BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of December 16, 2008

 

The Board met at 8:52 a.m. on Tuesday, December 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 for a staff meeting.  Discussion included Board appointments, cable franchise, medical insurance open enrollment, new employee orientation, Human Resource Module for Eden System, update on Senior Services transition, and payroll, with no action taken.

 

The Board discussed meeting updates, with no action taken.

 

The meeting was called to order at 10:07 a.m. Tuesday, December 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. 

 

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

1.      Minutes for week of December 9, 2008.

2.      Request for Proposals for Courthouse Custodial Services, set deadline to receive bids for 4:00 PM Monday, January 5, 2009, set date to open bids for 11:00 AM Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at the Facilities & Recreation Office located in the Rock Creek Center, 710 SW Rock Creek Drive.

3.      Authorize the purchase of vehicle #641 (1995 Ford Pickup) from ER&R for use as an AOC vehicle by Facilities and Recreation.

4.      Rescind the contract approved on November 4, 2008 with Daniel Ferber, MD.

5.      Contract with Daniel Ferber, MD, PC to provide medication management to mental health clients.

6.      Contract amendment #4 with Maul Foster & Alongi, Inc to extend the term to April 30, 2009 for development of a Reclamation Plan for Home Valley Pit.

7.      Agreement amendment #1 with Washington State Recreation and Conservation Funding Board amending the conditions of a grant made from the Outdoor Recreation Account to assist in funding the Rock Creek Pond Water Access Facilities to include an inadvertent discovery plan.

8.      Memorandum of agreement with Robert K. Weidner to serve as Washington, DC government relations advisor to Skamania County.

9.      Submittal of Skamania County Underwood Community Wildfire Protection Plan and Little White Salmon Drainage Community Wildfire Protection Plan to Department of Natural Resources.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and  motion carried unanimously to table the Memorandum of Agreement with the USDA Forest Service and Washington State Historic Preservation Officer regarding historic properties associated with Wind River Nursery conveyance for two weeks to allow for discussion with the Prosecutor.

 

Sharon Tiffany, Interpretive Center Director requested an exception to the 4-10 work schedule as allowed per resolution, and reported on exhibits, events, marketing and fund raising, and administration.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried unanimously to authorize an exception to the 4-10 work schedule and allow Sharon Tiffany to remain on the five days per week 8-hours per day work schedule.

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to approve a 2009-2011 Department of Transportation Regional Mobility Grant and letter of support for the Skamania Transit Improvements Project.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:20 a.m. Tuesday, December 16, 2008 and reconvened at 10:30 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson, Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

Department Heads presented the following reports, followed by discussion regarding filling vacant appointed positions and payroll, with no action taken.

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

§         Karen Witherspoon, Community Development Director reported on environmental health, WRIA 29A, office staffing, 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 staffing plan, budget, and basic program issues.

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

 

The meeting recessed at 11:01 a.m. Tuesday, December 16, 2008 and reconvened at 11:10 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson and Tolfree present.  Commissioner Pearce joined the meeting at approximately 11:15 a.m.

 

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

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

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

§         Report #2008-18.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to agree with the Safety Committee’s findings and recommendations.

§         Report #2008-21.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to agree with the Safety Committee’s findings and recommendations.

§         Report #2008-22.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried unanimously to agree with the Safety Committee’s findings and recommendations, noting that the incident was only preventable due to defective equipment.

§         Report #2008-23.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried unanimously to agree with the Safety Committee’s findings and recommendations.

§         Report #2008-E-19.  Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Pearce and motion carried unanimously to agree with the Safety Committee’s findings and recommendations.

 

The Board discussed transaction fees for using debit/credit cards for electronic payments, agreeing that the County would pick up the cost of the transaction fee as the cost of doing business.

 

The Board discussed a proposed resolution for the creation of a Homeless Housing and Assistance Fund.  Discussion included creation of the fund, the amount of dollars, and the transfer of funds, with no action taken.

 

The Board discussed a proposed resolution establishing legal holidays for 2009, with no action taken.  The Clerk of the Board was directed to forward a copy of the proposed resolution to all elected officials and department heads.

 

The meeting recessed at 12:04 p.m. Tuesday, December 16, 2008 and reconvened at 2:08 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson, Pearce and Tolfree present.

 

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

 

Commissioner Pearce moved, seconded by Commissioner Tolfree and motion carried unanimously to authorize the purchase of Barracuda 450 Arc hiver to archive email necessary for conducting county business.

 

The Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 2:34 p.m. until 2:40 p.m., with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 2:40 p.m. Tuesday, December 16, 2008 and reconvened at 9:53 a.m. Wednesday, December 17, 2008, with Commissioners Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Public Works to discuss Home Valley Pit Reclamation, County Road Crew work schedule, and a letter to Birkenfelds, with no action taken.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Facilities and Recreation to discuss water rights and the status of the structure at Wind River Business Park, and the swim pool pump, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:36 a.m. Wednesday, December 17, 2008 and reconvened at 10:51 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Community Development to discuss updates on environmental health and planning, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:32 a.m. Wednesday, December 17, 2008 and reconvened at 9:45 a.m. Thursday, December 18, 2008, with Commissioners Richardson and Tolfree present.

 

Commissioner Tolfree moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried to approve vouchers for the period ending December 17, 2008 in the total amount of $81,726.49.

 

The meeting adjourned at 9:52 a.m. Thursday, December 18, 2008.

 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON