BOARD OF SKAMANIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
MEETING for WEEK of DECEMBER 17, 2001
The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. with Commissioner McKee and Commissioner Talent present, opening with the Pledge of Allegiance. Commissioner Quinn was absent due to personal business.
Brent Holman, Public Works Director, reported on snow plowing, costs to date for snowplowing winter recreation areas, the slide area on Canyon Creek Road, detection of slight movement of Fanning Hill slide, and completion of property survey and legal description for Drano Lake project.
Ole Helgerson, Cooperative Extension Agent, gave an update on forestry programs, 4-H issues, and status of the remodel at Annex II.
Consent agenda items A thru E were approved as follows:
A. Minutes of December 10, 2001.
B. Set public hearing for Thursday, December 27, 2001 at 11:00 a.m. for Resolution 2001-75 (Six Year Transportation Improvement Program 2002-2007).
C. Set public hearing for Tuesday, January 29, 2001 at 1:30 p.m. for Shorelines Variance application for Brad Wolverton to replace an existing home on Swift Reservoir, construct bank stabilization, expand existing driveway and parking area and place permanent platform for solar panels east of home site.
D. Acknowledge receipt of Claim for Damage from Heidi Newell and forward to Risk Manager.
E. Appointments to Skamania County Mosquito Board:
§ Albert Gosiak, position #2, two year term expiring January 2, 2004;
§ David Kuhn, position #4, two-year term, expiring January 2, 2004.
Resolution 2001-55, Authorizing a new solid waste disposal fee for use of new scales at Skamania County Transfer Facilities was approved.
Resolution 2001-69, Establishing a pay scale for Community Events & Recreation instructors was tabled at this time.
Resolution 2001-73, Establishing legal holidays to be observed for 2002 was approved.
A Lease Agreement with Daryl Peterson, dba Peterson Precast Products to lease building known as North Bonneville Industrial Facility located at 380 Evergreen Drive in North Bonneville was tabled at this time.
Receipt was acknowledged of a letter from John Kirk, Mayor for the City of North Bonneville, agreeing to share the cost and expense to survey the problem of rock and other sediment build up in the Hamilton Creek streambed.
The meeting recessed at 10:45 a.m., Monday, December 17, 2001 and reconvened at 11:05 a.m. the same date with Commissioners McKee and Talent present. Commissioner Quinn’s absence was previously noted.
Anita Gahimer, Manager for the Port of Skamania County, presented an update on the Wind River Nursery conveyance. During the decommissioning, by GeoEngineers, Inc., of underground heating oil tanks, a leak was detected associated with the tank at Building 1065 along Chapman Avenue. The Forest Service has indicated they cannot complete title transfer to the County until the known hazardous site has been remediated. Greg Cox, Ranger for Wind River District, was present for discussion regarding remediation options. The County will send a letter to the US Forest Service proposing how the County would like to proceed to resolve this matter and complete the conveyance.
The meeting recessed at 11:55 a.m., Monday, December 17, 2001 and reconvened at 10:05 a.m., Tuesday, December 18, 2001 with Commissioners McKee and Talent present. Commissioner Quinn was absent due to personal business.
Ken Cohen, Community Events & Recreation Director, gave an update on current and proposed projects for his department.
The Board participated in a staff workshop to discuss items to be completed before the end of the year.
The meeting recessed at 11:50 a.m., Tuesday, December 18, 2001 and reconvened at 1:45 p.m. the same date with Commissioners McKee and Talent present. Commissioner Quinn’s absence was previously noted.
The Board discussed a request from the Solid Waste Department to consider changing three part-time intermittent positions to part-time regular positions. The Solid Waste Department cites that employees in these positions have worked on schedules that did not meet the criteria of part-time intermittent, working more than 24 hours per week as allowed under the Personnel Policy. This change would allow the positions to be eligible for County benefits and would give employees an incentive to stay in the position. The Solid Waste Department receives a biannual grant for recycling and is willing to reduce equipment purchases to pay additional personnel costs from grant funds. Commissioner Talent moved to approve using a part of the State Solid Waste grant to pay increased personnel costs for changing three positions in Solid Waste from part-time intermittent to part-time regular positions that include pro-rated County benefits, provided that the Solid Waste equipment budget be reduced by the amount of the personnel cost increase. Commissioner McKee stepped down as Chair and seconded the motion, which carried. The Board members, the Public Works Director and Solid Waste Supervisor further agreed that the State grant would continue to be used to fund these increased costs and if the grant ended, the positions would be eliminated.
The meeting recessed at 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, December 18, 2001 and reconvened at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, December 20, 2001 with all Commissioners present.
Consent agenda items A thru F were approved as follows:
A. Acknowledge receipt of Claim for Damages from Ron & Liz Green
B. Acknowledge receipt and set for review & consideration at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 27, 2001, Ordinance 2001-09, Amending Interim Ordinance 2001-03 by Amending Chapter VII Sunset Provision.
C. Acknowledge receipt set for public hearing at 1:30 p.m., January 7, 2002, Ordinance 2001-10, Rezoning Certain Property from Resource Production to Residential 5.
D. Resolution 2001-77, Distribution of Federal Forest Fund Receipts from treasurer’s Trust.
E. Resolution 2001-78, Final loan repayment from Law Library Fund to Skamania County Loan Fund
F. Resolution 2001-79, Final Loan repayment from Current Expense Fund to Skamania County Loan Fund.
Public hearings were held regarding setting 2002 property tax levies and the preliminary budget for 2002. An increase of $9,810, which is 1% over the amount levied in 2001, plus the value of new construction is proposed for current expense and county road property tax levies for 2002. Proposed changes by departments to revenues and expenditures the 2002 preliminary budget were presented for consideration. Also proposed is a mid-year review of the 2002 budget. The purpose of these hearings was to receive public testimony, with final adoption to be considered at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 27, 2001.
Commissioner Talent excused himself from the meeting at 10:55 a.m. to attend a Southwest Washington Health District meeting in Vancouver, WA.
Receipt was acknowledged of a letter from Curt Skaar regarding a proposed noise ordinance.
A consent to represent the County was approved to allow the Prosecuting Attorney to represent the County in the Health Manual v. Skamania County lawsuit.
Vouchers for the period ending December 20, 2001 were approved in the amount of $226,627.86.
The meeting adjourned at 11:20 a.m., Thursday, December 20, 2001.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
SKAMANIA COUNTY, WASHINGTON
ATTEST:
________________________________________
Commissioner
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Commissioner
____________________________ ________________________________________
Clerk of the Board Commissioner
AYE _______
NAY _______
ABSTAIN _______
ABSENT ______