BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
MEETING for WEEK of August 4, 2003
The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Monday, August 4, 2003, with all Commissioners present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Brent Holman, Public Works Director/County Engineer, reported on the Hamilton Creek project, Ryan Allen Road project, Washougal River Road project, Drano Lake project, Smith-Cripe Road project, advised of completing all chip seal work and line striping, completion of leveling work on Bone Road and the need to provide a leveling course of asphalt on the Washougal River Road from Riverside Grocery to the North Fork Bridge. Other items discussed included prohibiting campfires in county parks due to high fire danger, effective July 30, 2003, and water shortage in the local area.
Consent agenda items were approved as follows:
A. Minutes for week of July 28, 2003.
B. Agreement with Washington State Department of Transportation to allow parade for Skamania County Fair on State Highway-14.
C. Addendum #1 on bid to furnish petroleum products for 2003 –2005; changing notice to contractors.
D. Acknowledge receipt of Claim for Damages from Bret Hilden refer to Prosecutor and Risk Manager
E. Set date for public hearing on proposed ordinance 2003-08, Real Estate Excise Tax for 7PM August 21, 2003 at Rock Creek Center.
F. Set date for public hearing on proposed ordinance 2003-11, No Parking/Tow-Away Zone for 7PM on August 19, 2003 at the American Legion Post 122 on Washougal River Road.
G. Acknowledge receipt of Claim for Damages from Rodrick Meyer.
An Interlocal Agreement was approved with the City of Hood River for Skamania County to provide assistance with a chip seal project.
A contract was approved with Andrew Pearce to provide Junior Golf Lessons for a Community Events and Recreation Activity Program.
A contract was approved with Severin Sisters to provide entertainment for the 2003 Skamania County Fair on Sunday, August 17, 2003.
A contract was approved with the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development to provide funding to reduce the incidence of substance abuse and violence for youth and families.
Receipt was acknowledged of a letter from Cowlitz County Commissioners to the Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board regarding repayment of $25,000 by each of the five charter counties for start-up funding for the Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board.
The Board met in executive session from 10:50 a.m. until 11:15 a.m. regarding personal, with no action taken.
The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss Skamania Forward, with no action taken.
The meeting recessed at 11:50 a.m. Monday, August 4, 2003 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. the same date, with all Commissioners present.
A public hearing was held to consider Ordinance 2003-10, containing map amendments for certain parcels, changing the zoning designation from Special Management Area (SMA) to General Management Area (GMA), as allowed in Section 8(o) of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act. Patrick Johnson, County Scenic Area Planner, explained the Section 8(o) procedure, which allows a landowner who offers their land to the Forest Service to have their property designated as GMA if, after the lapse of three years, the Forest Service does not purchase their land. Property owners may have the ability to extend the three-year time frame while in negotiations with the Forest Service, and in those cases, the rezone of the parcel would not occur until after the stated extension. The parcel will remain in SMA if the Forest Service acquires the land, the landowner rejects the offer from the Forest Service, the landowner sells the property to a third-party prior to expiration, or if the Forest Service finds that the offer was not a bona fide offer. Following discussion, which included requests to challenge the authority of the Forest Service, motion was approved to adopt Ordinance 2003-10, as presented, with Commissioner Quinn stating he feels the Forest Service should not have the authority to manage private land and feels that Skamania County needs to challenge that authority.
Rich Lang, County Surveyor, presented his findings regarding the cost of establishing and marking the east line of the County’s ownership of the parcel leased to the Kiwanis Club, known as Camp Wa-Ri-Ki, in order for the Club to construct a new fence. Following discussion of options to resolve the issue, motion was approved to request the Prosecutor to contract the property owner of tax parcel 02-05-11-2-4-0100 to resolve the property line issue and to authorize him to make an offer to purchase said parcel for the assessed value of $5,200, plus property taxes paid since 2000 when the owner acquired said property.
Keith Liggett advised of a possible opportunity to increase tourism in the county by building yurts in various areas of the national forest or on large tracts of land. The Board advised they might support this concept, as long as there was no negative impact on the goals and aspirations of Skamania County taxpayers.
The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss Skamania Forward, with no action taken.
The meeting recessed at 4:30 p.m. Monday, August 4, 2003 and reconvened at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 5, 2003, with all Commissioners present.
Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director, reported on the progress of the West End Community meetings and advised of the next meeting, as well as upcoming meetings for the Water Resource Inventory Area 29 (WRIA) Oversight Committee, and the Columbia River Gorge Commission. Other items reported on were filling the vacant Office Assistant 3 position, working on the 2004 department budget, an upcoming conference call regarding the Milfoil Plan, and increased development in the Swift Creek area.
The meeting recessed at 10:50 a.m. Tuesday, August 5, 2003 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, August 6, 2003, with all Commissioners present.
The Board participated in a workshop to discuss emergency management with Sheriff Dave Brown, Undersheriff Dave Cox, City of Stevenson Administrator Mary Ann Duncan-Cole and Marilyn Butler, Director of Administrative Services. Items discussed included 2004 Department of Emergency Management Budget, Emergency Management Coordinator position, update on the progress of the terrorism assessment contract, mitigation plan, need to upgrade the emergency operations center, and equipment allocation through 2004 Homeland Security funds. The Board was in agreement to delegate signature authority for emergency management to Sheriff Dave Brown.
The meeting recessed at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 6, 2003 and reconvened at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, August 7, 2003, with Commissioners Talent and Quinn present. Commissioner McKee was attending a National Fire Plan Strategy Team meeting in Portland, OR.
Vouchers for the period ending August 6, 2003 were approved in the amount of $192,512.95.
Payroll for the period ending July 31, 2003 was approved in the amount of $902,036.80
The meeting recessed at 10:20 a.m. Thursday, August 7, 2003 and reconvened at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 9, 2003 with all Commissioners present.
The Board met with North County citizens at Fire District #6 Fire Hall, Forest Service 90 Road, Northwoods and gave updates on various issues including impacts of the National Scenic Area on citizens and the County, declining revenues, timber harvest, fire danger, property taxes, need for a cell tower in the Northwoods area, zoning concerns due to increased development in this area, and a proposed ordinance to impose a real estate excise tax on the sale price of real estate in the unincorporated areas of the county. Bruce Scherling of the public health department explained the functions of the health department. Sheriff Dave Brown advised of an increase in traffic and complaints in this area, services provided by deputies placed in the area, and advised of his appointment as Director of Emergency Services. Citizen comments included concern with the condition of the Forest Service 90 Road at approximately milepost 13.5, need for funding for operating costs for Fire District #6, and property taxes.
The meeting adjourned at 11:50 a.m. Saturday, August 9, 2003.
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON