BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
MEETING for WEEK of January 5, 2004
The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Monday, January 5, 2004, with all Commissioners present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Motion was approved to appoint Commissioner McKee to serve as Chair for 2004.
Brent Holman, Public Works Director/County Engineer, gave updates on boundary line adjustments for North Bonneville Industrial Property and Prindle Park, logging on right of way on Smith Cripe Road, Drano Lake Improvement Project, and advised of snow accumulation throughout the County and approximate hours of overtime spent during last two storms. The Board complimented the road crew on doing a great job during the recent snowstorms and requested that no snow berms be left in front of fire halls and ambulance halls throughout the County.
Rich Rush, Central Services Director, reported on the installation of a new server and new software for voter registration and vote tallying system, and advised that the Clerk and Prosecutor volunteered Skamania County for a pilot project for wireless transmission of forms from the courts to the state.
Consent Agenda Items were approved as follows:
A. Minutes for week of December 29, 2003.
B. Acknowledge receipt of designation of First Independent Bank as depository bank for Skamania County funds.
C. Acknowledge receipt of Property Tax Refunds granted by Treasurer during 2003.
D. Acknowledge Claim for Damages from Sheree E. Thomas and refer to Risk Manager.
A contract was approved with the Office of Community Development to provide funding through a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for services to low and moderate- income persons within Skamania and Klickitat Counties.
The Board reviewed Commissioner appointments to serve on various boards and commissions. Appointments for each Commissioner will remain the same for 2004.
Motion was approved to accept the Personnel Committee’s recommendations of approval for the revised job description for the Community Events and Recreation Director.
The meeting recessed at 11:15 a.m. Monday, January 5, 2004 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. the same date, with all Commissioners present.
Motion was approved unanimously to sign the Request for Reconveyance and satisfaction of the Promissory Note for the purchase of property located at 150 NW Loop Road (aka Masonic Hall) by the City of Stevenson on August 20, 1998.
The Board discussed emergency snow plowing procedures with the Public Works/County Road Department. Larry Douglass, County Road Superintendent, explained snow plowing procedures, advising that road plowing with trucks is done first and road widening with heavy equipment is done second. Berms in driveways and around mailboxes are cleared only during road widening when heavy equipment is used.
The Board discussed road crew public relations in regards to a claimant’s comments on a recent Claim for Damages form filed with the County.
The meeting recessed at 2:35 p.m. Monday, January 5, 2004 and reconvened at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 6, 2004 with Commissioners McKee and Talent present. Commissioner Quinn was on personal leave.
Motion was approved to award the contract to Hi-Tech Rockfall Construction, Inc. for professional hand scaling of the slide area at milepost 0.2L Cook Underwood Road to provide safe access and remove the debris material.
Due to severe weather conditions, remaining agenda items were cancelled and the meeting recessed at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 6, 2004.
The Board reconvened for a special meeting at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 7, 2004, with Commissioners McKee and Talent present and Commissioner Quinn present via phone conference, to address emergency procedures due to severe weather conditions throughout the entire area of Skamania County. Following discussion, which included an overview of emergency procedures, available shelters, assisting senior citizens and updates on Sheriff patrols throughout the County, 911 communications, and road conditions, Resolution 2004-03 was approved, declaring that a state of emergency exists in Skamania County due to inclement weather conditions and authorizing all employees to take appropriate and necessary emergency measures to protect life and property in accordance with guidelines now in existence.
The meeting recessed at 10:35 a.m. Wednesday, January 7, 2004 and reconvened at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, January 8, 2004, with Commissioners McKee and Talent present. Commissioner Quinn was on personal business.
Vouchers were approved for the period ending January 6, 2004 in the amount of $234,956.95.
Payroll for the period ending December 31, 2003 was approved in the amount of $838,237.21.
Commissioner Talent gave an update on road conditions and advised that the Road Crew is currently widening all roads and attempting to clear many impassable berms.
The meeting adjourned at 10:40 a.m. Thursday, January 8, 2004.
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON