Klickitat County

Board of Commissioners

Minutes – Meeting of Tuesday, October 24^th, 2006

Agenda Item - Comment/Disposition

Call to Order/Roll Call

Morning Workshop Session – Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Chairman Ray Thayer called the meeting to order at 10:06 AM.

Commissioners present: Ray Thayer, Don Struck and Joan Frey.

Workshop Session Agenda

10:06 AM – Public Works Department Update

Attendance: Public Works Director/County Engineer Scott Smith and Assistant County Engineer Bjorn Hedges

Director Smith presented new department revenue information to correct an error that he made last week during the workshop session on the Six Year Road Improvement Program. He also acknowledged a mistake regarding the county expenditure for the Fisher Hill Road project, noting that the county’s portion of the project is indeed about $1 million after all. He stated that this error actually reduces the amount of funding that they can commit to construction projects.

Responding to Chairman Thayer’s inquiry Engineer Hedges stated that they have not finalized plans for the South Columbus Avenue overlay scheduled for next year, but it may be ACP (Asphalt Concrete Pavement, also known as HMA or Hot Mix Asphalt).

Director Smith suggested that if a hot mix asphalt plant is to be used to pave roads used by wind power developers then the county should consider borrowing about $1 million from the Cumulative Reserve Fund to do a number of overlays to take advantage of the low asphalt prices that a local hot mix plant would bring. He proposed that the amount could be paid back at the rate of $200,000 per year and the county would save a considerable amount of money in the long term. The Board responded that they would be willing to consider the idea.

Commissioner Struck asked that the department contact Glenwood resident Fred Holly who has requested that the county look into the alignment of Surface Road.

Commissioner Struck Leaves

For the record, Commissioner Struck left the meeting at 10:37 AM to attend another meeting involving county matters.

Engineer Hedges stated that Hancock Forest Management will be harvesting timber in the Fisher Hill Road right-of-way starting tomorrow. He added that this will be from Canyon Road to Lakeside Road in anticipation of the reconstruction project involving about eight miles of Fisher Hill Road.

Engineer Hedges said that they are now seeking acquisition of 40 right-of-way parcels along Snowden Road (assuming approval of Item 6 of today’s Consent Agenda) and there are a total of about fifty that they will be working to acquire.

Engineer Hedges stated that he has applied for grants totaling $15,000 for the replacement of sidewalks in Lyle, though no reply has been received on the status of the application.

Responding to inquiries from Chairman Thayer, Director Smith said that he discussed the condition of Crafton Road with Bob Rising when he paid a visit to the department and then accompanied Mr. Rising back to his neighborhood to inspect the road firsthand. Upon noting the state of the road, Director Smith related that he told Mr. Rising that the road was in relatively good condition and they would not be doing any special maintenance because there were other county roads in far worse shape than his.

Director Smith revisited an issue from some time ago regarding east end residents putting up their own wire gates to close county roads (which were subsequently taken down by the county). He stated that a resident has requested that one of these roads be gated again. Director Smith asked if the county should be closing some of these roads on a seasonal basis, but suggesting that if they are closed the county should not be involved in any maintenance on these roads. The Board responded that they would be willing to explore seasonal closings and Chairman Thayer added that the property owners involved should be responsible for installing the gates. Director Smith said that he would work on a draft policy for Board consideration.

Director Smith stated that the department’s GIS Operator has requested an increase in her working hours from 28 to 32 hours per week so that she can keep up with her work load. He noted that the hours had earlier been changed from 40 to 28 (effective August 15, 2006). The Board reached consensus to allow the change.

Lunch Recess

The Board recessed for lunch at 11:20 AM.

Call to Order/Roll Call

Regular Meeting for Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Chairman Ray Thayer reconvened the meeting at 1:10 PM.

Commissioners present: Ray Thayer and Joan Frey.

Commissioner Struck was delayed briefly and arrived at 1:13 PM.

Agenda

Business Agenda

Approved (M/Frey, S/Thayer. Passed unanimously) the Business Agenda with one change: the Human Services Council update that was to be provided by Senior Services Director Roger Gadway has been cancelled.

Approval of Commissioner Meeting Minutes

Approved (M/Frey, S/Thayer. Passed unanimously) the Klickitat County Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes for October 3, 2006 and October 10, 2006 as presented.

Citizen Comment

Gene Herin asked if the Board had given any further thought to his request (made last week during Citizen Comment) to help him construct roads in his upcoming subdivision. Chairman Thayer responded that they will not reconsider their decision to decline his request.

Old Business

Settlement Agreement Regarding the Relationship of the Board of Klickitat County Commissioners and Klickitat County Auditor

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Authorized (M/Struck, S/Frey. Passed unanimously) signatures on a Settlement Agreement Regarding the Relationship of the Board of Klickitat County Commissioners and Klickitat County Auditor. Prior to the motion several individuals chose to make statements:

Special Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Steve DiJulio stated that he was representing the defendants consisting of Chairman Thayer, Commissioner Struck, Commissioner Frey and Chief Financial Officer Glen Chipman and noted that former Klickitat County Auditor Diana Housden had initiated legal action in Klickitat County Superior Court in March of 2003. He added that following a bench trial the court dismissed Auditor Housden’s petition and she subsequently appealed to the Washington State Supreme Court where the appeal now resides. Prosecutor DiJulio stated that the defendants have now come to an agreement with current Klickitat County Auditor Diana Pafford (who was substituted as plaintiff following the death of Auditor Housden) and the Prosecuting Attorney’s office is recommending acceptance of the agreement.

Barnett Kalikow stated that he has represented former Auditor Housden and now Auditor Pafford and he feels that this is an excellent solution to this matter in that it saves taxpayer’s money and accomplishes the plaintiff’s goals in ensuring the integrity of the county’s financial system.

Commissioner Struck commended both Officer Chipman and Auditor Pafford for their willingness to compromise in order to reach this settlement. Commissioner Frey also expressed her gratitude.

Chairman Thayer also thanked Commissioner Struck for the time and effort that he expended in this matter.

Auditor Pafford thanked the Board and Officer Chipman for their efforts to resolve this issue.

Public Meetings/Public Hearings/Bid Openings

Public Meeting – Consider Final Approval of Short Plat No. SPL2006-39; Applicant: Ron Clark

Accepted (M/Struck, S/Frey. Passed unanimously) the road right-of-way dedication for future maintenance of Wilson Road and Finn Ridge Road and grant final approval of Short Plat No. SPL2006-39, the applicant being Ron Clark. Associate Planner Jannette Herrington stated in her staff review that this short plat is creating three lots.

Public Meeting – Consider Final Approval of Short Plat No. SPL2006-35; Applicant: William Hinkle

Accepted (M/Frey, S/Struck. Passed unanimously) the road right-of-way dedication for future maintenance of West Darland Drive and grant final approval of Short Plat No. SPL2006-35, the applicant being William Hinkle. Planner Herrington stated in her staff review that this short plat is creating one additional lot and also noted that the boundary of Lot 1 of G-58 that is adjacent to this property is also being altered in this process.

Public Meeting – Consider Approval of Boundary Line Adjustment No. BLA2006-12; Applicant: Paul Gregg

Approved (M/Struck, S/Frey. Passed unanimously) Boundary Line Adjustment No. BLA2006-12 which alters the boundary between Lot 4 of Short Plat No. SPL2001-00007 and adjoining deeded lots, the applicant being Paul Gregg.

Public Meeting – Consider the Planning Commission’s Recommendation to Approve Rezone Request ZON2006-25; Applicant: Art Mains

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Adopted (M/Frey, S/Struck. Passed unanimously) the Planning Commission’s findings of fact and summarily accepting their recommendation to approve Rezone Request ZON2006-25 and to approve Ordinance #O102406 and maps as presented, the applicant being Art Mains. Planner Herrington stated in her staff review that this is a request to rezone 14.35 acres from Open Space (20 acre minimum) and General Rural (5 acre minimum) to Rural Residential (1 acre minimum).

Elected Officials Reports

Auditor’s Office Update

Auditor Diana Pafford discussed their voting equipment, stating that they have had their Diebold optical scanning machines for about twelve years and they have had no problems with them. She added that replacing them with voting machines from another supplier would cost the county about $400,000. Auditor Pafford noted however that other Diebold equipment, notably the touch screen or DRE voting machines that Klickitat County also uses, have gotten a large amount of negative publicity.

Auditor Pafford said that they have gotten another grant to help them with election tasks, and there is another potential grant that would allow them to upgrade the office vault so all election night activities could take place there.

Prosecutor’s Update

Prosecuting Attorney Tim O'Neill stated that his office has now made 187 felony filings to date this year and about 140 are presently active.

Prosecutor O’Neill said that they have a $18,000 victim-witness grant that could be used to hire a part-time employee, so they will go ahead with plans to get someone who will be able to work temporarily in the two district courts.

Prosecutor O’Neill said that he will be filing a brief with the state’s Board of Tax Appeals regarding a property management company.

New Business

Centennial Clean Water Fund Grant Applications

Approved (M/Struck, S/Frey. Passed unanimously) a request as submitted by Watershed Project Coordinator Dave McClure to allow Planning Director Curt Dreyer to sign and submit two Centennial Clean Water Fund grant applications/Section 319, for WRIA (Watershed Resource Inventory Area) 30, and one for WRIA 31.

Consent Agenda

Approved (M/Frey, S/Struck. Passed unanimously) the Consent Agenda in its entirety:

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1. Resolution #15706 in the matter of authorizing the Code Compliance Officer to commence proceedings to cause the abatement of a nuisance on Parcel No. 04-13-2350-1215/00 – Gary J. Vanwambecke.

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2. Resolution #15806 in the matter of authorizing the Code Compliance Officer to commence proceedings to cause the abatement of a nuisance on Parcel No. 05-16-2151-0014/00 – Chad J. and Renee C. Powell.

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3. Resolution #16006 in the matter of denying authorization to the Code Compliance Officer to commence proceedings to cause the abatement of a nuisance on Parcel No. 04-13-2350-0412/00 – Darrell and Toni Geary as the nuisance no longer exists.

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4. Joint Resolution No. 1-2005 (Klickitat County Resolution #16006) of the Benton, Klickitat, and Yakima Boards of County Commissioners the matter of approval of the Watershed Management Plan for the Yakima River Basin.

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5. Memorandum from the Planning Department scheduling public meetings to be held at 1:30 PM on Tuesday, November 7, 2006 as follows: Consider approval of alteration to Lots 1-3, SP-83-63, Boundary Line Adjustment No. BLA2006-10; Applicant: Paul Gregg; AND Consider approval of alteration to Lots 1 & 2, SP-97-33, Boundary Line Adjustment No. BLA2006-21; Applicant: Randall Holycross.

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6. Memorandum granting concurrence and authorization to the Public Works Department to proceed with making firm offers and to begin the negotiation process for acquisition of right-of-way required for the Snowden Road Project, CRP 223, Federal Aid STPR-B201 (001).

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7. 2006 Cumulative Reserve Fund #125 project list change as required to reflect Amendment No. 9 to the Air Sciences, Inc. agreement which was approved by the Board on Tuesday, October 17, 2006.

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8. Amendment (#C20906) to Contract Instruction CI-TSB-KLICKITAT COUNTY SENIOR SERVICES-2006/2007-02, Contract No. 06-07-TSB-07, between Klickitat County (Senior Services) and the Human Services Council, in its capacity as the Transportation Services Brokerage, by adding contract language to include meals and mileage reimbursement as reimbursable expenses for volunteer drivers.

9. Letter and certificate of appreciation accepting the resignation of Jeffrey Wolfanger from the Skamania/Klickitat Community Network and thanking him for his past participation.

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10. Small Works Contract (#C21006) between Klickitat County and Top Notch Tilling for snow removal for the 2006-2007 season for the Courthouse and Annex parking.

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11. Watershed Plan Implementation Phase 4 Grant Application to the Washington State Department of Ecology to implement the WRIA 30 Watershed Plan.

Payment Approvals

Voucher Certification and Approval

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Approved Warrants (M/Struck, S/Frey. Passed unanimously):

Accounts Payable: (#160170 – 160337 & 93346 and cancelled warrants 160169, 159496 & 159299) for a net of $391,553.82

There were no payroll or benefits warrants requiring approval at this time.

Miscellaneous Reports/Comments

Flu Shot Clinics

Public Health Director Kevin Barry briefly discussed the flu clinics that the department has scheduled for November 1 and 2, stating that they may be cancelled because they did not receive all the doses that they had ordered. He noted that no decision has been made and additional doses may arrive. Commissioner Frey responded that she hoped that the clinics would not be cancelled.

Adjournment

There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 3:23 PM.

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Reference Document on File