BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of August 19, 2008

 

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners James D. Richardson, Chair, Paul Pearce and Jamie Tolfree present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance. 

 

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

1.      Minutes for week of August 12, 2008.

2.      Acknowledge receipt of a Claim for Damages #2007-10A-2 from Beth E. Pinson, as guardian of the person and the Estate of Krysta Necole Pinson.

3.      Acknowledge receipt of a Claim for Damages #2007-10B-2 from Beth E. Pinson and Britton T. Pinson.

4.      Acknowledge receipt of a Claim for Damages #2007-10C-2 from Britton T. Pinson and Beth E. Pinson.

5.      Authorize Central Services to purchase six (6) APC Smart – UPS RM 2200VA to replace the existing server UPS which are outdated and are malfunctioning.

6.      Cooperative agreement with Underwood Conservation District for reimbursement to Facilities & Recreation for purchasing plant and sign material used as part of the Rock Creek Native Plant Demonstration Project.

7.      Authorize payment for mileage for Casey Roeder, to be paid from Commissioners Travel, for travel to St. Helens Advisory Committee meetings for the duration of the meetings.

8.      Authorize the purchase of a Fingerprint Machine for the Sheriff’s Civil Office.

9.      Rescind Resolution 2002-76 Formation of Skamania County Health Board and Health Department, approved on December 30, 2002.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:02 a.m. Tuesday, August 19, 2008 and reconvened at 10:19 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson, Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

Sharon Tiffany, Interpretive Center Director reported on exhibits, events, marketing/fundraising, and administration.

 

Department Heads presented reports, followed by discussion regarding the 2009 Budget submittal deadline, Public Works audit review, Senior Services staff shortages, overview of the Fair, RSN audit, and the transit program, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:58 a.m. Tuesday, August 19, 2008 and reconvened at 11:15 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

Buzz Davis, Safety Committee Representative reported on the Safety Committee meeting of August 12, 2008.  The Board discussed the following reports:

§         Report #2008-10.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to agree with the Safety Committee’s findings and recommendations.

§         Report #2008-11.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to agree with the Safety Committee’s findings and recommendations.

§         Report #2008-E-11.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to agree with the Safety Committee’s findings and recommendations.

§         Report #2008-E-12.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to agree with the Safety Committee’s findings and recommendations.

§         Report #2008-E-13.Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried to agree with the Safety Committee’s findings and recommendations.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:21 a.m. Tuesday, August 19, 2008 and reconvened at 1:35 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson, Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

A public hearing was held to consider amending 2008 Title III Project funding for North Country Emergency Medical Services to provide expanded services for medical emergencies on Forest Service lands and roads in Skamania County for 2008, increasing the funding to $80,000 and administrative fees to 12.5%.  Marilyn Butler, Administrative Services Director presented a staff report.  Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve additional funding for North Country Emergency Medical Services 2008 Title III Project, and authorize an amendment to the current contract.

 

The Board discussed the budget, with no action taken.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 1:45 p.m. until 2:02 p.m., with no action taken.

 

A public hearing was held to consider applications for reclassification from Designated Forest Land to Timber Land for Current Use Assessment from Jonathon and Peggy Ohlson for tax parcel 03-10-22-0-0-0902-00 and Jason and Shelly Spadaro for tax parcel 03-10-22-0-0-0903-00.  Gabe Spencer, Assessor presented a staff report.  Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve Open Space Taxation Agreements for Jonathon and Peggy Ohlson for tax parcel 03-10-22-0-0-0902-00 and Jason and Shelly Spadaro for tax parcel 03-10-22-0-0-0903-00.

 

The meeting recessed at 2:12 p.m. Tuesday, August 19, 2008 and reconvened at 2:32 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson, Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a joint workshop with Public Utility District No. 1 Commissioners Clyde Leach, Curt Esch and Dennis Gale, Manager Bob Wittenberg, Auditor Chris Iobst, and Project Manager Humaira Falkenberg.  Discussion included joint working opportunities, water supply, electric power needs and supply, and economic opportunities, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 4:10 p.m. Tuesday, August 19, 2008 and reconvened at 5:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson, Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

A public hearing was held to receive public comments regarding the Board’s action of July 3, 2008 adopting  Ordinance 2008-08 extending for six months the moratorium on the acceptance and processing of building, mechanical, and/or plumbing permits on any parcel of land 20 acres or larger that was created by deed since January 1, 2006, the acceptance and processing of land divisions (subdivisions and short subdivisions), and the acceptance and processing of State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) checklists related to forest practice conversions for any parcel located within unincorporated Skamania County that is not currently located within a zoning classification or the area generally known as the Swift Subarea of Skamania County until the zoning classifications related to the 2007 Comprehensive Plan and the Critical Areas Update Process are complete.  Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director presented a staff report and recommended letting the moratorium stand as adopted on July 3, 2008.  Comments from the public included a request for clarification of the effective date of the extension.  Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to acknowledge receipt of a letter from the Friends of the Gorge.  The hearing was closed without further action.

 

The meeting recessed at 5:40 p.m. Tuesday, August 19, 2008 and reconvened at 9:20 a.m. Wednesday, August 20, 2008, with Commissioners Richardson, Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Public Works to discuss Rock Creek and ER&R proposed policy changes, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 9:52 a.m. Wednesday, August 20, 2008 and reconvened at 10:15 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson, Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Planning and Community Development to discuss the purchase of a new vehicle, Environmental Health transition, and an update on a recent Planning Commission meeting, with no action taken.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 11:00 a.m. until 11:10 a.m., with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:10 a.m. Wednesday, August 20, 2008 and reconvened at 11:30 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson, Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Facilities and Recreation to discuss Employment Security Department rental renewal, After School Program, childcare, and moving the modular building, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 20, 2008 and reconvened at 1:37 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson, Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Administrative Services to discuss proposed changes to the Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy, Personnel Policy, and Vehicle Use Policy, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 3:39 p.m. Wednesday, August 20, 2008 and reconvened at 9:39 a.m. Thursday, August 21, 2008, with Commissioners Richardson, Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried unanimously to approve vouchers for the period ending August 21, 2008 in the total amount of $287,337.19.

 

The Board discussed the Forest Service water system at Wind River Business Park, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 9:45 a.m. Thursday, August 21, 2008 and reconvened at 10:30 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson, Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

Nancy Ryke, Mt. Adams District Ranger, Tom Mulder, Mount St. Helens Monument District Ranger, and Joe Gates, Forest Silviculturist gave updates on Forest Service activities.  Discussion included organization changes, budget effects due to fire suppression activities, fire suppression rehabilitation, road damage repairs, emergency assistance on the west side of Mount St. Helens and the use of Title III funds for emergency assistance, and the need for joint workshops to discuss various Forest Service projects.  Joe Gates gave a presentation on the Gifford Pinchot 5-Year Timber Action Plan.  Discussion included drafts of ranking of priorities planning areas, summary of age classes by analysis area, summary of stands for thinning by analysis area, timber sales and road maintenance.

 

The meeting adjourned at 11:43 a.m. Thursday, August 21, 2008.

 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON