BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
MEETING for WEEK of August 18, 2003
The Board participated in a staff work at 9:00 a.m., Monday, August 18, 2003 to discuss personnel and Title III Projects for 2004, with no action taken.
The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Monday, August 18, 2003, with all Commissioners present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Rich Lang, County Surveyor, gave an update on a request from Dave Purcell to vacate a portion of Skamania Mines Road from milepost 6.50 to the end of the road. Following discussion, the Board directed Rich Lang to send a letter to Mr. Purcell requesting him to present a petition to the County to vacate a portion of Skamania Mines Road, signed by a majority of the property owners who use that portion of the road.
Brent Holman, Public Works Director/County Engineer, reported on the Rock Creek Bridge profile, Washougal River Road project, Ryan Allen Road project, Hamilton Creek project, Drano Lake project, and advised of working on a personal services contract for the North Bonneville industrial site development plan.
Consent agenda items were approved as follows:
A. Minutes of August 11, 2003.
B. Set Resolution 2003-34, Supplemental Budget #3, for public hearing at 10:00 AM Thursday, August 28, 2003.
C. Set date to receive public comment and make final decision on proposed Title III Projects for 2004 for 11:00 AM Monday, October 6, 2003.
D. Request from Sheriff for authorization to implement Jail booking fee at $25.00 per booking to recover actual cost of booking an inmate into Skamania County Jail.
E. Personnel Committee recommendation of approval of Exempt Employee Policy.
F. Acknowledge receipt of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan medical and dental service agreements and rates for 2003.
G. Acknowledge receipt of letter from Jody Moreau, Ranger for Camp Arrowhead, regarding Girl Scout Road.
Following discussion of Washington Counties Risk Pool policy options for the fiscal year October 2003 through September 2004, motion was approved to increase Skamania County’s deductible from $10,000 to $25,000, leave Skamania County’s cover limit at $15 million and decline the option to purchase $5 million in additional coverage.
A contract was approved with Klickitat Skamania Development Council to provide birth through age 3 years and adult developmental disabilities services and administration.
A contract with the Department of Social and Health Services, Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse, to provide funding for alcohol and drug assessments, referrals and treatment to County citizens was tabled, pending clarification of funding.
Ole Helgerson, WSU Cooperative Extension Agent, reported on 4-H programs, Youth Summer Forest Success Program, forestry, gardening and pest management, and the Firewise Project.
Resolution 2003-28 was approved, authorizing American Fidelity Deferred Comp Plan for County employees.
Resolution 2003-33 was approved, creating a Department of Emergency Management within the Current Expense Fund.
The meeting recessed at 11:05 a.m. Monday, August 18, 2003 and reconvened at 11:30 a.m. the same date, with all Commissioners present.
Dave Creagan addressed the Board with an offer to donate a lot on US Forest Service 25 Road near Pine Creek to the County, at no obligation, for use by the County or possibly the Sheriff’s Office. He advised that water would be provided to this lot at no charge. The Board advised they would consult with the Prosecutor prior to making a decision on this offer.
The meeting recessed at 12:00 p.m. Monday, August 18, 2003 and reconvened at 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 19, 2003, with all Commissioners present.
The Board met in executive session from 9:00 a.m. until 9:15 a.m. regarding personnel, with no action taken.
The Board participated in a staff work to discuss personnel and Skamania Forward, with no action taken.
Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director, gave an update on the pending application list and advised of upcoming meetings for the Columbia River Gorge Commission, Water Resource Inventory Area 29, and West End Community. She advised that the moratorium on rezones for the west end will expire on September 17, 2003 and an extension would require a public hearing prior to the expiration date.
The Board participated in a meeting/phone conference to discuss Skamania County’s Milfoil Control Plan and the County’s Drano Lake and Wind River dredge/fill projects. Issues discussed included surveying and mapping water milfoil, control methods, and possible implications the Drano Lake and Wind River projects may have on the control plan.
The Board met in executive session from 11:20 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. regarding real estate, with no action taken.
The meeting recessed at 11:45 a.m. Tuesday, August 19, 2003 and reconvened at 7:00 p.m. the same date, with all Commissioners present.
A public hearing was held at the American Legion Cape Horn Post 122, 10221 Washougal River Road, to consider Ordinance 2003-11, imposing a “No Parking/Tow Away Zone” in the vicinity of the Washougal River Bridge area. Sheriff Dave Brown explained that the purpose of the ordinance is to reduce or eliminate crowds, particularly after special events at the motocross track and to deter people loitering, jumping or diving from the bridge. The ordinance imposes parking restrictions from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend on either side of Canyon Creek Road from the north end of the Washougal River Bridge to its intersection with Washougal River Road, and either side of the Washougal River Road from the entrance to Cape Horn Skye School to the entrance to Fire District #4 Station, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Comments and concerns from citizens present included the need for more surveillance in the area, proposed ordinance is too restrictive for local residents and local business, impose parking restrictions on selected days only, the need for citations to be issued to violators jumping from the bridge, and the need to work with Clark County and the promoters of the motocross event to provide security in this area during the motocross event. Based on the comments and concerns from the citizens present, the Board took no action on the proposed ordinance and will work with the Sheriff on options to resolve the problems.
The meeting recessed at 8:15 p.m. Tuesday, August 19, 2003 and reconvened at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, August 21, 2003, with Commissioners Talent and McKee present. Commissioner Quinn was on personal business.
Vouchers for the period ending August 21, 2003 were approved in the amount of $101,808.11.
A contract was approved with the Department of Social and Health Services, Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse, to provide funding for alcohol and drug assessments, referrals and treatment to County residents.
Motion was approved to authorize the Prosecutor to proceed with the purchase of tax parcel 02-05-11-2-4-0100, adjacent to Camp Wa-Ri-Ki, in the amount of $5,000 and to pay property taxes due on said parcel.
Following a review of accident and incident reports submitted by the Safety Committee, motion was approved to concur with the Safety Committee’s recommendations.
The meeting recessed at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 21, 2003 and reconvened at 11:00 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners Talent and McKee present.
The Board approved an application to the Department of Ecology for a coordinated prevention grant for Budget years 2004 and 2005 for the Solid Waste Division. Grant projects would include recycling facility and operation expenses, Household Hazardous Waste Collection and Disposal Event, and public education.
The meeting recessed at 11:20 a.m. Thursday, August 21, 2003 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. the same date, with all Commissioners present.
The Board met in executive session from 1:30 p.m. until 1:50 p.m. to discuss real estate, with no action taken.
The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss personnel and Skamania Forward, with no action taken.
The meeting recessed at 4:05 p.m. Thursday, August 21, 2003 and reconvened at 7:00 p.m. the same date, with all Commissioners present.
A public hearing was held at Rock Creek Recreation Center, 710 SW Rock Creek Drive, to consider Ordinance 2003-08, imposing a real estate excise tax of one-quarter of one percent of the selling price on each sale of real property within the unincorporated areas of Skamania County. Marilyn Butler, Director of Administrative Services provided information on county excise tax on real estate sales which included applicable statute authorizing counties to impose additional real estate excise tax on real estate sales, authorized uses, advantages and disadvantages. Following discussion, motion was approved unanimously to adopt Ordinance 2003-08, imposing a real estate excise tax of one-quarter of one percent of the selling price on each sale of real property within the unincorporated areas of Skamania County, with the intent that revenues collected will be used to fund capital improvement projects, therefore reducing the amount of funds needed from the Current Expense fund, and to include a termination clause that if the combined total State and County real estate excise tax exceeds 1.60%, Ordinance 2003-08 becomes null and void. Ordinance 2003-08 becomes effective five days after adoption.
The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, August 21, 2003.
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON
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