BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

MEETING for WEEK of December 15, 2003

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Monday, December 15, 2003, with all Commissioners present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Brent Holman, Public Works Director/County Engineer, gave updates on a slide on Cook Underwood Road and the Drano Lake project, advised of a small slide on Skamania Mines Road, receiving rating from Washington Survey and Rating Bureau regarding establishment of insurance rates, and completion of rock hauling from the North Bonneville stockpile site. The Board advised they, at this time, did not want the Engineer to proceed with the Carson Frontage Road intersection reconstruction project, as listed in the proposed 2004 Annual Road Construction Program.

Ole Helgerson, WSU Extension Agent, reported on 4-H activities, programs, the possibility of local students shadowing county government officials, gave an update on the Forest Youth Success program, forestry management, gardening and pest management issues, and the Firewise project. The Board expressed concern with citizen privacy regarding the availability of personal information for wildfires in the GIS system.

Consent Agenda Items were approved as follows:

A. Minutes of December 8, 2003.

B. Set public hearing for 11:00 AM Monday, December 29, 2003 to consider Resolution 2003-58 Supplemental Budget #4.

C. Set public hearing for 1:30 PM Monday, December 29, 2003 to consider Ordinance 2003-14 repealing the sunset clause in Skamania County Code Title 23, Chapter 23.07, to adopt an ordinance to regulate conversion of forestland.

D. Contract with WA State Dept of Community, Trade & Economic Development to provide funding to administer the National Scenic Area Act in Skamania County.

Motion was approved to authorize the Prosecutor to proceed with a boundary line adjustment and purchase of 0.31 acres of property from tax parcel 01-05-05-1-0-0300 adjacent to Prindle Park from Elroy Prosch in the amount of $4,000, and vouchers to Mr. Prosch for the purchase, Skamania County Treasurer for excise tax and Skamania County Auditor for the recording fee.

A contract was approved with Aquatic Renovation Systems, Inc. to correct problems with pool liner.

Resolution 2003-60 was approved, amending the pay scale for Community Events and Recreation instructors to include a 50%-50% split of class fees to be retained equally by the instructor and the County, with an hourly wage cap of $40.00 per hour.

A contract was approved with William Fosburg for clearing of right of way timber on Smith Cripe Road.

Contract amendment #1 was approved with Clark Regional Emergency Services, amending project timelines and adjusting allocation of project funding, for preparation of risks and needs assessment for emergency services.

Resolution 2003-50 was approved, adopting the 2004 Annual Road Construction Program, and to further discuss Item #6 Carson Frontage Road with the County Engineer prior to proceeding with any construction of this project.

Resolution 2003-54 establishing legal holidays for 2004 was tabled, pending further discussion.

A letter was acknowledged from the Auditor advising he was unable to attend the 2004 Budget hearing and requesting postponement of discussion or alteration of budgets under his immediate control until December 16, 2003.

The meeting recessed at 11:10 a.m. Monday, December 15, 2003 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. the same date, with all Commissioners present.

A public hearing was held to consider adoption of the 2004 Budget and setting 2004 Current Expense and County Road Property Tax Levies. Mary Repar expressed concerns with ongoing problems with the boiler at the swim pool and asked the Board to consider purchasing a new one. Marilyn Butler, Director of Administrative Services, presented changes to the preliminary budget that included salary and benefit adjustments due to settlement with the Public Works Union, an increase in the Sheriff’s budget to include profit from the 2002 Search and Rescue Conference, and an increase in Emergency 911 to include new grant funding from the State Military Department. Discussion included revenues and expenditures for various funds, the need to review benchmark and market positions, and the need to continue to look at the future. The hearing was continued to 11:00 a.m., Thursday, December 18, 2003.

The meeting recessed at 2:50 p.m. Monday, December 15, 2003 and reconvened at 3:00 p.m. the same date, with all Commissioners present.

The Board met in executive session from 3:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. regarding personnel, real estate, and litigation, with no action taken.

The meeting recessed at 4:00 p.m. Monday, December 15, 2003 and reconvened at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 16, 2003, with all Commissioners present.

Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director, gave updates on the pending application list, Water Resource Inventory Area 29 Oversight Committee, the West End Community meetings, and the National Scenic Area Management Plan.

Charly Boyd, Watershed/Shorelines Planner, reported on various water and fish related meetings.

The Board participated in a workshop with Sheriff Dave Brown and Karl Tesch, of EOP, Inc., to review policy excerpts from the basic plan, emergency support options, and forms from the proposed Skamania County Emergency Management Plan. Adoption of the Plan was a scheduled for January 15, 2004.

The Board discussed housing options in the northern part of the County for Sheriff’s Department due to the closure of the Pine Creek Work Center, with no decisions made.

The meeting recessed at 11:40 a.m. Tuesday, December 16, 2003 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. the same date, with all Commissioners present.

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss the Community Events and Recreation Director position, benchmark and market positions comparison study, and risk management issues, with no action taken.

The meeting recessed at 3:35 p.m. Tuesday, December 16, 2003 and reconvened at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, December 18, 2003, with all Commissioners present.

Vouchers for the period ending December 18, 2003 were approved in the amount of $212,692.49.

The Board discussed printing of County business cards for counselors under contract with the Counseling Center. The Board approved the printing of Counseling Center business cards for use by counselors as long as no counselors’ names are printed on the card.

Resolution 2003-54 was approved establishing legal holidays for 2004.

A joint letter with Klickitat County Commissioners was approved to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding issues of concern related to the removal of Condit Dam.

A public hearing was held, continued from December 15, 2003, to consider adoption of the 2004 Budget and setting 2004 Current Expense and County Road Property Tax Levies. Marilyn Butler, Director of Administrative Services, advised of an adjustment to salaries and benefits for the Prosecutor’s budget to include a step increase, effective in July 2004, for the Chief Deputy Prosecutor. Discussion included the Auditor’s travel budget and election reserve fund and funding for boat launch fee collectors. Sheriff Dave Brown advised of crisis funding available from the Counseling Center and advised that the Counseling Center Director is researching allowable expenditures for these funds. The hearing was continued to 11:00 a.m., Monday, December 22, 2003.

The meeting adjourned at 11:45 a.m. Thursday, December 18, 2003.

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON