BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

MEETING for WEEK of October 13, 2003

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Monday, October 13, 2003, with all Commissioners present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Brent Holman, Public Works Director/ County Engineer, advised of updating the Public Works section of the web site, reviewing a new recreational vehicle park plat, receiving a request from Carson Hot Springs Resort for a change in location of the county access road, completing paving RV dump site in Stevenson, and gave an update on the Drano Lake project.

Darlene Dickson, Senior Services Director, advised that the state legislation increased the hourly wages of in-home service workers by $.75 an hour, effective October 1, 2003. Following discussion, motion was approved to increase the hourly wages of in-home services workers by $.75, effective October 1, 2003.

Laila Goldring, Community Events and Recreation Coordinator/Pool Manager, gave updates on fall programs, the swim pool, and advised of a new banner sponsorship program at the pool, which will increase revenue for the pool.

Consent Agenda Items were approved as follows:

A. Minutes for week of October 6, 2003.

B. Set public hearing for 1:30 PM Monday, November 3, 2003 to receive public comment and consider acceptance of Dept of Transportation FTA 5311 Grant Funds to purchase one 15-passenger minibus and one 7-passenger minivan to replace existing vehicles in Senior Services fleet.

C. Notice of extension of deadline to submit sealed bids for Telephone Maintenance, deadline to receive bids 4:00 PM October 23, 2003, sealed bid opening 10:00 AM October 27, 2003.

D. Acknowledge receipt of Claim for Damages from George and Gloria Lantz.

A contract was approved with Strategic Change Concepts to provide for functional family therapy services for moderate to high-risk juvenile offenders and their families.

A contract was approved with COORIDOR to provide assessments and intensive outpatient chemical dependency treatment for youth referred by Juvenile Department.

A contract was approved Portland State University Center for Lakes and Reservoirs to write the Skamania County Aquatic Weed Plan to control Eurasian watermilfoil.

The Board discussed a request from the Sheriff to reinstate 21.00 annual leave hours lost during the months of June and July 2003 for Sgt. Gary Wood, due to denial of requested leave because of staffing shortages. No decision was made at this time, pending additional information requested from the Sheriff.

Letter was approved to the City of Stevenson requesting waiver of the sewer connection fee for a reinstated RV dumpsite on the east side of the Fair Grounds parking lot adjacent to Second Street.

An update on the 2004 Presidential Primary was given by the Auditor.

Commissioner Quinn advised of a site visit to property on Washougal River Road with Bruce Scherling of the County Health Department regarding concerns of health and sanitation issues.

The Board advised there would be no quorum on October 14, 2003, due to Commissioner Quinn attending a Columbia River Gorge Commission meeting in Hood River, OR and Commissioner McKee attending a Washington Community Economic Revitalization Team meeting in Olympia, WA.

The meeting recessed at 11:25 a.m. Monday, October 13, 2003 and reconvened at 1:00 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners Talent and McKee present. Commissioner Quinn was attending a Water Resource Inventory Area 27&28 meeting in Vancouver, WA.

Motion was approved to reschedule the October 14, 2003 Public Health meeting to October 21, 2003 at 11:00 a.m.

The Board participated in a workshop to discuss the 2004 Preliminary Budget. The following budgets were discussed, with no action taken: Treasurer, Assessor, Auditor, Elections, Auditor’s O&M, Veterans Relief, Board of Equalization, General Services, Commissioners, Cumulative Reserve Funds - (Contingent Liability, Salaries, Wages & Benefits, Loans), Hotel/Motel Tax, and Operating Transfers.

Tony Estey, Buildings and Grounds Director, reported on various repairs and maintenance activities, advised of working on a surplus sale, and gave an update on the Rock Creek bank armoring project. He advised of making modifications to the Underwood Park play structure, using some materials from the Rock Creek Park play structure, at a minimal cost. He requested to use remaining funds for the Rock Creek Park playground project to purchase a metal spiral slide for the Park and to use remaining operating funds to purchase a metal spiral slide for Underwood Park. No decision was made at this time regarding this request.

The meeting recessed at 4:55 p.m. Monday, October 13, 2003 and reconvened at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, October 16, 2003, with all Commissioners present.

Larry Douglass, County Road Superintendent, explained the purpose for the purchase of Sqwincher drinks from Pacific Safety Supply for the County Road crews was due to excessive heat during the extended hot season, that the drinks had been used in the past and that they were considered a safety issue.

Motion was approved to authorize the Buildings and Grounds Director to expend $1,230 from the Buildings and Grounds operating funds to purchase the remaining capital equipment for the playground project for 2003.

A contract was approved with Wallis Engineering, PLLC to prepare a preliminary design for the county owned North Bonneville industrial site.

Walt Loehrke and Kathy Sheehan, Columbia River Gorge Commission (CRGC) members, reported on the CRGC meeting of October 14, 2003. Discussion included a proposed project for improvements at Roland Lake in Klickitat County and Management Plan review.

Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director, advised that public recreation zones have been removed from the list for Management Plan review by the CRGC and advised that eight parcels of property, under private ownership in Skamania County, are designated as public recreation zones in the National Scenic Area. She also advised that five of the parcels are completely under water, two are located near the mouth of Wind River, and one is located on Kueffler Road and surrounded by Beacon Rock State Park. She asked for direction from the Board regarding this issue. Walt Loehrke advised that a recreation plan will be reviewed by the CRGC in 2004 and advised of the need to encourage property owners to discuss property goals with Planning and/or himself. Following discussion, motion was approved to direct the Planning and Community Development Director to contact property owners with potential usable land and inquire if they are interested in converting to private recreation, and if so, to work with them for a possible management plan amendment.

Vouchers for the period ending October 15, 2003 were approved in the amount of $143,300.70 and a voucher to Pacific Safety Supply was approved in the amount of $161.52.

The Personnel Committee submitted recommended revisions to the proposed revised job description for the Community Events and Recreation Director position. They expressed concerns with changing the focus of the position from management to marketing and concerns with potential future requests for reclassifications of current job descriptions within the department due to a shift in management. No action was taken at this time as a result of this discussion, and this issue will be further discussed in a staff workshop.

The meeting recessed at 12:00 p.m. Thursday, October 16, 2003 and reconvened at 1:00 p.m. the same date, with all Commissioners present.

A workshop was held to discuss the 2004 Preliminary Budget. The following budgets were discussed, with no action taken: Superior Court, Clerk, District Court, Juvenile, Probation, Prosecutor, Support Enforcement, Crime Victims Compensation, Law Library, and Coroner.

The meeting adjourned at 3:20 p.m. Thursday, October 16, 2003.

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON