BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of April 19, 2004

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Monday, April 19, 2004, with all Commissioners present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance.

No proposals were received for an Inmate Medical Services contract. The Clerk advised she would inform the Sheriff.

Brent Holman, Public Works Director, advised of attending a Region 4 Homeland Security meeting and gave updates on a proposed culvert project on Salmon Creek Road, Drano Lake project, completion of west end transportation plan for rezoning, Smith Cripe Road project, and working on road grading of gravel roads throughout the County. Commissioner Quinn advised of the need to address the use of jake brakes and noise complaints on Salmon Falls Road.

Ole Helgerson, WSU Extension Agent, reported on the 4-H Program, Forest Youth Success Program, forestry activities, gardening and pest management, and gave an update on the Firewise Project. He also advised of a request from the Underwood Community to manage a National Forest Plan Grant.

Consent Agenda items were approved as follows:

A. Minutes of April 12, 2004

B. Request for Proposals for Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal, Assessment Administration & Tax Administration System for Assessor & Treasurer. Set deadline to receive proposals for 4 PM May 14, 2004 and set date to open proposals for 10 AM May 17, 2004.

C. Acknowledge submission of grant application to United Way of Klickitat and Skamania Counties for funding for swim pool equipment.

D. Acknowledge submission of grant application to USTA Pacific Northwest Community Tennis Coordinators for funding for a Youth Co-Ed Tennis Program.

E. Acknowledge Notice of Completion of Public Works contract with Creagan Excavating for snow plowing Forest Service 90 Road.

F. Acknowledge receipt of letter from Sarah Burr Arnold regarding WRIA meetings.

G. Acknowledge receipt of letter from Secretary of State Sam Reed commemorating 150^th Anniversary of Skamania County.

An authorization to purchase was approved from the Sheriff for the purchase of a used 22-foot Alamar Jet Boat and Loader Trailer from Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit, using existing marine program funds to replace existing equipment in need of maintenance and repair.

Larry Mulcihy, Safety Committee Chair, reported on accidents and incidents. The Board concurred with the assessments and recommendations of the Safety Committee.

The Board discussed the value of County owned property near Rock Creek Cove. The Board directed Marilyn Butler, Director of Administrative Services, to research the cost of a commercial appraisal of this property.

The meeting recessed at 11:45 a.m. Monday, April 19, 2004 and reconvened at 1:35 p.m. the same date, with all Commissioners present.

Mary Gumm, representing Sprint, presented an overview of Sprint’s telecommunications infrastructure in Skamania County. The presentation included property taxes paid by Sprint, employee salaries paid by Sprint within Skamania County, franchise fees paid by Sprint, Sprint local operations capital investment in Washington State, layout of Sprint network throughout the Columbia Gorge District, boundaries of Sprint service territory, and guidelines for installation of new service.

The Board participated in a workshop with Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director, to discuss the final draft of revisions to the NSA Management Plan.

The Board met in executive session from 2:45 p.m. until 3:10 p.m. regarding personnel, with no action taken.

The meeting recessed at 3:10 p.m. Monday, April 19, 2004 and reconvened at 9:10 a.m. Tuesday, April 20, 2004, with all Commissioners present.

The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss Risk Pool updates, Gorge Act, labor negotiations, hiring for new positions, Wind River Nursery, Market Study, appraisal of Rock Creek Cove area property, and the budget, with no action taken.

Vouchers were approved for the period ending April 20, 2004, in the amount of $544,907.44.

Scott Pineo, Community Events and Recreation Director, gave updates on the 2004 Fair, Spring and Summer recreation programs, Swim Center activities, Rock Creek Recreation Center activities, campground hosts, fee collection attendants, feasibility studies for the Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall and Camp Wa-Ri-Ki, and advised of applying for grants to fund programs.

Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director, gave updates on the pending application list, Water Resource Inventory Area 29, the West End Community meetings, the NSA Management Plan, and ordinance amendments.

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

The meeting recessed at 10:55 a.m. Tuesday, April 20, 2004.

At approximately 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 20, 2004, the Board met with Tony Meyer at the Washougal Salmon Hatchery for a site visit to review a proposed project to stabilize and collect the gravel flowing downriver in the Washougal River watershed from the Washougal Salmon Hatchery upstream to Stebbins Creek.

The meeting reconvened at 2:25 p.m. Tuesday, April 20, 2004, with all Commissioners present.

The Board participated in a workshop with Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director, and Charly Boyd, Watershed Planner, to discuss the second draft of the Water Resource Inventory Area 27 and 28 Watershed Management Plan. Discussion included low and high flow ranges of the Washougal River watershed and recent changes to the Plan to increase the low flow by 5% and reduce the high flow by 5%. The Board was in agreement to send a letter to the Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board advising of their comments and concerns regarding the recent changes to the Plan.

The Board discussed an offer from Dave Creagan to donate a one-acre lot to the County, with no obligation, located on US Forest Service 25 Road, approximately ½ mile north of Forest Service 90 Road. The offer included supplying water to the lot from a proposed community water system, at no cost to the County. Discussion included proposed amendments to the County Short Plat Ordinance which includes removal of the provision that allows an exemption from the minimum lot size requirement for creation of a lot to be conveyed to a governmental agency or a County Junior Taxing District, and the need for the proposed Ordinance to be adopted not later than June 30, 2004 per recommendation of the Prosecutor. Motion was approved to move forward with acceptance of the donation of the parcel, contingent upon approval of a community water system by the Health Department to supply water to the lot, road access to the lot, and completion of the recording of the deed no later than June 11, 2004.

A voucher was approved to the Department of Revenue for unpaid taxes for the month of March 2004 in the amount of $2,269.94.

The Board advised they would be visiting with Senior Services staff at the Senior Services Office at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 21, 2004 and would be attending the Washington State Association of Counties Western District Meeting at the Heathman Lodge in Vancouver, WA on Thursday and Friday, April 22 and 23, 2004.

The meeting adjourned at 3:35 p.m. Tuesday, April 20, 2004.

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON