BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

MEETING for WEEK of DECEMBER 10, 2001

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

Brent Holman, Public Works Director, reported on snow plowing, costs to date for snowplowing winter recreation areas and on a slide on Canyon Creek Road.  Brad Uhlig, Solid Waste Supervisor, reported on the cost for transporting refrigerators from the Mt. Pleasant transfer site to the Stevenson site.

Darlene Dickson, Senior Services Director, gave an update on activities in her department, current program counts for these activities and transportation funding for 2002.  She also advised of concerns regarding health care coverage for one “in-home care” aid.

Consent Agenda item D, Resolution 2001-70, setting Property Tax Levies and 2002 Preliminary Budget for public hearing, was removed for discussion.  Marilyn Breckel, Administrative Services Manager, presented a summary of the 2002 budget and the need to conduct a mid-year budget review.  Motion was made, seconded and carried to set Resolution 2001-70 for public hearing on Thursday, December 20, 2001 at 10:00 a.m. to consider Current Expense and County Road Property Tax levies for 2002.

Motion was made, seconded and carried to approve items A, B, C and E on the consent agenda as follows:

A.     Notice of Completion of contract for Avery Backhoe for Washougal River Road Improvement Project

B.     Notice of Completion of contract for Performance Contracting, Inc. for Criminal Justice Facility

C.     State of Washington Liquor Control Board, Special Occasion License for Sons of the American Legion Squadron 122 for December 31, 2001

E.            Acknowledge receipt of letters from Ceil Horn and Sharon Tiffany regarding the 2002 budget for the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center

The Board acknowledged receipt of the 2002 Equipment Rental and Shop Rates from Public Works Department.

The Board acknowledged receipt of information from Dan Wear regarding noise ordinances.

Minutes for the week of December 3, 2001 were approved as presented.

Supplemental Agreement #2 was approved with Washington State Department of Transportation to provide additional funding for Canyon Creek Road Improvement Project in the amount of $132,035 for a total project amount of $939,000.  Term of this contract is from February 28, 2000 until completion.

A contract was approved with Washington State Department of Corrections to provide funding for drug and alcohol outpatient treatment to newly released offenders at a cost not to exceed $2,400 per offender.  Term of the contract is from October 1, 2001 to June 30, 2003.

Marilyn Breckel, Administrative Services Manager, presented information on the background and cost increases for premiums for the County’s two health insurance plans.  The Public Works bargaining unit has proposed that the County offer OPEIU, Local 11 Trust Health Insurance Plan rather than the current health insurance plans.  Advantages and disadvantages to this Plan were presented and discussed.  Questions and concerns included retirees currently on the County’s health insurance, future rate increases/changes to the Union plan and what will savings be used for if the County changes to the Union plan.  Three options were presented for the Board’s consideration  No action was taken on this issue at this time.

The meeting recessed at 12:05 p.m., Monday, December 10, 2001 and reconvened at 2:05 p.m. the same date with all Commissioners present.

The Board participated in a workshop to discuss and consider possible changes to Commissioner district boundary lines.  Dave O’Brien, Elections Deputy, presented population counts and census maps and advised that State law requires districts to be balanced equally based on current population counts.   Discussion included the impacts of changing or not changing district lines and the need to receive input from residents.  A public hearing was scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 27, 2001 to review and consider changing Commissioner district lines.

Receipt was acknowledged of a letter from Ernest L. Nicholson, Attorney, representing Gerald W. Harteloo and Frank J. DeShirlia with regards to drafting and enforcement of a noise ordinance.

The Board participated in a workshop with Brad Andersen, Prosecuting Attorney, to consider drafting a noise ordinance.  Discussion included sections 173-58 and 173-60 of Washington Administrative Code, sample ordinances from other entities, who will have power of enforcement, required training for enforcement, the need to address continuous harassing noise, gun shots, motorcycle noise, barking dogs and roosters crowing.  Prosecutor Andersen will draft an ordinance for the Board’s review and comments prior to setting the matter for a public hearing.

The meeting recessed at 4:10 p.m., Monday, December 10, 2001 and reconvened at 10:10 a.m., Tuesday, December 11, 2001 with Commissioner McKee and Commissioner Talent present.  Commissioner Quinn was absent due to personal business.

Jim Shank of Department of Natural Resources and Ron Schuttie, Assistant Regional Manager for Department of Natural Resources, updated the Board on current revenues and total projected revenues to Counties from State Forest Board Transfers and Purchase Lands.    No action was taken as a result of this update.

Marilyn Breckel, Administrative Services Manager, addressed the need to take action from meeting on December 10, 2001 regarding the County’s current health insurance.  Commissioner Talent moved to authorize Marilyn Breckel to negotiate a three month extension for our Blue Cross and Kaiser Health Insurance Plans and to negotiate with the County’s bargaining units to approve the three month extension and that the increase in premium costs will be considered as part of any compensation increase for 2002.  Commissioner McKee stepped down as Chair and seconded the motion, which carried.

A letter was approved to John Kirk, Mayor for North Bonneville, asking the City to share half of the costs to survey the problem of rock and other sediment build up in the Hamilton Creek streambed near the County industrial property and the Lewis and Clark RV Park on Evergreen Drive in North Bonneville.

The Board met in executive session regarding personnel from 11:55 a.m. until 12:05 p.m., with no action taken.

The meeting recessed at 12:05 p.m., Tuesday, December 11, 2001 and reconvened at 10:05 a.m., Thursday, December 13, 2001 with Commissioner Quinn and Commissioner Talent present.  Commissioner McKee was absent due to attending a Washington Community Economic Revitalization Team meeting in Skagit County.

Walt Loehrke and Kathy Sheehan, Columbia River Gorge Commission members, reported on the Columbia River Gorge Commission meeting of December 11, 2001.  Items discussed included the Management Plan review process and Conduit Dam.

Larry Mulcihy, Safety Committee Chairman, gave a summary of accident reports.

The meeting recessed at 11:15 a.m., Thursday, December 13, 2001 and reconvened at 3:35 p.m. the same date with Commissioner Quinn and Commissioner Talent present.  Commissioner McKee’s absence was previously noted.

The meeting adjourned at 3:35 p.m., Thursday, December 13, 2001.

                                     BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

                                                                          SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON

ATTEST:

                                                                        ________________________________________

                                                                                                Commissioner

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                                                                                                Commissioner

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Clerk of the Board                                                              Commissioner

AYE _______

NAY _______

ABSTAIN _______

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