BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Meeting for Week of July 26, 2004
The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Monday, July 26, 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.
Tod LeFevre, Assistant County Engineer, gave an update on chip seal and fog seal projects, upper Wind River Road project, replacement of guardrail with jersey barriers on Wind River Road at WKO Sawmill, Drano Lake project, Wind River Road overlay project, radio program costs, results of Home Valley Park Bridge inspection, Rock Creek Cove project, and Carson Hot Springs development.
Commissioner Quinn moved, seconded by Commissioner Talent and motion carried to approve the Consent Agenda as follows:
A. Minutes of July 19, 2004.
B. Acknowledge Claim for Damages from Richard Allen.
C. Acknowledge Notice of Contract Completion with Petersen Brothers, Inc. for 2003 Safety Improvement Program.
D. Acknowledge letter from City of North Bonneville regarding notice of termination of law enforcement contract.
Commissioner Quinn moved, Commissioner Talent seconded and motion carried to approve a request from Mill-A Volunteers Fire Department to use County Road District #3 fueling facilities for fire vehicles, pending approval from the Prosecutor.
The Board discussed a recommendation from the Solid Waste Division to consider elimination of the Underwood Transfer Facility. Discussion included modernization and efficiency improvement changes to the Solid Waste Division’s operation and potential impacts the closure may have for East County residents. No decision was made, pending additional information.
Commissioner Talent moved, Commissioner Quinn seconded and motion carried to approve Resolution 2004-33, adopting the 2004 edition of Standard Specifications for Road, Bridge and Municipal Construction, as adopted by Washington State Department of Transportation and the American Public Works Association.
Commissioner Talent moved, Commissioner Quinn seconded and motion carried to approve a contract with Northern Oregon Corrections to provide housing for juveniles under the jurisdiction of Skamania County Superior Court.
Commissioner Quinn moved, Commissioner Talent seconded and motion carried to approve contract amendment #1 with Portland State University Center for Lakes and Reservoirs to extend the deadline to write the Skamania County Aquatic Weed Plan to control Eurasian watermilfoil.
Commissioner Quinn moved, Commissioner Talent seconded and motion carried to approve a contract with the Department of Agriculture to provide funding for a pilot project to control invasive knotweed on the Little White Salmon, Wind, and Washougal Rivers and associated tributaries and Carson Creek within Skamania County
Commissioner Quinn moved, Commissioner Talent seconded and motion carried to approve the following appointments to Skamania County Mobilization Against Substance Abuse Council (CMASA) for 3-year terms, all expiring on June 30, 2006:
Position #1 - Brian Howe Position #10 – Peter Banks Position #16 – Scott Pineo
Position #4 - Richard Jessel Position #13 – Lori Cochran Position #17 – Pastor Glen Daman
The meeting recessed at 11:10 a.m. Monday, July 26, 2004 and reconvened at 11:30 a.m. the same date, with Commissioners McKee, Quinn and Talent present.
A public hearing was held to consider an application from Larry and Helen Baldwin to convert 18.82 acres to the Current Use Timber Land Program. Said property is located approximately ½ mile east of Skamania Mines Road, tax parcel number 02-05-18-0-0-0805-00. Commissioner Talent moved, Commissioner Quinn seconded and motion carried to approve a taxation agreement for Timber Land Classification for 18.82 acres, as recommended by the Assessor’s Staff.
The meeting recessed at 11:50 a.m. Monday, July 26, 2004 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners McKee, Quinn and Talent present.
An overview of proposed Title III Projects for 2005 was presented by the applicants as follows:
§ Skamania County Forest Explorers, sponsored by ESD 112 and WSU Extension. Continuation from 2004 for a multi-year program designed to develop and implement an after school forest ecology education program for elementary and middle school aged students in Mill A School, Skamania School, Cape Horn Sky School, Canyon Creek Middle School, and Mt. Pleasant School. Total project cost - $54,433.00.
§ Skamania County Firewise Planning for Woodland Dwellers, sponsored by WSU Cooperative Extension of Skamania County. Continuation from 2004 to continue teaching wildfire risk reduction to wildland-urban interface residents; complete data base of interface dwellings to assist Skamania County fire districts, EMS providers, Sheriffs Department, Planning Department, and Public Works Department (county Fire Marshall) in emergency management, zoning and public works projects (in conjunction with 2005 USFWS National Fire Plan grant; further develop Skamania County’s Wildfire Plan using GIS data; and continuing assistance to rural fire districts in obtaining grant funding for wildfire equipment and training. The 2004 fiscal year request includes salary and benefits for a three-quarter-time wildfire director, a quarter-time office assistant, and two part-time surveyors, office services (photocopying and mailing), travel, training and Central Services consulting to facilitate data gathering and management as in 2004. Total project cost - $96,240.00.
§ Skamania County Forest Youth Success, sponsored by Stevenson-Carson School District and WSU Extension. Continuation from 2004 to continue to provide summer employment for high school age youth to conduct projects on the national forest, and to teach forest ecology and management and to conduct an after-school program for younger students that teaches forest ecology and management, as well as life skills. The program requests for 2005 include continued funding for a program director, eight crew leaders, and the employment of up to 48 youth, and operating supplies and services. Total project cost – $239,020.00.
§ North Country EMS St. Helen’s Project, sponsored by North Country Emergency Medical Services. Continuation from 2004 to continue to provide Emergency Medical Services to visitors, recreationalist, residents, and employees of the Northwest area of Skamania County including Mt. St. Helen’s National Volcanic Monument located in Skamania County. This project requests funding for personnel to staff an ambulance and rescue vehicle for the months of June, July, August, and September. Total project cost - $35,000.00.
§ Skamania County Sheriff’s Emergency Services, sponsored by Skamania County Sheriff’s Department. To continue to enhance and improve the level of Search and Rescue Services in Gifford Pinchot National Forest and Columbia River Gorge NSA, as well as reduce and improve response times to all types of emergency calls. The funds requested are to maintain one full time Road Deputy Sergeant position, one half time civilian position, and one-quarter-time Road Deputy wage and overtime. Total project cost - $128,089.00.
§ Skamania County Forest Work Crew, sponsored by Skamania County Sheriff’s Department. Continuation from 2004 to reimburse Skamania County Sheriff Department for the supervision of in-custody inmates who perform a variety of projects to promote and enhance the ecosystem of Federal Forests in and around Skamania County. The Funds requested are to provide supervision of the Work Crew. Total project cost - $137,672.00.
§ Fire/Med Repeater Install for Red Mountain, sponsored by Skamania County Sheriff’s Department. New project for 2005 for a one-time request to install a repeater for the Fire and Medical Emergency Services frequency at the Skamania County repeater site at Red Mountain. Total project cost - $12,000. Note: This project will be combined with the Sheriff’s Emergency Services project for 2005.
The meeting recessed at 3:00 p.m. Monday, July 26, 2004 and reconvened at 9:40 a.m. Tuesday, July 27, 2004, with Commissioners McKee, Quinn and Talent present.
The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss medical insurance for a Public Works employee and the City of North Bonneville law enforcement contract, with no action taken.
Dan Wallenmeyer, Noxious Weed Coordinator, gave an update on the Noxious Weed Control Title II project.
John Carlson, Emergency Management Coordinator, gave updates on the County Emergency Management Basic Plan, Community Emergency Response Teams meeting, Emergency Management Plan workshop, upcoming visit by Washington Emergency Management Division to assist in the design of the County Emergency Operations Center, and status of the installation of computers donated from Benton County.
Commissioner Talent moved, Commissioner Quinn seconded and motion carried to authorize the reimbursement of a COBRA payment for the month of July for Scott Bryan, recently hired by the Public Works Department.
The meeting recessed at 10:45 a.m. Tuesday, July 27, 2004 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners McKee, Quinn and Talent present.
A public hearing was held to consider a request from Terry Trantow, Surveyor and Agent for SDS Lumber Company, for a variance to the applied condition to the Lava Creek Short Plat for an additional ten feet of right of way along the easterly side of Oklahoma Road. Discussion included required right of way width for county roads, acreage of proposed lots, setback requirements, and an existing fence line along Oklahoma Road. Commissioner Quinn moved, Commissioner Talent seconded and motion carried to deny the request for a variance to the right of way condition.
The meeting recessed at 2:10 p.m. Tuesday, July 27, 2004 and reconvened at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, July 29, 2004, with Commissioners McKee, Quinn and Talent present.
The Board discussed amendments to the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (MCED) bylaws, with no action taken, pending additional information from MCEDD.
Commissioner Quinn moved, Commissioner Talent seconded and motion carried to approve vouchers for the period ending July 29, 2004 in the amount of $214,434.53.
Mike Garvison, Auditor, discussed funding for the Public Development Authority.
The meeting recessed at 10:35 a.m. Thursday, July 29, 2004 and reconvened at 1:00 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners McKee, Quinn and Talent present.
The Board met in executive session from 1:00 p.m. until 1:50 p.m. regarding litigation, with no action taken.
The Board participated in a workshop with the Auditor to discuss personnel issues, with no action taken.
The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss the Eden Financial Software System, with no action taken.
Commissioner Quinn moved, Commissioner Talent seconded and motion carried to approve a voucher to Portland Business Journal in the amount of $60.00.
The meeting adjourned at 3:10 p.m. Thursday, July 29, 2004.
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON