BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of December 9, 2008

 

The Board met at 8:50 a.m. on Tuesday, December 9, 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 Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 8:50 a.m. until 9:56 a.m., with no action taken.

 

The meeting was called to order at 10:06 a.m. Tuesday, December 9, 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 2, 2008.

2.      Special Occasion liquor license for American Legion Post 122 for December 31, 2008.

3.      Certification of 2009 Property Tax Levies from taxing districts for collection in 2009.

4.      Set a public hearing for 11:00 AM Tuesday, December 30, 2008 to consider Resolution 2008-66 amending the Critical Areas Update Public Participation Program.

5.      Set a public hearing for 1:30 PM Tuesday, December 30, 2008 to consider adoption of the Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program.

6.      Agreement with ESRI, Inc for maintenance of ArcEditor GIS software.

7.      Contract amendment #3 with Flowing Solutions to extend the term to December 31, 2009 for providing services for Wind River Boat Ramp permitting design.

8.      Contract with Central Washington Comprehensive Mental Health to provide consultation services to Community Health staff utilizing mental health specialists.

 

Peggy Bryan, Executive Director for Skamania County Economic Development Council reported on the Wind River Business Park.  Discussion included potential tenants, update on leases, maintenance, HUD grant closeout, and uses for the site.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to acknowledge receipt of a letter of retirement from Darlene Dickson, Senior Services Director, effective January 1, 2009.

 

The Board advised of receiving a letter from Gene Burke of Carson, WA.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:25 a.m. Tuesday, December 9, 2008 and reconvened at 10:34 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson, Tolfree and Pearce present.

 

Department Heads presented the following reports, followed by discussion regarding transaction fees for payments by credit/debit cards, with no action taken.  The Board advised that Marilyn Butler would be serving as Interim Director for Senior Services for a six-month interim process.

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

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

§         Karen Witherspoon, Community Development Director reported on WRIA 29A, credit cards, environmental health, and Critical Areas Update.

§         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.

§         Darlene Dickson, Senior Services Director reported on completion of grant applications for transportation programs, personnel and contracts.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to

allow the acceptance of hydrology reports as proof of water for land divisions, if the hydrology report was submitted to the Community Development Department prior to October 29, 2008.

 

The Board discussed appointments for Washington Gorge Action Programs Board of Directors, with no action taken.

 

Commissioner Pearce gave an update on a potential economic stimulus package proposed by Congress, and a request from Washington State Association of Counties to gather data to support an initial listing of potential projects in Washington State that could receive funding from a federal economic stimulus package.

 

The Board discussed decommissioning of forest service roads, with no action taken.

 

The Board participated in a workshop to discuss options for health insurance, with no action taken.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to select Washington Counties Insurance Fund option #1 and Kaiser Permanente option #1 for health insurance for 2009, with the County agreeing to pick up 9.55% of the premium increase.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to discontinue the contract with BCI for insurance broker services, effective in 30 days.

 

The Board advised they would be attending an elected official lunch at River’s Edge Café at 12:00 p.m. this date.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:33 a.m. Tuesday, December 9, 2008 and reconvened at 1:35 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson, Tolfree and Pearce present.

 

The Board met with Nancy Ryke Gifford Pinchot District Ranger and Neil Oliver, Gifford Pinchot District Engineer for an annual meeting, as required in the Wind River Nursery (WRN) Conveyance Agreement, to discuss shared infrastructure.  Nancy Ryke advised that the County needed to submit a letter requesting an extension of the deadline for separation from the Forest Service water system.  Neil Oliver presented FY2008 Wind River water and septic system maintenance costs and an estimate for CY 2009 water and septic system maintenance.  Discussion included shifting the water infrastructure process to Facilities and Recreation, steps for taking over the water system, separation of the drain field, and storm water.

 

The meeting recessed at 2:08 p.m. Tuesday, December 9, 2008 and reconvened at 2:43 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson, Tolfree and Pearce present.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 2:43 p.m. until 3:08 p.m., with no action taken.

The Board participated in a workshop to discuss a proposed policy for county business email, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 3:58 p.m. Tuesday, December 9, 2008 and reconvened at 9:08 a.m. Wednesday, December 10, 2008, with Commissioners Richardson and Pearce present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Administrative Services to discuss Interim Senior Services Director and health insurance, with no action taken.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Public Works to discuss Birkenfeld property, Regional Mobility Grant, Stevenson fuel tank, Home Valley Pit reclamation plan, and stimulus options, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 9:56 a.m. Wednesday, December 10, 2008 and reconvened at 10:11a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson and Pearce present.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve payroll for the period ending November 30, 2008 in the total amount of $1,248,243.56.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Facilities and Recreation to discuss Wind River modular cleanup, agenda items, Point of Sale Software purchase, and pool pump update, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:45 a.m. Wednesday, December 10, 2008 and reconvened at 10:59 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson and Pearce present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Community Development to discuss staff training, Office Assistant position, Dougan Falls Water System violation, Public Health contracts, and violation updates, with no action taken.

 

The Board discussed homeless housing funds and health insurance, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:17 a.m. Wednesday, December 10, 2008 and reconvened at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, December 11, 2008, with Commissioner Richardson present.  Commissioner Pearce was present via phone.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve vouchers for the period ending December 11, 2008 in the total amount of $222,512.39.

 

Commissioner Tolfree joined the meeting via phone at approximately 10:02 a.m.

 

A public hearing was held to consider Resolution 2008-69 Supplemental Budget #6 for 2008.  Marilyn Butler, Administrative Services Director advised of additions to budgets for the Auditor, Veterans’ Relief, ER&R, and Central Services.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried unanimously to approve Resolution 2008-69, with additions.

 

Commissioner Pearce advised of participating in a recent conference call regarding the Resource Advisory Committee’s 2009-2010 projects, and advised of the need to revise allocations for Title II and Title III funds for Federal Fiscal Year 2008.  Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to change the allocation of project funds for Federal Fiscal Year 2008 for Title II to 11% and for Title III to 4%.

 

The Board discussed the personal holiday for employees working 4-10’s and were in agreement that the decision regarding using the holiday would be left to department heads and elected officials.

 

The meeting adjourned at 10:17 a.m. Thursday, December 11, 2008.

 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON