BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of August 22, 2006

 

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss budgets and personnel issues from 9:05 a.m. until 10:10 a.m. on Tuesday, August 22, 2006 with Commissioners Paul Pearce, Chair, James D. Richardson and Albert E. McKee present, with no action taken.

 

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 22, 2006 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners Paul Pearce, Chair, James D. Richardson and Albert E. McKee present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

The Board presented a retirement plaque to Dan Wallenmeyer, who served as Noxious Weed Coordinator for Skamania County.

 

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

1.       Minutes for week of August 14, 2006.

2.       Renewal of Mid-Columbia Children’s Council, Inc. Lease (Rock Creek Daycare)

3.       Approve letter of support to Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development for work to be done by Skamania County Department of Planning & Community Development in connection with the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Grant.

4.       Request from Ole Helgerson, WSU Extension to use emergency “fast track” hiring to replace Rod Thysell.

 

Scott Bryan, Assistant County Engineer reported on Public Works, Road Department, Solid Waste, Building Department, engineering, surveying/right of way, bridges, and equipment and rental revolving fund.

 

John Carlson, Emergency Management Coordinator reported on monitoring of Mount St. Helens, Community Emergency Response Team program, Wilderness Safety class, training needed for National Incident Management System compliance, status of Mass Casualty Incident Trailer, Self Defense Kit training, Emergency Operations Center progress, and search and rescue.

 

Sharon Tiffany, Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center Director reported on exhibits, upcoming events, marketing, fund raising activities, and administration.

 

Dolores Morgan, Interim Counseling Center Director advised of the need for on-call crisis services, and reported on a Human Services Board meeting, upcoming meeting on workplace safety, and budgets.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:20 a.m. Tuesday, August 22, 2006 and reconvened at 11:50 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and McKee present.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner McKee and motion carried unanimously to ratify the Board’s August 15, 2006 approval of two vouchers to Skamania Tire Center & Auto Repair in the amounts of $96.77 and $413.26.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner McKee and motion carried unanimously to acknowledge receipt of a letter from Lee Shefchek regarding safety issues on Forest Service 90 Road.  Commissioner Pearce stated he would contact Mr. Shefchek to advise this is not a county road.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:55 a.m. Tuesday, August 22, 2006 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and McKee present.

 

A public hearing was held, continued from June 12, 2006, to consider a request from Greg and Wendy Retzlaff for a variance to Skamania County Private Road Standards, Section 12.03.040(B)(1) to meet standard road width requirements for proposed Bounty Road (private) located off of Ryan Allen Road near Skamania County Transfer Site.  The hearing was continued to allow the applicant to begin the short plat amendment process to move the easement for Lots 2 and 3, and to obtain a private road maintenance agreement between the property owners for maintenance of the road.  Rich Lang, County Surveyor gave an updated staff report and advised the applicant intends to abandon the current easement and create a new access easement, proposed Bounty Road (private), in a different location.  Wendy Retzlaff requested consideration of a road width variance from 20 feet to 12 feet, with one turnout at the intersection of Neyland Road and proposed Bounty Road, and a turnaround at the end of Bounty Road.  Public Works advised they supported the proposal.  The hearing was closed to public comment.  Following Board discussion regarding sufficient width for the proposed road, Commissioner McKee moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to approve a road width variance at 16 feet, due to the expense of creating a 20 foot road in this circumstance, with an approved turnaround at the end of proposed Bounty Road, and a turnout at the intersection of Neyland Road and Bounty Road. 

 

A public hearing was held to consider an application from World Steward for a change of classification from Designated Timber Land to Current Use Open Space Conservation for tax parcels 03-09-26-0-0-0400 & 03-09-26-0-0-0400-06 located at 1922 Chenowith Road.  Sharon DoByne, Administrative Assistant for the Assessor gave a staff report and recommended approval of the classification change, advising that one-acre that currently has a house and garage would not be included in the classification change until the house and garage are removed from the property.  The hearing was closed to public comment.  Commissioner McKee moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to approve the change of classification from Designated Timber Land to Current Use Open Space Conservation as presented.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner McKee and motion carried unanimously to approve vouchers for the period ending August 22, 2006 in the amount of $235,769.39 and a voucher to the Department of Retirement Systems in the amount of $12,892.64.

 

The meeting recessed at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 22, 2006 and reconvened at 2:25 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and McKee present.

 

The Board participated in a workshop with Public Works to discuss personnel reclassifications, with no action taken.

 

The Board advised they would be attending a dinner meeting with representatives from Washington State Association of Counties at 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday, August 23, 2006 at Skamania Lodge.

 

The meeting recessed at 3:35 p.m. Tuesday, August 22, 2006 and reconvened at 9:00 a.m. Thursday, August 24, 2006, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and McKee present.

 

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss the Homeless Plan, claims, Area Agency on Aging, Accident & Incident Policy, and Swift Area letter, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 10:40 a.m. Thursday, August 24, 2006 and reconvened at 11:15 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and McKee present.

 

A public hearing was held, continued from August 2, 2006, to consider Ordinance 2006-08 repealing Ordinance 1994-07, Ordinance 2001-07 and Skamania County Code Chapter 8.14 Outdoor Burning, and adopting new sections to Chapter 8.14 related to Outdoor Burning.  The hearing was previously closed to public comment.  Following Board discussion regarding changes from the previous hearing, and beginning and ending dates for prohibiting debris fires, Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner McKee and motion carried unanimously to adopt Ordinance 2006-08, with the dates for prohibiting debris fires set from July 1st through September 30th of each year.

 

Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner McKee and motion carried unanimously to approve a voucher to Ric Hansen Entertainment, Inc. for the 2006 Fair Teen Dance in the amount of $445.00.

 

Commissioner McKee moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to authorize Senior Services to use the Oregon State contract to purchase two ADA mini-vans.

 

The Board advised Public Works to move forward with personnel reclassifications for the Assistant Road Supervisor positions, the Office Manager position at a Range 18, and advised that no Solid Waste positions would be considered for reclassification for 2007.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:45 a.m. Thursday, August 24, 2006 and reconvened at 3:00 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Pearce, Richardson and McKee present.

 

The Assessor advised of a project scheduled for 2007 to scan all microfiche images into digital images, and requested authorization to use available funds in the 2006 budget to start the project in 2006.  Commissioner Richardson moved, seconded by Commissioner McKee and motion carried unanimously to authorize the Assessor to use funds from the 2006 budget for the project.

 

The Board discussed publishing approved minutes of Board of Commissioners meetings.  Discussion included publication costs and a requirement to either publish or post minutes, with no action taken.  Further discussion will be considered at a future workshop.

 

Commissioner McKee moved, seconded by Commissioner Richardson and motion carried unanimously to exclude dogs from all County buildings, except service dogs in use or in training, effective immediately.

 

The meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, August 24, 2006.

 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON