BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
MEETING for WEEK of April 14, 2003
The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Monday, April 14, 2003, with all Commissioners present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Sealed bid opening was held for the Washougal River Road Improvement Project. The following bids were received and referred to the County Engineer for review and recommendation:
§ Creagan Excavating, Inc, Vancouver, WA
Total bid including sales tax $394,848.96
§ Cascade Equipment & Construction, Inc., Carson, WA
Total bid including sales tax $347,222.85
§ Dirt & Aggregate Interchange, Inc., Fairview, OR
Total bid including sales tax $367,974.70
§ Nutter Corporation, Vancouver, WA
Total bid including sales tax $329,716.40
§ George Schmid &Sons, Inc., Washougal, WA
Total bid including sales tax $312,948.00
§ Wayne Jeskey Construction, Clackamas, OR
Total bid including sales tax $358,827.40
Brent Holman, Public Works Director/County Engineer, reported on receiving grindings from the City of Stevenson project, pre-construction activities for Salmon Falls Road project, and employee attendance at a bridge inspection workshop.
Consent Agenda Items were approved as follows:
A. Minutes for week of April 7, 2003.
B. Liquor license renewal for Stabler Country Store.
C. Acknowledge receipt of Notice of Completion of Public Works Contract for B&B Logging, Inc. for Forest Service 90 Road Snow Plowing.
D. Acknowledge receipt of Claim for Damages from Barbara A. Becker and forward to Risk Management.
E. Acknowledge receipt of Ordinance 2003-04, adopting policy establishing procedures for management and disposition of surplus personal and real property owned by Skamania County with value of $2,500 or more, set for public hearing at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 29, 2003.
F. Acknowledge receipt of an application from Russ Lawrence, on behalf of Joseph Birkenfeld, for a shorelines substantial development project on a portion of the Wind River at the Birkenfeld old mill site to shorten a reach of the Wind River, set for public hearing at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, May 29, 2003.
The Board reviewed a proposed Equipment, Rental, and Revolving (ER&R) Fund Policy, to establish a policy and procedures for managing the ER&R Fund for the purchase of needed equipment, materials, services and supplies. Following discussion of the makeup of the ER&R committee, motion was approved to adopt the Equipment, Rental, and Revolving Fund Policy with a change to allow one committee member to be designated by the Board.
A Hold Harmless Agreement was approved with the City of The Dalles for use of Columbia Gorge Regional/The Dalles Municipal Airport for Emergency Vehicle Operation Course (EVOC) Training for 2003 for the Sheriff’s employees.
Receipt was acknowledged of a letter, via email, from Larry and Robin Douglass regarding the condition of the facilities at Wind River Boat Launch and forwarded to the Buildings and Grounds Director for follow-up.
The Board discussed a letter from Dennis and Linda Gogolski and a petition signed by several residents regarding Deputy Mark Mercer. A letter will be sent to Gogolskis advising their letter and petition was forwarded to the Sheriff.
The Board met in executive session from 10:45 a.m. until 11:15 a.m. regarding litigation, with no action taken.
The Board discussed fees for the Blue Grass Festival with Ken Cohen, Community Events and Recreation (CER) Director, and Jim Nelson of the American Legion Post 137. Motion was approved to set a flat fee of $1,000 plus 50% of the profits over $7,000 for a one-year period. The American Legion Post 137 will contribute $6,000 of their proceeds to scholarships and the proceeds received by CER will be divided equally between CER, Fair, and Buildings and Grounds.
Motion was approved to consider amending the ordinance for parking restrictions for Drano Lake Boat Launch to allow an exception for Yakima Indians with tribal issued permits for the Yakima Indian Drano Lake Special Fishery from 9:00 p.m. Tuesday through 12:00 p.m.Wednesday during the months of April and May, for a total time of seven days over seven weeks, and to suspend the boat launch fee during the Special Fishery for Yakima Indians having tribal issued permits.
The meeting recessed at 12:40 p.m. Monday, April 14, 2003 and reconvened at 2:00 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Talent and Quinn present. Commissioner McKee was attending a federal budget workshop in Vancouver, WA.
The Public Works Department gave a presentation on proposed changes to Carson Frontage Road at the intersection of Wind River Road. Discussion included a new entry, striping to distinguish Carson Frontage Road from the parking lot at Wind River Market, rumble strips, speed bumps, and access to Carson Frontage Road for future development. No decisions were made at this time, pending review of the proposal by Commissioner McKee.
Following discussion of an upcoming workshop sponsored by Washington State Association of Counties entitled “Setting the Price and Priorities of Government – Smarter Spending to Balance Your Budgets”, motion was approved to have representatives from Skamania County attend.
The Board met in executive session from 3:10 p.m. until 3:20 p.m. regarding litigation, with no action taken.
The meeting recessed at 3:20 p.m. Monday, April 14, 2003 and reconvened at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, April 17, 2003, with all Commissioners present.
Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director, gave updates on upcoming meetings for the West End Community, Water Resource Inventory Area 29 Oversight Committee, and Six-Counties Coalition. She also reported on the pending application list and advised of the need to fill a vacant Office Assistant position at 80% time.
The Board met with Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director; Peter Banks, Prosecutor; and Walt Loehrke, Columbia River Gorge (CRGC) Commission member representing Skamania County, to review and discuss the County’s response and recommendations regarding vested rights, existing uses and discontinued uses for land use topics to be considered at a CRGC public hearing on April 22, 2003.
Chairman Talent advised that there would be a quorum all day due to the cancellation of a Clark County Health Board meeting,
The meeting recessed at 11:55 a.m. Thursday, April 17, 2003 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. the same date, with all Commissioners present.
The Board continued their discussion regarding the County’s response and recommendations regarding vested rights, existing uses and discontinued uses for land use topics to be considered at a CRGC public hearing on April 22, 2003.
Following discussion of the need for immediate hire of individuals to collect boat launch fees at Wind River and Drano Lake, motion was approved to authorize the Community Events and Recreation Director to hire up to six individuals, to work intermittently at a Range 7-A, to collect boat launch fees at Wind River and Drano Lake, with part of the revenue from the boat launch fees to fund these positions.
Vouchers for the period ending April 17, 2003 were approved in the amount of $102,915.39.
The Board discussed a request from Scott Mathany to allow a four-wheel event at Martha Creek Field at the Wind River Nursery site. Commissioner McKee will contact Mathany, requesting additional information.
The meeting adjourned at 2:50 p.m. Thursday April 17, 2003.