BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

MEETING for WEEK of January 12, 2004

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Monday, January 12, 2004, with all Commissioners present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Brent Holman, Public Works Director/County Engineer, reported on the affects from the recent storm due to wind and accumulation of snow and ice, estimated costs for overtime and equipment use, and advised that the Cook Underwood Road rock slide project and Drano Lake project have been delayed due to weather.

Consent Agenda Items were approved as follows:

A. Minutes for week of January 5, 2004.

B. Resolution 2004-02 Invitation to Bidders for Crushed Aggregate, set deadline to receive bids for 4:00 p.m. January 23, 2004 and set date to open bids for 10:00 a.m. January 26, 2004.

A license agreement with the PUD #1 of Skamania County for use of a retained easement over vacated Shaddox Springs Road was tabled to allow further review of the agreement by the PUD.

A rental agreement was approved with the Employment Security for office space located at 704 SW Rock Creek Drive.

A contract was approved with Skamania County Economic Development Council to provide business recruitment and retention, and community development activities in Skamania County.

A monthly residential lease agreement was approved with Karl Wilkie and Cynthia Williams for Wind River Nursery house #1065.

Resolution 2004-04 was approved, changing the Skamania County Counseling Center Board to Skamania County Human Services Advisory Board and to clarify membership and program responsibilities.

The Board met in executive session from 10:40 a.m. until 10:50 a.m. regarding litigation, with no action taken.

The meeting recessed at 10:50 a.m. Monday, January 12, 2004.

The Board attended a ribbon cutting ceremony at 11:00 a.m. on Second Street, in front of the Courthouse, dedicating Skamania County’s new Public Transit System.

The meeting reconvened at 11:25 a.m. Monday, January 12, 2004, with all Commissioners present.

The Sheriff and Public Works Director/County Engineer gave an update on the status of the declared state of emergency due to recent inclement weather conditions. Updates included advising that catastrophic flooding is not anticipated, no further requests have been made from citizens for assistance, roads have been cleared, and future weather forecast. Motion was approved to terminate the state of emergency declared in Skamania County due to inclement weather during the period of January 5-11, 2004. Additional discussion included concerns with truck traffic routed to State Road 14 when Interstate 84 in Oregon is closed. The Board was in agreement to write a letter to the Department of Transportation regarding this concern and requesting more control be given to local authority in the decision to allow trucks to travel State Route 14 through Skamania County during severe weather conditions.

The meeting recessed at 11:55 a.m. Monday, January 12, 2004 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. the same date, with all Commissioners present.

Patrick Johnson, Scenic Area Planner, requested to postpone the public hearing to consider a Shoreline Substantial Development Permit application from Michael Leonard to a later date to allow the applicant to submit corrections to the dimensions for the boat dock and to allow the applicant to be present. Motion was approved to postpone the public hearing until 1:30 p.m. Monday, January 26, 2004 to consider the permit application to construct a boathouse with two small stalls and to increase the space of an existing dock, utilizing three existing pilings, at #50 Wauna Lake Club.

Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director, requested direction regarding the County’s comments on acceptance of management plan amendments by the Columbia River Gorge Commission (CRGC), scheduled for review on January 13, 2004. Following discussion, motion was approved to direct Ms. Witherspoon to present testimony to the CRGC that Skamania County acknowledges the need to keep the current moratorium on Plan Amendments in place for the next six months until July 2004, at which time the revised Management Plan would be adopted and sent to the Secretary of Agriculture for concurrence, thus freeing up staff time to work on Plan Amendments while the Counties begin their own code revision process; and if after six months the Plan Amendment process has not resumed, Skamania County would begin to seek other remedies for the taxpayers.

The meeting recessed at 2:15 p.m. Monday, January 12, 2004 and reconvened at 3:10 p.m. the same date, with all Commissioners present.

The Board met in executive session from 3:10 p.m. until 3:25 p.m. regarding personnel, with no action taken.

The meeting recessed at 3:25 p.m. Monday, January 12, 2004 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 13, 2004 with Commissioners McKee and Talent present. Commissioner Quinn was attending a Columbia River Gorge Commission meeting at North Bonneville and joined the meeting at approximately 2:15 p.m.

The Board reviewed and discussed the proposed Skamania County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan with the Sheriff, Undersheriff, Emergency Management Coordinator, Prosecutor, and Director of Administrative Services. Discussion included general and specific responsibilities for all Skamania County departments and organizations and the need to make minor changes for clarification purposes and to correct clerical errors. The Plan is scheduled for adoption on January 15, 2004.

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss the proposed Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, upcoming Legislative Rally, National Forest Counties and Schools Coalition Conference, work plans for 2004, Wind River Nursery housing, Vehicle Use Policy, and vacant County positions, with no action taken.

The meeting recessed at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 13, 2004 and reconvened at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, January 15, 2004, with all Commissioners present.

The Board met in executive session from 8:30 a.m. until 9:40 a.m. to discuss litigation and real estate, with no action taken.

The meeting recessed at 9:40 a.m. Thursday, January 15, 2004 and reconvened at 10:00 a.m. the same date with all Commissioners present.

Vouchers were approved for the period ending January 15, 2004 in the amount of $42,710.16.

Motion was approved to set a public hearing at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 29, 2004 to consider Resolution 2004-05 Supplemental Budget #1 to adjust property tax levies to be consistent with 2004 levies approved by the Board of Commissioners.

Receipt was acknowledged of a letter from Skamania County Republican Central Committee regarding candidates for the appointment of County Treasurer.

Walt Loehrke and Kathy Sheehan, Columbia River Gorge Commission (CRGC) members, reported on the CRGC meeting of January 13, 2004. Discussion included extending the moratorium to accept Management Plan amendments and future replacement of the Hood River Bridge.

Following discussion of the proposed Skamania County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, and a brief overview of the Plan with the Cities of Stevenson and North Bonneville, Resolution 2004-09 was approved unanimously, adopting Skamania County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan.

The meeting recessed at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 15, 2004 and reconvened at 2:00 p.m. the same date, with all Commissioners present.

Darlene Dickson, Senior Services Director, requested consideration of proposed staffing changes as follows, using increased funds from Southwest Washington Agency on Aging and Department of Transportation:

§ Decrease Case Manager position by .1 FTE

§ Increase In-Home Supervisor to 100% FTE at Range 15

§ Increase Transportation Manager to 100% FTE

§ Add Nutrition Site Supervisor at .3 FTE

Following discussion, motion was approved for staffing changes as presented.

The Board discussed various matters that included upcoming election canvassing on February 6, 2004, request from Buildings and Grounds to consider a boat launch at Rock Creek Cove using materials to be removed from Drano Lake, update on Wind River Nursery facilities, and a 1984 agreement with Burlington Northern Railroad regarding the railroad crossing at Home Valley.

The Board met in executive session from 2:35 p.m. until 3:10 p.m. regarding personnel, with no action taken.

The Board interviewed Cherie Flood and Monica Masco as candidates for the appointment of County Treasurer.

The Board met in executive session from 4:30 p.m. until 4:45 p.m. regarding personnel, with no action taken.

The meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m. Thursday, January 15, 2004.

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON