BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of July 29, 2008

 

The Board met at 9:15 a.m. on Tuesday, July 29, 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, for a staff meeting.  Discussion included scheduling, training, budget, public health, and the agenda policy, with no action taken.

 

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 29, 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. 

 

Mary Repar inquired about the status of a project in the vicinity of Szydlo Road, advised of her concerns regarding Cascade Locks interchanges, advised of a Section 20 consultation letter regarding community input for the proposed casino in Cascade Locks, and requested an update of the timelines for the Critical Areas Updates.

 

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

1.      Minutes for week of July 22, 2008.

2.      Acknowledge approval and transmittal to Washington Gorge Action Programs, as the lead agency, of an application to the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development for funding for Transitional Housing, Operating and Rent (THOR) Program Expansion.

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

4.      Termination of Exclusive Services Agreement with Skamania County Prosecutor Peter S. Banks dated April 17, 2007, effective July 1, 2008.

5.      Agreement with Clark County to provide medical examiner services for assistance in the investigation of deaths which occur in the County and fall under the jurisdiction of the Prosecuting Attorney/Coroner.

6.      Contract amendment #3 with USDA Forest Service to modify the authority, add projects and increase funding for the Title III Inmate Work Crew Program.

7.      Contract amendment #1 with Aptitude Solutions to increase the amount by $10,000 due to additional hours for implementation of the new recording software/new recording system for the Auditor.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:09 a.m. Tuesday, July 29, 2008 and reconvened at 10:32 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson, Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

Department Heads presented reports, followed by discussion regarding vehicle use policy exceptions, “How Am I Driving” stickers for County vehicles, the need for an emergency phone at Salmon Falls Park and Ride, supplemental budget, Bluegrass Festival, and Rock Creek material.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to allow an exception to the vehicle color requirement for vehicle purchases for 2009.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried unanimously to declare the materials from the Rock Creek Conveyance Projects surplus and available for sale at $3.50 per cubic yard.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:57 a.m. Tuesday, July 29, 2008 and reconvened at 11:34 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson, Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

The Board discussed an upcoming joint workshop with the Planning Commission regarding zoning, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:55 a.m. Tuesday, July 29, 2008 and reconvened at 1:36 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson, Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Administrative Services to discuss Public Health job descriptions and a leave without pay request for a Senior Services employee, with no action taken.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve a new job description for the Prosecutor Office Manager position at Range 19, effective January 1, 2008.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to allow the Chair to sign a contract with Wubben Brothers, Inc, to be ratified by the Board on August 5, 2008, for the purchase of excavated materials from Rock Creek.

 

The Board participated in a 2009 pre-submittal budget workshop with the Auditor, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 2:43 p.m. Tuesday, July 29, 2008 and reconvened at 3:44 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson, Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding litigation from 3:44 p.m. until 4:00 p.m., with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 29, 2008 and reconvened at 4:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson, Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

A public hearing was held to consider Ordinance 2008-09 Railroad Track Grinding Regulations.  Marlon Morat, Skamania County Fire Marshall gave an overview of past communications with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad.  Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to amendment the Ordinance as follows:

§         Correct all errors to Section numbering throughout the Ordinance.

§         Section 8.70.020 Definitions.  Delete the word entity in the sentence and change the word other to others.

§         Add a new Section 8.70.090 Penalty to read: It shall be a civil infraction for any violation of this ordinance, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000.00 per violation.  Any violation which occurs over a period in excess of 24 hours shall be considered as two separate and distinct violations for purposes of enforcing the fines hereunder.   The Skamania County District Court shall have jurisdiction to review and enforce any fine hereunder.

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to acknowledge receipt of a letter from Fire District #5.  Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to acknowledge receipt of a letter from Dr. Helen M. Paulus.  The hearing was opened for public comment.

§         Matthew Keller of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Maintenance advised of their agreement with Section 8.70.060 items A through D, requested to have one point of contact at the County, advised that appointed personnel referred to in item E of Section 8.70.060 would need to comply with BNSF’s process, advised of their 24-hour fire watch following grinding operations and offered to make high rail inspections.  He also stated that they would not grind in high risk areas without special equipment and advised of skipping Skamania County this month due to the risk of fire.

§         Sam Madsen, former contractor with BNSF advised of fire suppression equipment carried during grinding and invited fire districts to look at his company’s equipment.

§         Scott Griswold, Fire District #2 Commissioner asked for clarification of the penalty clause.

§         Sheriff Dave Brown recommended that the Dispatch Center at the Sheriff’s Office be the single point of contact.

The hearing was closed to public comment.  Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to make the following amendments:

§         Section 8.70.060(B).  Delete the words County Fire Marshall’s and replace with Skamania County Dispatch at Skamania County Sheriff’s.

§         Section 8.70.060(E).  Add the wording “with appropriate training,” after the word personnel.

§         Section 8.70.060(F).  Change the sentence to read: The entity will provide two high rail inspections following the conclusion of each operational shift of the grinding operations, the first to occur within three hours and the second to occur within 12 hours.

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve Ordinance 2008-09 as amended.

 

The Board advised they would be participating in a joint workshop with the Planning Commission at Rock Creek Center at 6:00 p.m. this evening regarding zoning.

 

The meeting recessed at 5:02 p.m. Tuesday, July 29, 2008 and reconvened at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday, July 30, 2008, with Commissioners Richardson and Tolfree present.  Commissioner Pearce was present via phone.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Public Works to discuss Rock Creek, Skamania Mines Road, and Mabee Mines Road, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 9:41 a.m. Wednesday, July 30, 2008 and reconvened at 10:17 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson and Tolfree present.  Commissioner Pearce was present via phone.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Planning and Community Development to discuss zoning, Board of Health agenda, and a workshop with the Hearing Examiner, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:18 a.m. Wednesday, July 30, 2008 and reconvened at 9:45 a.m. Thursday, July 31, 2008, with Commissioners Richardson, Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve vouchers for the period ending July 29, 2008 in the total amount of $553.33.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve vouchers for the period ending July 31, 2008 in the total amount of $162,646.66.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 9:51 a.m. until 10:40 a.m., with no action taken.

 

The meeting adjourned at 10:40 a.m. Thursday, July 31, 2008.

 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON