BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
MEETING for WEEK of March 10, 2003
The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Monday, March 10, 2003, with all Commissioners present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Darlene Dickson, Senior Services Director, presented a comparison report on the units of service provided by Senior Services for the past ten years for transportation, personal care hours, meals, information and assistance contacts, and case management contracts.
Resolution 2003-08 was approved, establishing uniform waste disposal fees for all patrons of the Mt. Pleasant, Stevenson and Underwood Transfer Sites.
A contract was approved with KPFF Consulting Engineers to provide engineering design and specifications for construction of parking and boat ramp facilities for the Drano Lake Improvement Project.
Brent Holman, Public Works Director/County Engineer, reported on issues at Rock Creek Cove and advised he will schedule a meeting to discuss the same. He also reported on repairs on Canyon Creek Road, snow accumulation on Old Man Pass, and the Equipment, Rental and Revolving Fund project.
Consent Agenda Items were approved as follows:
A. Minutes for week of March 3, 2003.
B. Acknowledge receipt of letter from David Purcell regarding Skamania Mines Road.
The Board discussed the letter from David Purcell, who is requesting the County to vacate the last 1,800 feet of Skamania Mines Road. The Board referred this request to the County Engineer.
Payroll was approved for the period ending February 28, 2003 in the amount of $924,941.71.
An application was approved with Washington State Association of Counties for Group Membership for the Retrospective Rating Program.
Following discussion of the proposed North Bonneville Hamilton Park Senior Housing Project, motion was approved to direct Marilyn Breckel, Director of Administrative Services, to draft a letter of support to Columbia Cascade Housing for this project.
Auditor Mike Garvison advised he would be traveling to Cowlitz County this week to look at a used vote tabulation machine and will report his findings.
The meeting recessed at 11:45 a.m. Monday, March 10, 2003 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. the same date, with all Commissioners present.
Jim Shank, Department of Natural Resources, presented a quarterly report on the projection of income from state forest board lands and trust sales in Skamania County for fiscal years 2003 and 2004.
The Board met in executive session from 2:45 p.m. until 3:25 p.m. regarding litigation, with no action taken.
The meeting recessed at 3:25 p.m. Monday, March 10, 2003 and reconvened at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 11, 2003, with Commissioners Talent and McKee present. Commissioner Quinn was absent due to attending a Columbia Gorge Commission Meeting at The Dalles, OR.
Ken Cohen, Community Events and Recreation Director, reported on Rock Creek bank stabilization, Home Valley ball fields, and gave updates on various programs, activities and projects.
Tony Estey, Buildings and Grounds Director, advised of the need to remove the old playground equipment and wall at Rock Creek Park. The demolition time will be charged to repairs and maintenance and considered as a contribution to the playground project, and the remainder of the playground project will be completed as a capital improvement project and with donations.
Following discussion of pursuing funds for an RV dump site at the Fairgrounds area, motion was approved to establish a user fee of $2.00 at the Carson RV Dump Site, and install an iron fee station with signage advising that proceeds will be used for construction and maintenance of RV dump stations. The Board was in agreement to allow reimbursement from proceeds collected to the Buildings and Grounds Department for the initial $300.00 cost of the iron fee station.
Following discussion of charging launch fees for Wind River and Drano Lake, established by Resolution 2002-16 dated April 25, 2002, motion was approved to charge the launch fee and install an iron fee station at Wind River by opening day of fishing season. Ken Cohen, Community Events and Recreation Director, will coordinate a meeting with the Drano Lake Committee to discuss when to impose the launch fee at that site.
The meeting recessed at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 11, 2003 and reconvened at 1:50 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Talent and McKee present.
The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss evaluations, public health contracts, State Road 504 Project, Skamania Forward, emergency management, and personnel issues, with no action taken.
The meeting recessed at 3:50 p.m. Tuesday, March 11, 2003 and reconvened at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, March 13, 2003, with all Commissioners present.
Vouchers for the period ending March 13, 2003 were approved in the amount of $82,441.24.
Walt Loehrke and Kathy Sheehan, Columbia River Gorge Commission (CRGC) members, reported on the Columbia River Gorge Commission meeting of March 11, 2003. Discussion included budget cuts proposed by legislation, impacts to administration if budget cuts are imposed, management plan review, the need to allow more participation from counties in the management plan review process, and concern with the amount of property purchased by the US Forest Service and removed from the tax roles in Skamania County.
Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director, reviewed and discussed changes to Ordinance 2002-21 Zoning Text and Map Amendments, requested as a result of public meetings in Underwood and the Westend. A public hearing is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on March 17, 2003 at Rock Creek Center to consider this ordinance.
Mark Rasmussen, Natural Resource Consultant with Mason, Bruce & Girard of West Linn, OR, advised he is currently working with Wahkiakum County to pursue the benefits of forest management, look at alternative management plans, and make recommendations to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on behalf of the County. He advised that if counties join together in this effort, chances are better of the DNR considering his recommendations. He gave a presentation on providing assistance to the public and private sector in the Pacific Northwest for timberland management, forest inventory, timber harvest planning, financial planning for management of forestry properties, expert testimony, and valuation and appraisal of timber and timberland. No decisions were made as a result of this presentation.
The meeting adjourned at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, March 13, 2003.