West End, with no action taken.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with the Recreation and Facilities Director to discuss Rock Creek, the status of current projects, coordination of Social Services Prevention Programs, and Christmas in the Gorge, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 25, 2006 and reconvened at 1:40 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and McKee present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Scott Pineo, Recreation and Facilities Director and Sheriff Dave Brown, to discuss DASA and CMASA six-year strategic planning, with no action taken.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with the Assessor, Planning and Community Development Director and the Prosecutor to discuss current use assessment programs and a proposed ordinance to increase the acreage requirements for the Timber Land Classification Program, with no action taken.

 

Commissioner McKee moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to hold a special meeting on Monday, November 13, 2006 at 5:30 p.m. for a public hearing to consider Ordinance 2006-14 adopting and establishing rules of implementation for Open Space, Agricultural and Timber Land Current Use Assessment Programs, proposing a minimum lot size of 20 acres to qualify for the Timber Land Current Use Program, with a one time opportunity to opt out of the program without paying any additional past tax, penalties, and/or interest; and a grandfather clause until the time of sale or transfer for landowners not wishing to opt out of the program.

 

Commissioner McKee moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to approve a letter to Hood River County Commissioners supporting a Regional Biomass Feasibility Study.

 

The meeting recessed at 3:20 p.m. Wednesday, October 25, 2006 and reconvened at 11:15 a.m. Thursday, October 26, 2006, with Commissioners Richardson and McKee present.

 

Commissioner McKee moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve vouchers for the period ending October 26, 2006 in the total amount of $43,944.00.

 

The meeting adjourned at 11:20 a.m. Thursday, October 26, 2006.

 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON