BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of September 16, 2008

 

The Board met from 9:15 a.m. until 10:01 a.m. on Tuesday, September 16, 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.  The purpose of the meeting was to conduct an employment status hearing with regards to the County’s concerns with an employee’s access to sensitive records in certain offices due to pending felony changes.  Present was the employee, the employee’s attorneys and the County Prosecutor.  Following discussion regarding the County’s responsibility to ensure the integrity of sensitive records, Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to continue the hearing to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 17, 2008 for a decision regarding security issues and leave status.

 

The meeting was called to order at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, September 16, 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 Wittenberg, PUD Manager asked the Board to send a letter to Bonneville Power Administration supporting the PUD’s request for a Line-Load Interconnection to improve reliability of electric service to Skamania County.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to write a letter in support of the PUD’s request to Bonneville Power Administration for a Line-Load Interconnection to improve reliability of electric service to Skamania County.

 

Mary Repar asked about the status of a previous inquiry regarding an issue on Szydlo Road, and commented about letters from the County to the Bureau of Indian Affairs regarding the proposed casino in Cascade Locks.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried unanimously to approve the Consent Agenda as follows, with the exception of item #4 that was removed.

1.      Minutes for week of September 9, 2008.

2.      Planning and Community Development new Environmental Health Specialist II job description at Range 24.

3.      Acknowledge submission of a Superior Court’s grant application to Washington State Office of Public Defense for funding for public defense contracts.

4.      Authorize staff to cancel the bid award to Gresham Ford for the purchase of two (2) Hybrid Sport Utility Vehicles.

5.      Resolution 2008-46 Name changes for Planning and Community Development, Public Health, and Counseling Center Programs.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to advise Gresham Ford that Skamania County would no longer accept any bids from them.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to authorize staff to cancel the bid award to Gresham Ford for the purchase of two (2) Hybrid Sport Utility Vehicles.

 

Sealed bids were opened for the 2008 Fencing Project.  Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to forward the following bids to Public Works for review and recommendation:

1.      Columbia Gorge Landscape, Stevenson, WA  $24,010.80 including sales tax

2.      Sarkinen Construction, Inc, Vancouver, WA   $69,095.00 plus sales tax       

 

Larry Douglass, Public Works Director advised of the need to add an addendum to the bid proposal for Snow Plowing Forest Service 90 and 25 Roads for 2008.  Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to return all bids for Snow Plowing Forest Service 90 and 25 Roads for 2008 to Public Works.

 

Sealed bids were opened for Snow Plowing Skamania Mines Road for 2008.  Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to forward the following bid to Public Works for review and recommendation:

  1. McNealy Construction, Washougal, WA         $22,400.00

 

No bids were received for Snow Plowing Northwestern Lake Area for 2008.

 

Justin Bush, Noxious Weed Coordinator reported on garlic mustard eradication, various grants, completion of work at Pierce Wildlife Refuge and gave an update on Title II projects.

 

Department Heads presented the following reports.

§         Terry Blaisdell, Central Services Director reported on various projects.

§         Kirby Richards, Community Health Director reported on chemical dependency, mental health, developmental disabilities, and public health.

§         Karen Witherspoon, Community Development Director reported on WRIA 29A, Gorge Commission, environmental health, and 2010 Census.

§         Larry Douglass, Public Works Director reported on winter maintenance standards, Piper Road Slide, vehicle rental, Department of Transportation and building use, Engineering projects, County Road projects, and ER&R.

§         Darlene Dickson, Senior Services Director reported on a Department of Transportation Conference, training, and transportation programs.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:48 a.m. Tuesday, September 16, 2008 and reconvened at 11:09 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson, Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

Arnold Bell, Safety Committee Chair reported on the Safety Committee meeting of September 9, 2008.  The Board reviewed and discussed the following reports:

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

§         Report #2008-E-14.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried unanimously to agree with the Safety Committee’s findings and recommendations.

§         Report #2008-E-15.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried unanimously to agree with the Safety Committee’s findings and recommendations.

§         Report #2008-E-16.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried unanimously to agree with the Safety Committee’s findings and recommendations.

§         Report #2008-E-17.  Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to agree with the Safety Committee’s findings and recommendations.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to waive the fee for the use of Prindle Park on Saturday, September 27, 2008 for a memorial reception.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried unanimously to acknowledge receipt of a letter from Frank Stirby, Stevenson High School Science Teacher requesting permission to remove a large piece of petrified wood from Rock Creek for display at Stevenson High School, and to forward the request to Public Works for recommendation.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:23 a.m. Tuesday, September 16, 2008 and reconvened at 1:36 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson, Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

Director Jill Arens and Member Walt Loehrke from the Columbia River Gorge Commission presented updates on the Vital Signs Indicator Project, Urban Area boundary lines, compliance issues in the National Scenic Area, and upcoming budget.  Discussion included enforcement issues, economy, air quality, and track grinding.

 

The meeting recessed at 2:18 p.m. Tuesday, September 16, 2008 and reconvened at 2:34 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson, Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

Peggy Bryan, Director for Skamania County Economic Development Council introduced John Finke of the National Development Council.  Discussion included potential developable sites, county revenues, employment, tourist industry, and the need to look at urban concentration strategy.

 

The meeting recessed at 3:18 p.m. Tuesday, September 16, 2008 and reconvened at 9:27 a.m. Wednesday, September 17, 2008, with Commissioners Richardson and Pearce present.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve a tentative collective bargaining agreement with the Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Guild.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Public Works to discuss Carson Ridge Road, fuel dispensing system, vehicle rental/purchase, Skamania Mines Road vacation, snow plowing, and personnel, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 9:54 a.m. Wednesday, September 17, 2008 and reconvened at 10:28 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 10:28 a.m. until 10:40 a.m., with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:40 a.m. Wednesday, September 17, 2008 and reconvened at 11:00 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 11:00 a.m. until 11:16 a.m., with no action taken.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to extend the full compensation benefit for 60 days from September 6, 2008 or upon receipt of the report from the Independent Medical Examiner and subsequent testing, whichever comes first for an employee in the Sheriff’s Department.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:16 a.m. Wednesday, September 17, 2008 and reconvened at 11:30 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

An employment status hearing for an employee was held, continued from September 16, 2008, with regards to the County’s concerns with an employee’s access to sensitive records in certain offices due to pending felony changes.  Present was the employee, the employee’s attorneys and the County Prosecutor.  Commissioner Pearce advised of the County’s ability to lock down certain systems to eliminate specific security concerns for certain County departments.  Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to allow the employee to return to work as soon as measures are in place, work out certain security issues, reinstate back pay from the date of administrative leave, and revisit the issue if and when needed.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 11:43 a.m. until 11:59 a.m., with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:59 a.m. Wednesday, September 17, 2008 and reconvened at 9:33 a.m. Thursday, September 18, 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 September 18, 2008 in the total amount of $223,571.31.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously, for payroll purposes, to change the salary for the Undersheriff, Chief Criminal Deputy, Chief Civil Deputy and Jail Superintendent to be consistent with previous resolution, retroactive to January 1, 2008.

 

Following discussion of the need to support the Columbia River Gorge Commission with regards to the  Plan Amendment for the Broughton Resort Project, Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to intervene in the law suit on behalf of the Columbia River Gorge Commission.  Commissioner Pearce advised he would work to bring all Gorge Counties together to intervene in the suit.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding potential litigation from 9:55 a.m. until 9:58 a.m., with no action taken.

 

Following an update on public health issues, the Board agreed to send a letter to Clark County encouraging a working relationship.

 

The meeting adjourned at 10:07 a.m. Thursday, September 18, 2008.

 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON