BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

MEETING for WEEK of November 10, 2003

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

Brent Holman, Public Works Director/County Engineer, advised of receiving one bid for the Smith Cripe Road project, receiving a letter from the Department of Ecology regarding the ER&R Shops, gave updates on the Rock Creek Cove project, Drano Lake project, Corps of Engineers Section 205 Flood Reduction program, and advised of the Road Crew preparing for winter.

Mary Repar asked for clarification of what potential revenues for housing inmates from the City of Camas would be used for. She was advised that the revenue would be added to the Current Expense fund.

Laila Goldring, Community Events and Recreation Coordinator/Pool Manager, gave an update on fall classes, programs and activities and gave an update on the operations and activities of the swim pool. She advised of the need to review the contract for the swim pool with Stevenson-Carson School District 303.

Monica Masco, on behalf of the Fair Board, presented a check to the County in the amount of $1,300 for the security portion of the Fair contract that was not used. The returned funds will be deposited back into the Fair Fund.

Consent Agenda Items were approved as follows:

A. Minutes for week of November 3, 2003.

B. Acknowledge Ordinance 2003-15, listing text to be deleted from Ordinance 2002-19, as mentioned in the scrivener’s note, which was inadvertently omitted, set for public hearing at 1:30 PM November 24, 2003.

C. Acknowledge Claim for Damages from Chad Edward Barron and refer to Risk Manager.

A contract was approved with Creagan Excavating, Inc. for snow plowing of Forest Service 90 Road.

A contract was approved with Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission to provide funding for snow plowing at Wind River Area Sno-Parks and Lone Butte Sno-Park.

A contract was approved with Spencer B. Gross, Inc. to provide survey data information for the in-water fill material portion of the Drano Lake Project.

A contract was approved with the Department of Ecology to provide additional funding to complete Phase 2 of the Carson Flood Hazard Management Plan.

A contract was approved with the Department of Social and Health Services, Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant Program, to provide funding for drug/alcohol testing to probation and diversion youth and for administration of the diversion program.

Contract amendment #2 was approved with the Department of Social and Health Services and the Counseling Center to provide for compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPA).

A Lease Agreement was approved with F2W, L.L.C. for placement of three UHF repeaters, supporting devices and accessories at F2W’s Beacon Rock communications facility.

A contract was approved with Northwest Communication Systems to provide for telephone and voice mail maintenance.

Payroll was approved for the period ending October 31, 2003 in the amount of $848,471.53.

The Auditor advised he would send a letter regarding his findings of the Buildings and Grounds Director’s loss of annual leave.

An authorization was approved for the purchase of a GIS Mapping System for the Sheriff’s Department using funding from the Washington State Military Department Wireless Implementation program.

Payment was authorized in the amount of $500 to the Economic Development Council for Skamania County’s portion of the Trade and Revenue Analysis Study.

Receipt was acknowledged of a letter from the Auditor regarding clarification of a capitalized purchase by the Public Works Department.

The meeting recessed at 11:40 a.m. Monday, November 10, 2003 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. the same date, with all Commissioners present.

A public hearing was held to consider a Timber Land Application from Jeffrey D. and Claudia J. Jones to transfer 18.00 acres from the Designated Forest Land Program to the Current Use Timber Land Program. Said property is located at 72 Nighthawk Lane off of Panther Creek Road in Carson, tax parcel number 04-75-36-0-0-1101-00. Following a report from the Assessor’s staff and discussion of the Timber Management Plan with the applicant, motion was approved to transfer 18.00 acres from the Designated Forest Land Program to the Current Use Timber Land Program, as recommended by the Assessor’s Staff.

Dick Wedin and Steve Brown, of the Department of Natural Resources, advised of a preliminary proposed land exchange in Washington State, possibly including lands in Skamania County, between the Department of Natural Resources, Elkhaven and Plum Creek Timber Company. They advised that public meetings are tentatively scheduled for January 2004 at the PUD in Carson, with proposed agreements to take place in the summer of 2004.

A public hearing was held to consider submission of a General Purposes Community Development Block Grant Application (CDBG). The County is applying for $450,000 to fund a public facility project for the Public Utility District No. 1 of Skamania County for needed improvements to the Carson Water System that will principally benefit low- and moderate-income persons. Bob Wittenberg, Manager for Public Utility District No. 1 of Skamania County, and Humaira Faulkenberg, Skamania County Economic Development Council, explained the need for improvements to the Carson Water System and associated costs for the improvements. They advised that CDBG funds would benefit low- and moderate-income persons by reducing the impact to customers for the costs associated with the improvements to the Water System. Information regarding the availability of CDBG funds and the eligible uses were available and distributed to interested parties in attendance. Resolution 2003-45 was approved, authorizing submission of the CDBG General Purposes Grant Application and Certifications of Compliance.

The meeting recessed at 2:50 p.m. Monday, November 10, 2003 and reconvened at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, November 13, 2003, with all Commissioners present

Vouchers for the period ending November 13, 2003 were approved in the amount of $120,856.39, with corrections to be made by the Auditor.

An authorization was approved for the purchase of a hydraulic saw for a man-lift truck (equipment #439) to be used for the Vegetation Control Program for the Road Department.

A request from the Sheriff was approved to reinstate 21.00 annual leave hours lost during the months of June and July 2003 for Sgt. Gary Wood because of denial of requested leave due to staffing shortages.

A letter was acknowledged from the Auditor regarding a request from the Buildings and Grounds Director to accumulate annual leave in excess of the maximum hours allowed in Personnel Policy and advising the Board has not provided anything in writing regarding resolution of this issue.

A summary of the County’s 2004 Budget was presented by Marilyn Butler, Director of Administrative Services, which included a financial forecast, discussion of investments, reviewing benchmark positions, and the balance of revenues and expenditures. The Board directed the Director to pursue additional budget reductions to balance the 2004 expenditures with 2004 revenues.

The meeting recessed at 11:55 a.m. Thursday, November 13, 2003 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. the same date, with all Commissioners present.

The Board reviewed a request from W.K.O, Inc. to occupy a portion of County right-of-way along Wind River Road to construct a lumber sorter building parallel to the road. The location of the proposed building would provide internal clearance between existing buildings, required for fire and vehicular passage, as well as alignment to an existing building. Following discussion with the Public Works Director and Prosecutor, the Board directed the Public Works Director to prepare paperwork to expedite this request.

Amy Nyberg, Executive Director for the Chamber of Commerce and Joe Schlick, of the Stevenson Business Association, gave a presentation on the concept of a Condor Sculpture Project and Interactive Kiosk at the southern point of the Fair Grounds on Rock Creek Cove. They also advised of the concept of an interagency visitor information center, gave an update on the downtown wireless project and the concept of placing a wireless node at the Fair Grounds, and advised of a project to have a web cam for downtown Stevenson.

The meeting adjourned at 2:35 p.m. Thursday, November 13, 2003.

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON