BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of April 5, 2004

The Board met in executive session from 9:35 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. regarding personnel, with no action taken.

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Monday, April 5, 2004, with all Commissioners present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Sealed bids were opened for the 2003 Safety Improvement Project as follows, and referred to the Public Works Department for review and recommendation:

Dirt & Aggregate Interchange, Inc. Peterson Brothers, Inc. Coral Construction Co.

Fairview, OR Sumner, WA Wilsonville, OR

$86,677.10 $60,860.75 $83,838.00

Brent Holman, Public Works Director, advised of hauling excess material from the Smith Cripe Road project to the County’s North Bonneville site for fill material, completion of tree trimming on the West End, working on the survey and plan for the Wind River Road grind and overlay project, and gave an update on the Drano Lake project.

Rich Rush, Central Services Director, gave updates on the new vote tabulation system for the Auditor’s Office, purchase of Win-Cams Cost Accounting software, and communications system update at the Sheriff’s Office, and advised of attending a software program demonstration for the Assessor and Treasurer.

Ole Helgerson, WSU Extension Agent, requested clarification of a previous request for approval of high-speed internet connection at the Firewise Office located at the Wind River Nursery site, to be paid from the Title III Firewise budget. Following discussion, motion was approved to authorize the high-speed internet connection as requested.

Ole Helgerson, WSU Extension Agent, gave an update on the Firewise program and a recent PAC meeting.

Consent Agenda items were approved as follows:

A. Minutes for week of March 29, 2004.

B. Acknowledge letter from Dennis Gogolski regarding Westend Planning.

C. Acknowledge letter from Connie Acker regarding safety issues on SR 14 in City of Stevenson.

D. Acknowledge application for Emergency Shelter Grant for Skamania County Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, approved for submission by the Director of Administrative Services.

Contract amendment #1 was approved with the Chamber of Commerce to assist with the 150^th Anniversary Celebration of Skamania County.

The Board discussed various nuisance violations, the hiring process for summer college students and the purchase of swimsuits for swim instructors.

The meeting recessed at 11:25 a.m. Monday, April 5, 2004 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. the same date, with all Commissioners present.

A public hearing was held, continued from March 1, 2004, to consider a request from Otis Holwegner to vacate the access restriction on Lot 4 of Sylvia Short Plat, which allows access only from Sadie Road (Private) off of Wind River Road. The purpose of the continuance was to allow property owners to come to an agreement regarding the use of Game Haven Trail (Private), an alternate route for access to Lot 4, that would satisfy concerns of all property owners using Game Haven Trail (Private). Kathy Hubka, Planning and Community Development Technician, advised of receiving a letter from David Ulrich, the new owner of Lot 4, withdrawing the request to vacate the access restriction on Lot 4. Following discussion, motion was approved to close the public hearing and dismiss the matter.

The Board discussed the need for amendments to the NSA Management Plan to allow zoning changes from public recreation to commercial recreation.

The meeting recessed at 1:50 p.m. Monday, April 5, 2004 and reconvened at 3:05 p.m. the same date, with all Commissioners present.

Kimmie Bringman, Skamania County’s 4-H delegate who attended the 4-H National Conference in Washington D.C. in March 2004, gave an overview of the Conference and her experiences in Washington D.C.

Walt Loehrke, Columbia River Gorge Commission (CRGC) member, discussed the revised NSA Management Plan, the need for Plan amendments to allow zoning changes from public recreation to commercial recreation, and topics for an upcoming CRGC meeting regarding replacement of the Hood River Bridge and a proposed policy statement for uniform interpretation throughout the Gorge.

The meeting recessed at 3:50 p.m. Monday, April 5, 2004 and reconvened at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 6, 2004, with all Commissioners present.

Tony Estey, Buildings and Grounds Director, reported on maintenance of various facilities and grounds for the month of March 2004, gave an update on the maintenance of the ball fields at Home Valley Park, advised of phone problems at the Buildings and Grounds office and shop, and proposed landscaping changes around the Courthouse and Criminal Justice Facility, and reported on animal control calls. He requested permission to remove the spruce tree on the Courthouse lawn and replace it with a 10-12 foot tree. Commissioner McKee advised he would address this request with the Chamber of Commerce and Stevenson Business Association.

Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director, reported on the Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) 29, West End Community meetings, and gave an update on the revised NSA Management Plan and topics for the next Columbia River Gorge Commission meeting.

Dick Wedin, Steve Brown, and Judy Wilson of the Department of Natural Resources, gave an update on the proposed land exchange in Washington State between the Department of Natural Resources, Elkhaven and Plum Creek Timber Company. They advised of concerns from individuals from the Mill A Community Action Committee, expressed at a public hearing, regarding a cistern located on a parcel included in the exchange that supplies domestic water to area residents, and of receiving a letter from one of the users of the water system advising of concerns regarding surface water rights in this area. Following discussion, all were in agreement leave the property in the exchange and pursue an easement to protect the cistern. Commissioner McKee advised he would contact the user in the area.

The meeting recessed at 11:55 a.m. Tuesday, April 6, 2004 and reconvened at 2:00 p.m. the same date, with all Commissioners present.

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss the following: Gorge Act issues, Public Development Authority update, health insurance, Health Department and State Board of Health meeting, disaster funds, and dog control ordinance, with no action taken.

The meeting recessed at 2:55 p.m. Tuesday, April 6, 2004 and reconvened at 10:05 a.m. Thursday, April 8, 2004, with all Commissioners present.

Vouchers were approved for the period ending April 8, 2004 in the amount of $143,963.99.

Payroll was approved for the period ending March 31, 2004 in the amount of $848,482.75.

The Board discussed a voucher for the purchase of swimsuits for swim instructors. Decision was tabled until April 12, 2004 to allow the Auditor to be present for discussion.

A letter was approved to the Military Department, Emergency Management Division, serving as notification of the designation of Undersheriff David L. Cox as the E911 Coordinator for Skamania County for the period of July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005.

The Board met with the Prosecutor Peter Banks, Dan Wallenmeyer, Noxious Weed Coordinator, and members of the Noxious Weed Board to discuss a noxious weed control issue with the Public Utility District (PUD) No. 1 of Skamania County and to review the PUD’s Vegetation Management Plan. This issue will be further discussed at a meeting scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 27, 2004. The Prosecutor advised he would invite the PUD to attend this meeting.

The meeting recessed at 11:25 a.m. Thursday, April 8, 2004 and reconvened at 2:30 p.m. the same date, with all Commissioners present.

The Board met in executive session from 2:30 p.m. until 3:40 p.m. regarding personnel, with no action taken.

Commissioner Talent advised of his concerns with the possible need for fill material at the North Bonneville site recently purchased by Silver Star Cabinets, using material removed from the Smith Cripe Road project. He also advised of a building permit issue at Wind Mountain Resort, which has now been resolved.

The Clerk was advised to schedule regular staff workshops every Tuesday at 9:00 a.m.

The meeting adjourned at 3:50 p. m. Thursday, April 8, 2004.

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON