BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Meeting for Week of August 23, 2004

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. Monday, August 23, 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 updates on Road Division maintenance activities, Drano Lake parking issues, Wind River overlay project, North Bonneville request to purchase surplus vehicle #707, Northwestern Lake Bridge, Rock Creek Bridge, Home Valley Bridge, Wind River Nursery water system project, Salmon Falls/Canyon Creek intersection preliminary design, employee training, Solid Waste activities, and Building Division activities.

Rick Jessel, Counseling Center Director, reported on mental health, substance abuse and developmental disabilities programs.

Commissioner Quinn moved, seconded by Commissioner Talent and motion carried to approve the Consent Agenda as follows:

A. Minutes of August 16, 2004.

B. Notice of Completion of Public Works contract - Tapani Underground, Inc.

C. Acknowledge receipt of petition and letter from Cliff Nutting on West End Comprehensive Sub Area Plan.

The Public Works Department advised that Home Valley Park Bridge has reached its serviceable life and is in need of significant repairs. Three options were presented for review: 1) Repair the bridge to accommodate small vehicular traffic; 2) Repair the bridge to allow pedestrian traffic only; or 3) Remove the bridge. Issues discussed included emergency ingress/egress when the roadway is blocked by trains, length of time the roadway is blocked, concern from Department of Transportation with pedestrian traffic crossing State Road 14, and the need to discuss this issue with High Cascade. No decision was made at this time, pending additional information.

Commissioner Talent moved, seconded by Commissioner Quinn and motion carried to approve a request to purchase Win-Cams Facilities Management Module Software for the Buildings and Grounds Department.

Commissioner Talent moved, seconded by Commissioner Quinn and motion carried to authorize the Buildings and Grounds Department to contract with Public Works for asphalt paving of the roadways and parking areas at Prindle Park.

Commissioner Talent moved, seconded by Commissioner Quinn and motion carried to approve Resolution 2004-38, vacating a portion of Aalvik Road unused right of way from milepost 0.00 to 0.35.

Commissioner Quinn moved, seconded by Commissioner Talent and motion carried to approve a contract amendment with Hal Systems Corporation to increase the amount of user licenses for various county departments.

Commissioner Quinn moved, seconded by Commissioner Talent and motion carried to approve an interlocal agreement with the City of North Bonneville for reimbursable work performed by the Public Works Department.

Commissioner Talent moved, seconded by Commissioner McKee and motion carried to approve amendments to Mid-Columbia Economic Development District Bylaws, as presented.

The meeting recessed at 12:00 p.m. Monday, August 23, 2004 and reconvened at 1:00 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners McKee, Quinn and Talent present.

The Board participated in a workshop to discuss the 2005 Preliminary Budget. The following budgets were discussed, with no action taken: Superior Court, Juvenile, Clerk, Counseling Center, Auditor, Elections, Auditor O & M, Board of Equalization, General Services, Commissioners, Cumulative Reserve Funds (Contingent Liability, Salaries, Wages & Benefits, Loans), Hotel/Motel Tax, and Operating Transfers.

Commissioner Talent moved, seconded by Commissioner Quinn and motion carried to approve a voucher to the US Postmaster for Primary Election ballot postage.

The meeting recessed at 4:40 p.m. Monday, August 23, 2004 and reconvened at 7:00 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners McKee, Quinn and Talent present.

A public hearing was held at Canyon Creek Middle School to consider Ordinance 2004-04, extending the moratorium on accepting rezone applications for parcels located within the West End of Skamania County for an additional six-months. Karen Witherspoon, Planning and Community Development Director, gave an overview of the status of updating the County Comprehensive Plan for the West End of the County. Commissioner Talent moved, seconded by Commissioner Quinn and motion carried to approve Ordinance 2004-04, extending the moratorium for an additional six-months on accepting rezone applications for parcels located within the West End of Skamania County.

The Board discussed a petition submitted from West End residents requesting that the West End Community Comprehensive Subarea Plan not be adopted. Residents present clarified that the intent of the petition was to allow citizens who have not attended or participated in West End planning meetings the opportunity to be brought up to speed on the planning process and the chance to understand the process that is taking place.

The meeting recessed at 7:50 p.m. Monday, August 23, 2004 and reconvened at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, August 26, 2004, with Commissioners McKee, Quinn and Talent present.

Commissioner Quinn moved, Commissioner Talent seconded and motion carried to approve vouchers for the period ending August 26, 2004 in the amount of $71,136.41.

Commissioner Quinn moved, seconded by Commissioner Talent and motion carried to approve a contract with EOP, Inc. to conduct an emergency management tabletop exercise on July 23, 2004.

Commissioner Talent moved, seconded by Commissioner Quinn and motion carried to approve a contract with Dave Sauerbrey to conduct an emergency management tabletop exercise on July 23, 2004.

Commissioner Quinn moved, seconded by Commissioner Talent and motion carried to approve a contract with George Houston to conduct an emergency management tabletop exercise on July 23, 2004.

A public hearing was held to consider a request from Michael Fortin for a variance to Skamania County Code Private Road Standards to allow a grade of up to 14% for a length of approximately 550 feet for Two Rivers Drive (Private), located off of USFS 25 Road at approximately milepost 42.96. Rich Lang, County Surveyor, presented a staff report and Chuck Whitten of Hagedorn Surveyors and Engineers, gave a presentation on the proposed road design. Commissioner Quinn moved, seconded by Commissioner Talent and motion carried to grant a variance to Skamania County Code Private Road Standards, Section 12.03.040(B)(5), based on the following: 1) does not appear to adversely impact the safety of the general public, 2) allows for adequate fire and emergency services, 3) terrain does not allow for extensive reconstruction, and 4) meets all other private road standard requirements.

Scott Pineo, Community Events and Recreation Director presented a slide show of the Outdoor Adventure Camp, and reported on recreation programs, Fairgrounds activities, swim center, Rock Creek Center activities, and County parks activities.

Larry Mulcihy, Safety Committee Chair, reported on accidents and incidents. Commissioner Talent moved, seconded by Commissioner Quinn and motion carried to concur with the assessments and recommendations of the Safety Committee.

The meeting recessed at 12:00 p.m. Thursday, August 26, 2004 and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. the same date, with Commissioners McKee, Quinn and Talent present.

Sheriff Dave Brown and Prosecutor Peter Banks advised of a substantial increase in inmate medical costs for 2004.

The Board met in an executive session from 2:00 p.m. until 2:25 p.m. regarding personnel, with no action taken.

Commissioner Talent moved, seconded by Commissioner Quinn and motion carried to forward an exceptional qualification request for Deputy Sheriff David Garcia to the Personnel Committee and to request the Personnel Committee to review language in the Personnel Policy regarding the exceptional qualification process.

The meeting adjourned at 2:40 p.m. Thursday, August 26, 2004.

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON