BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of April 12, 2004

 

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

 

Brent Holman, Public Works Director, advised of scheduling interviews for the vacant Project Engineer position and gave updates on a request for funding for a dredging project on Rock Creek, finalizing right of way acquisitions for the Four Corners project, Smith Cripe Road project, and the Drano Lake project.

 

Motion was approved to award the bid for the held over 2003 Safety Improvement Project to Peterson Brothers, Inc. of Sumner, WA for the bid amount of $60,860.75, as recommended by the Public Works Department.

 

Darlene Dickson, Senior Services Director, gave an update on program costs, services provided and the Public Transit System.  An office visit was scheduled with Senior Services staff for 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 21, 2004.

 

Consent Agenda items were approved as follows:

A.     Minutes for week of April 5, 2004.

B.     Appointment to Washington Investment Board.

C.     Fireworks Stand Permit for American Legion Cape Horn Post 122.

D.     Fireworks Stand Permit for American Legion Carson Post 137.

E.      Liquor License renewal for Stabler Country Store.

F.      Acknowledge 2003 Summary of Activities for Mount St. Helens Project from North Country Emergency Medical Service.

G.     Acknowledge Feliz/Famelos Annexation to City of Stevenson.

H.     Acknowledge Kaiser Permanente Health Insurance Agreement for 2004.

 

A contract was approved with Forest Roth to serve as a volunteer host to provide caretaker and security functions at Home Valley Campground.

 

A contract was approved with the Department of Social and Health Services to perform diagnostic evaluations on youth committable to the Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration.

 

Contract amendment #3 was approved with the US Forest Service to provide Title II funding to continue weed control services on all lands within Skamania County that lie within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest South Resource Advisory committee area.

 

A contract was approved with the Department of Fish and Wildlife to provide funding for snowmobile/snowpark enforcement services during winter months.

 

Eric Haight advised of concerns regarding property removed from the Open Space tax classification and property taxes due as a result of the removal from Open Space.  He was advised to contact the Board of Equalization.

 

A voucher to Sylvia’s Swimwear for the purchase of five swimsuits for pool instructors was approved for payment on a one-time basis only.

 

Resolution 2004-22 was approved, honoring the 150th Anniversary of the creation of Skamania County.

 

Motion was approved to submit application numbers S2-26536C, S2-00909/764/CC637 and S2-00817C to the Department of Ecology for Change/Transfer of Water Right at Wind River Nursery to change the purpose of use, point of diversion of withdrawal, and change/transfer place of use.

 

The Board discussed the need for amendments to the NSA Management Plan to allow zoning changes from public recreation to commercial recreation.  Commissioner McKee advised he would work with Marilyn Butler, Director of Administrative Services, Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development, and Peggy Bryan, Economic Development Director on this issue.

 

Bill Barron, Clark County Administrator, presented a resolution from Clark County Board of Commissioners commemorating the 150th Anniversary of Skamania County.

 

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

 

A public hearing was held to consider a Shoreline Variance application from Allison Wright to construct a retaining wall behind an existing cabin and place a permanent foundation under the cabin at Site #33 at Northwestern Lake.  Motion was approved to grant the Shoreline Variance with conditions, as recommended by the Planning Department.

 

Receipt was acknowledged of three letters from Wind River Public Development Authority as follows:

§         Request for a $2,500 allocation to contract with a forester to develop a plan for harvesting trees at Wind River Nursery.

§         Request to allow Tanager Telecommunications to locate a 120-foot monopole at the Wind River Nursery, along with a 20-year lease, to provide wireless fiber to Carson and the Wind River Valley.

§         Request to deny future permit applications for the Phoenix Festival at the Wind River Nursery site due to community concerns regarding noise and law enforcement issues.

 

The meeting recessed at 2:00 p.m. Monday, April 12, 2004.

 

The Board attended a Northwest Forest Plan Healthy Forest Initiative meeting at Dolce Skamania Lodge in Stevenson at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 13, 2004.

 

The meeting reconvened at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 13, 2004, with all Commissioners present.

 

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss summer labor, Department of Natural Resources, Gorge legislation for recreation parcels, market study, Clean Air Authority, labor relations conference, Public Health District, and a Community Development Block Grant for improvements to the Carson Water System, with no action taken.

 

The meeting recessed at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 13, 2004 and reconvened at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, April 15, 2004, with Commissioners Quinn and Talent present.  Commissioner McKee was on personal business.

 

Vouchers were approved for the period ending April 15, 2004, including authorization of the purchase of one additional swimsuit for swim instructors, and payment of a voucher to Syvlia’s Swimwear in the amount of $53.24.   The total amount of vouchers approved was $149,870.10, reflecting a change to invoice #18687, reducing it from $140.26 to $53.24 to reflect a credit in the amount of $87.02.

 

Kathy Sheehan, Columbia River Gorge Commission (CRGC) member, reported on the Columbia River Gorge Commission meeting of April 13, 2004.  Issues discussed included replacement of the Hood River Bridge, draft NSA Management Plan, and expedited review of NSA applications.

 

A voucher to VISA was approved in the amount of $52.77.

 

The meeting adjourned at 11:20 a.m. Thursday, April 15, 2004.

 

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON