BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of July 15, 2008

 

The Board met at 9:23 a.m. on Tuesday, July 15, 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 to discuss various projects, scheduling, updates on attendance at various meetings and new office hour schedules proposed by departments, with no action taken.

 

The meeting was called to order at 10:03 a.m. Tuesday, July 15, 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. 

 

Bob Talent advised of concerns regarding fire danger and offered to contribute to the cost of signage, and commended the Planning Commission for their hard work.

 

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

1.      Minutes for week of July 8, 2008.

2.      Set a public hearing for 2:00 PM Tuesday, August 19, 2008 to consider applications for reclassification from Designated Forest Land to Timber Land for Current Use Assessment from Jonathon and Peggy Ohlson, tax parcel 03-10-22-0-0-0902-00 and Jason and Shelly Spadaro, tax parcel 03-10-22-0-0-0903-00.

3.      Contract with Military Department, Emergency Management Division to provide Homeland Security funding for local emergency management programs.

4.      Contract with Washington State Department of Agriculture to provide funding to control invasive knotweed species within Skamania County and select sites with Klickitat County.

5.      Maintenance Guidelines for Winter Snow and Ice Activities.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to table a proposed wage increase for Senior Services Homecare Aides as, approved by the Legislature effective July 1, 2008, pending discussion with the Senior Services Director.

 

Justin Bush, Noxious Weed Coordinator reported on updates to the Weed website, a volunteer workday with Stevenson High School at Beacon Rock, completion of work at Pierce Wildlife Refuge, update on Title II projects, training, implementation of the 2008 Work Plan for application of herbicides on the national forest, and advised that Shiny Geranium would likely be classified as a Class A noxious weed in 2009.

 

Following discussion with the Senior Services Director, Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried unanimously to approve a wage increase for Senior Services Homecare Aides as, approved by the Legislature effective July 1, 2008.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:19 a.m. Tuesday, July 15, 2008 and reconvened at 10:33 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson, Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

The Board met with Department Heads and Elected Officials to discuss implementation of four 10-hour days per week work schedule, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:04 a.m. Tuesday, July 15, 2008 and reconvened at 11:07 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson, Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

 

The Board discussed new office hours for implementation of the four 10-hour days per week work schedule, with no action taken.

 

Arnold Bell, Safety Committee Chair reported on the Safety Committee meeting of July 8, 2008.  Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to agree with the Safety Committee’s findings and recommendations for Reports #2008-E-10 and #2008-09.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with the Treasurer and Auditor to discuss the purchase of a debit/credit card system to enable the public to submit payments electronically, with no action taken.

 

The Board was in agreement to allow an additional .5 FTE Public Health Environmental Health Specialist for the remainder of 2008.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:52 a.m. Tuesday, July 15, 2008 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson, Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

A public hearing was held to consider Ordinance 2008-06 amending Skamania County Code Title 22 to include Gorge Commission Plan Amendments PA-06-04 and PA-06-05; and to consider Ordinance 2008-07 Skamania County Code Title 22 Map Amendment, amending the designation of Parcel Numbers 01-05-09-0-0-0606-00 and 01-05-09-0-0-0608-00 from Special Management Area Agriculture to General Management Small-Scale Agriculture (40).  Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director presented a staff report.  Comments from the public included issues regarding the lack of standards for horse boarding.  The hearing was closed to public comment.  Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to amend Ordinance 2008-06 to add language requiring the conservation district animal unit per acre guidelines be used as the standard for the number of horses allowed for horse boarding.  Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve Ordinance 2008-06 as amended.  Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve Ordinance 2008-07 as presented.

 

The Board discussed new office hours for implementation of the four 10-hour days per week work schedule, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 1:57 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, 2008 and reconvened at 2:03 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson, Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

The Board discussed new office hours for implementation of the four 10-hour days per week work schedule with the County Clerk, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 2:41 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, 2008 and reconvened at 3:02 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson, Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

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

 

The Board discussed the Cold Ridge Fire and Wind River Business Park, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 3:48 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, 2008 and reconvened at 9:22 a.m. Wednesday, July 16, 2008, with Commissioners Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Public Works to discuss Rock Creek, Winter Maintenance Guidelines, Birkenfeld property, and FEMA, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:08 a.m. Wednesday, July 16, 2008 and reconvened at 10:25 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 long range planning list, milfoil, WRIA, storm water plan update, environmental health update, and compliance updates on current permits, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:06 a.m. Wednesday, July 16, 2008 and reconvened at 11:14 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson, Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

Following discussion regarding new office hours for implementation of the four 10-hour days per week work schedule and with reference to the Board’s July 2, 2008 memo to County Employees and Officials, Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to rescind the effective date of August 4, 2008 and all criteria with the effective date of July 7, 2008 would remain at this time.

 

Commissioner Tolfree advised that Bill Wilkins of W.K.O., Inc. extended an invitation for a tour of the Carson mill site.

 

Commissioner Pearce gave an overview of a Department of Transportation meeting regarding Cape Horn Trail Crossing and SR14 Improvement Project.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:37 a.m. Wednesday, July 16, 2008 and reconvened at 1:35 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson, Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

The Board discussed transporting material from Rock Creek to Dallesport, and county funding, with no action taken.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Administrative Services to discuss the budget, personnel, policy issues, Forest Service issues, risk management, and scheduling, with no action taken.

 

The Board participated in a 2009 pre-submittal budget workshop with the Department of Corrections and the Prosecutor, with no action taken.

 

The Board participated in a 2009 pre-submittal budget workshop with the Board of Equalization and Boundary Review Board, with no action taken.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to authorize department heads to specifically and in writing delegate their authority to named supervisors and/or managers for approval of vouchers and/or payroll matters, including leave extensions, and to notify the Board of such delegation.

 

The meeting recessed at 3:16 p.m. Wednesday, July 16, 2008 and reconvened at 5:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson, Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a joint meeting with the City of Stevenson regarding Rock Creek Slide. Present from the City were Mayor Dave McKenzie, Administrator Mary Ann Duncan-Cole, Public Works Director Eric Hansen, and Council Members Judith Lanz, Monica Masco, Kathleen Morrow, and Chris Ford.  Larry Douglass, Skamania County Public Works Director gave a presentation which included a summary of geology reports, biological assessment, de-watering, drilling of test holes, Port of Skamania County project, slope stabilization, mitigation update, status of US Army Corps of Engineers permit, large woody debris cleanup, property agreements, conveyance need and plan, proposed work schedule and plan, material quantity estimates, cost estimate, material removal, and Skamania County funding expenditures.  Eric Hansen gave an update on the surface water well. Discussion included removal of accumulated material, the need to post no trespassing of the area between Rock Creek Bridge and Ryan Allen Bridge, City sewer treatment plant, Rock Creek Bridge, costs, and the need for future joint meetings.

 

The meeting recessed at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, July 16, 2008 and reconvened at 9:35 a.m. Thursday, July 17, 2008, with Commissioners Richardson, Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

Kirby Richards, Community Health Director advised of issues regarding public health payments to Clark County and advised of the Auditor’s request for all future payments to be approved by the Board.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve vouchers for the period ending July 16, 2008 in the total amount of $173,147.07.

 

The Board discussed Crossroad’s funding and a potential use for milfoil, with no action taken.

 

The meeting adjourned at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, July 17, 2008.

 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON