BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Meeting for Week of July 19, 2004
The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Monday, July 19, 2004 at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, 240 NW Vancouver Avenue in Stevenson, with Commissioners McKee, Quinn and Talent present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Brent Holman, Public Works Director/County Engineer, gave updates on the chip seal and fog seal projects, road striping, a presentation to the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation for funding for proposed Wind River Boat Ramp project, and Drano Lake project.
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.
Commissioner Quinn moved, seconded by Commissioner Talent and motion carried to approve the Consent Agenda as follows:
A. Minutes of July 12, 2004.
B. Authorization to Salmon Recovery Funding Board to seek funding for implementation of Upper Washougal River Restoration Project which would include County property at Camp Wa-Ri-Ki.
Commissioner Talent moved, Commissioner Quinn seconded and motion carried to approve an Authorization to Purchase an AutoCAD 2005 upgrade (from 2002 version) computer program used to create all plans, maps and graphical drawings for the Public Works Department.
The Board met with Brent Holman, Public Works Director and Larry Douglass, County Road Superintendent to discuss the Board’s request to impose compression brake restrictions on Salmon Falls Road. Following discussion, which included noise disturbance to area residents, excessive noise from unmuffled compression brakes, and safety issues for truckers if compression brake restrictions are imposed, all were in agreement to post signs stating “no unmuffled engine brakes allowed”, in accordance with Skamania County Code Chapter 8.22, on Canyon Creek Road, Salmon Falls Road, and at the Five Corners intersection.
Commissioner Talent moved, Commissioner Quinn seconded and motion carried to approve an interlocal agreement with the City of Stevenson for reimbursable work performed by the Public Works Department.
Commissioner Quinn moved, Commissioner Talent seconded and motion carried to approve an agreement with the American Legion Coy Catlin Post 137 for the 2004 Columbia Gorge Bluegrass Festival. Scott Pineo, Community Events and Recreation Director, advised that this is the last year the American Legion would be the promoters for the Bluegrass Festival and discussed the future of continuing this event.
Commissioner Quinn moved, Commissioner Talent seconded and motion carried to approve a contract with Schetky Northwest Sales, Inc. for the purchase of one wheelchair accessible mini-van for Senior Services to replace an existing mini-van.
Commissioner Talent moved, Commissioner Quinn seconded and motion carried to approve a contract with Southwest Washington Agency on Aging to provide funding for In-Home Personal Care Services.
Commissioner Quinn moved, Commissioner Talent seconded and motion carried to approve a contract with Southwest Washington Agency on Aging to provide funding for Medicaid and senior/family caregiver transportation.
The meeting recessed at 11:30 a.m. Monday, July 19, 2004 and reconvened at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 22, 2004, with Commissioners McKee and Talent present.
Commissioner Talent moved, Commissioner McKee seconded and motion carried to approve vouchers for the period ending July 22, 2004 in the amount of $364,220.55.
The Board acknowledged the 2004 Candidate Guidelines for Skamania County from the Auditor, prepared by Terry Blaisdell, Central Services Computer Technician.
Scott Pineo, Community Events and Recreation Director, gave updates on the 2004 Fair, Fairgrounds activities, recreation programs, swim center activities, Rock Creek Center activities, County parks activities, fireworks issue at Rock Creek Park, and advised of the need for a structural analysis for the Stevenson Grange Hall. Following discussion of the need for structural repairs at the Stevenson Grange Hall, Commissioner Talent moved, Commissioner McKee seconded and motion carried to authorize Tony Estey, Buildings and Grounds Director, to move forward with a structural analysis for the Stevenson Grange Hall.
Commissioner Talent moved, Commissioner McKee seconded and motion carried to accept the Purchase and Sale Agreement and $5,000 in earnest money from John Crumpacker for the purchase of 3.45 acres of County owned property located on Rock Creek Drive, Assessor’s Tax Lot No. 02-07-02-0-0-3100-00 for the amount of $167,500. The development of this property is meant to construct handicapped accessible apartments, with the possibility of housing for advanced assisted care in the future.
Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director, advised that the Secretary of Agriculture is expected to complete the concurrence review of the National Scenic Area Revised Management Plan (RMP) on or before August 10, 2004, which is currently under appeal by the Friends of the Columbia Gorge. The Gorge Commission will then transmit the RMP to the Counties, who will have 60 days to determine if they will implement the changes. Prosecutor Peter Banks recommended waiting until the litigation is settled before implementing the changes to the County ordinance. No decisions were made as a result of this discussion.
Ms. Witherspoon also gave updates on the pending application list, upcoming meetings for the Water Resource Inventory Area 29 and West End Community Comprehensive Subarea Planning, advised of receiving population projections for Skamania County for 2004 from the Office of Financial Management, and the need to schedule a public hearing to consider extending the West End Moratorium on rezones, which is set to expire on September 1, 2004.
The meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, July 22, 2004.
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON