BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of December 30, 2008

 

The Board met at 9:13 a.m. on Tuesday, December 30, 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 longevity pay, insurance administration, update on Senior Services, budget, agenda items, and federal forest funds, with no action taken.  The meeting recessed at 9:39 a.m.

 

The meeting was called to order at 10:06 a.m. Tuesday, December 30, 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 Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried unanimously to approve the Consent Agenda as follows:

1.      Minutes for week of December 23, 2008.

2.      Authorize budget transfer and payment of invoices up to $16,700 to Stephen A. Masini, AIA Consulting Architect, through contract with the Department of General Administration, Division of Facilities, Engineering and Architectural Services, for basic design services for the Courthouse Annex remodel.

3.      Resolution 2008-76 amending the revolving fund for Senior Services volunteer drivers’ mileage and other authorized travel expenses.

4.      Amendment #1 to letter of agreement with TDJ, CPA for preparation of the 2008 Skamania County Financial Statements and training of staff in reconciliation process.

5.      Contract amendment #1 with Northwest Treatment Services changing the fee schedule to add the cost of group therapy for intensive outpatient treatment for youth placed on the Special Sex Offender Disposition Alternative (SSODA) referred by the Skamania County Juvenile Court.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:09 a.m. Tuesday, December 30, 2008 and reconvened at 10:36 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson, Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

Department Heads presented the following reports, followed by discussion regarding the budget, with no action taken.

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

§         Karen Witherspoon, Community Development Director reported on environmental health, moratorium on unzoned land, Critical Areas Update, National Scenic Area funding, and end of the year report.

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

§         Scott Pineo, Facilities and Recreation Director reported on various facility projects.

§         Larry Douglass, Public Works Director reported on the Piper Road slide, Engineering Division projects, County Road projects, ER&R, Building Department, and Solid Waste.

§         Marilyn Butler, Administrative Services Director reported on the budget, personnel, and Senior Services.

§         Darlene Dickson, Senior Services Director reported on staff training, updating reports, and finalizing fiscal report.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve Ordinance 2008-13 extending the moratorium for an additional six months 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.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried unanimously to set a public hearing for 5:30 PM Tuesday, January 20, 2009 to receive public comment regarding action approving Ordinance 2008-13.

 

A public hearing was held to consider Resolution 2008-66 amending the Public Participation Program (PPP) for Comprehensive Plan updates and development regulation changes related to the 2006-2008 Critical Areas Update.  Karen Witherspoon, Community Development Director gave a staff report and advised that Skamania County is required to review and update, if necessary, its Comprehensive Plan and development regulations to be consistent and in continued compliance with the Growth Management Act only for Critical Areas.  She advised that additional time was still necessary for the County to complete the required changes, that the PPP needed to be revised to reflect the amended review timeline schedule,  Phase 3 would be shown as Phase 3 and Phase 4.  There were no comments from the public.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried unanimously to approve Resolution 2008-66 as presented.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:18 a.m. Tuesday, December 30, 2008 and reconvened at 11:39 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson, Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

The Board discussed health insurance opt-out by employees.  Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously that, effective December 30, 2008, full time employees would no longer be allowed to opt-out of health insurance.

 

The meeting recessed at 12:05 p.m. Tuesday, December 30, 2008 and reconvened at 1:33 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson, Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

A public hearing was held to consider adoption of Resolution 2008-71 establishing a comprehensive transportation improvement program for road and bridge construction work for the ensuing six calendar years.  Larry Douglass, Public Works Director gave an overview of the recommended construction project plans.  There were no comments from the public.  Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to adopt Resolution 2008-71 establishing the Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program for the years 2009 through 2014.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve Resolution 2008-72 adopting the 2009 Annual Transportation Plan, 2008 Bridge Inspection Report and Recommended Repair List.

 

A public hearing was held to consider Resolution 2008-77 setting Current Expense and County Road Property Tax Levies for 2009.  Marilyn Butler, Administrative Services Director gave a staff report on the proposed property tax levies.  There were no comments from the public.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried unanimously to approve Resolution 2008-77 as presented.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to certify the 2009 Current Expense and County Road Property Tax Levies to the Assessor.

 

A public hearing was held to consider Resolution 2008-78 adopting the 2009 Skamania County Budget.  Marilyn Butler, Administrative Services Director gave a staff report and presented proposed changes to the 2009 preliminary budget for adoption in the final budget.  There were no comments from the public.   Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to amend the proposed 2009 budget to include changes as presented.  Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to amend Resolution 2008-78 to change the date of the public hearing referred to in paragraph four to December 30, 2008.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried unanimously to approve Resolution 2008-78 adopting the 2009 Final Budget in the total amount of $55,262,498.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 2:01 p.m. until 2:43 p.m., with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 2:43 p.m. Tuesday, December 30, 2008 and reconvened at 10:05 a.m. Wednesday, December 31, 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 December 30, 2008 in the total amount of $42,759.09.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve Resolution 2008-80 partially repaying Current Expense Loans.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Facilities and Recreation to discuss 2008 Milestones and 2009 Goals, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:56 a.m. Wednesday, December 31, 2008 and reconvened at 11:17 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson, Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Community Development to discuss staffing issues, general department update, staff training, and zoning update, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:36 a.m. Wednesday, December 31, 2008 and reconvened at 12:17 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson, Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 12:17 p.m. until 12:52 p.m., with no action taken.

 

The meeting adjourned at 12:52 p.m. Wednesday, December 31, 2008.

 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON