Klickitat County

Minutes - Meeting of Monday, November 13^th, 2001

Topic

Agenda Item - Comment/Disposition

Call to Order/Roll Call

Morning Workshop Session – Monday, November 13, 2001

Chairman Don Struck called the meeting to order at 9:10 AM.

Commissioners Present: Don Struck and Joan Frey.

Commissioner Thayer joined the meeting at 10:10 AM.

Workshop Session Agenda

9:10 – Juvenile Department Office Building Site Visit

Commissioners Struck and Frey visited the Juvenile Department facilities in Annex III to access space requirements and proposed changes in office layout.

10:10 AM – Road Department Update

Interim County Engineer Ed Hoyle briefed the Board on current department issues:

• Said that he would be gone next Monday and Tuesday, November 18 and 19, and would have Bjorn Hedges and/or Keith Grundei provide a department briefing to the Board that Monday.
• Stated that interviews for the County Engineer position are planned for this Friday, November 16 with three candidates scheduled.

10:20 AM – Executive Session

The Board convened into Executive Session with Interim County Engineer Ed Hoyle to discuss a personnel issue.

The Board reconvened back to Regular Session at 10:40 AM.

10:40 AM – Road Department Update (Continued)

Interim County Engineer Ed Hoyle continued his briefing on department issues:

• As discussed last week, Mr. Hoyle indicated that a loan from the Cumulative Reserves Fund #125 to the County Road Fund #101 is necessary while the county waits for reimbursement from the state. A resolution has been prepared for Board consideration this afternoon under New Business.
• Mr. Hoyle presented to the Board updates on the Annual and Six-Year Road Plans and suggested the need to schedule a meeting to discuss the plans in more detail. Chairman Struck, after consultation with Executive Secretary Cris McEwen, said the plans could be discussed at the November 26 morning work session. In response to Commissioner Frey’s suggestion, Mr. Hoyle agreed that improvements to Calvert and Garrison Roads should have a higher priority.
• Mr. Hoyle said the first concrete pour (of approximately 360 cubic yards) for the Dallesport Wastewater Treatment Plant is scheduled for this morning. Also, an 850 h.p. trencher is to arrive soon to help in construction of the collection system.

Lunch Recess

The Board recessed for lunch at 12:00 Noon.

Call to Order/Roll Call

Regular Meeting for Monday, November 13, 2001

Chairman Don Struck reconvened the meeting at 1:12 PM.

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

Agenda

Business Agenda

Approved (M/Thayer, S/Frey. Passed unanimously) the Business Agenda with one addition under New Business: a Resolution in the matter of a short-term loan of funds from the Cumulative Reserve Fund #125 to the County Road Fund #101.

Citizen Comment

Gene Herin – Shared a Yakima newspaper advertisement for modular homes. He suggested that the prices indicated that Klickitat County paid too much for the modular office building now occupied by the Resource Development and Solid Waste Departments. Chairman Struck responded that appears that the county paid about $2 more per square foot, but the prices in the newspaper advertisement did not include the foundation and installed utility services that the county received. On another topic, Mr. Herin said that a newspaper article indicated that Grant County has had many problems with the amphitheater at Moses Lake. He suggested that Klickitat County should therefore be concerned about the amphitheater at the Maryhill Winery.

Rick Graves – Reviewed the long plat process, noting that sight evaluation procedures require two perk holes per lot, with the developer often having to "rough-in" a road and do other substantial work before a public hearing and preliminary approval even take place. He said that there are two problems that he and other developers have: The first is that other people see development work being done before any approval is obtained. The second problem is the extra expense incurred if changes need to be made, as for example, perk holes being incorrectly located, with boundaries then needing to be adjusted. Chairman Struck remarked that perhaps the long plat process should be more similar to the short plat procedure in this regard, as developers should have more confidence they will be successful in getting approval before committing so much money. He added that he would talk to Chief of Environmental Health Services Matt Schanz in regard to perk hole and other requirements.

Public Meetings/Public Hearings/Bid Openings

Public Meeting – Consider Acceptance of Road Right-of-Way Dedication; Applicant: Anupam Narayan

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Accepted (M/Frey, S/Thayer. Passed unanimously) the road right-of-way dedication, for future maintenance of Fisher Hill Road, within Short Plat No. SPL2001-00019, the applicant being Anupam Narayan. This is a large lot short plat creating two lots of 43.64 acres and 23.35 acres. Acceptance of the right-of-way dedication completes all requirements for final approval of the short plat.

Public Meeting – Consider Final Approval of Orchard Acres Subdivision; Applicant: Rick Graves

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Approved (M/Frey, S/Thayer. Passed unanimously) Resolution #20801 granting final approval of Orchard Acres Subdivision (SUB2000-00001) the applicant being Rick Graves. Included in the motion was acknowledgement that a water user’s agreement, easements, covenants (including a road maintenance agreement) and restrictions have been presented and will be recorded with the Klickitat County Auditor along with recording the final plat.

Prior to the motion there was discussion regarding water issues, with the applicant stating that he and the Department of Ecology (DOE) would have preferred a community water system to supply the five lots. Mr. Graves noted that this would have allowed a greater separation between water and septic systems. However, this was not practical, as it would have required a water right that would have taken years to gain approval, as there is a substantial backlog of applications being considered by DOE.

Commissioner Frey Leaves Meeting

For the record, Commissioner Frey left the meeting at 2:10 PM to attend a meeting of the Washington State Association of Counties in Silverdale, WA.

Miscellaneous Reports/Comments

Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Mapping Review

Attendance: Consultant Steven B. Andersen, Principal of Cascade Planning Associates, Janis Sauter and Oren Johnson of Gorge Reality, and Planning Director Curt Dreyer.

Consultant Andersen presented to the Board a report on the subject of "Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Mapping Errors", and quickly called to their attention the report’s Summary of Conclusions detailing five discrepancies in the depiction of urban area boundaries. Mr. Andersen emphasized his conclusion regarding the Lyle urban area (UA) map: "Although there are generally no significant discrepancies between the Act’s (National Scenic Act) Lyle UA map and the USFS (Forest Service) UA map for Lyle, changed circumstances have transpired since the Act was adopted to warrant consideration of an expansion of the Lyle UA to include an area of generally not more than 31.66 acres to compensate for the effective elimination of that much area from the Lyle UA via recent changes in land ownership."

Discussion continued, with participants focussing on the various maps that were created for the United States Congress and others, before and after establishment of the Scenic Area. Ms. Sauter asked Mr. Andersen if there was proof that "official maps" ever existed and Mr. Andersen replied that these maps accompanied the legislation creating the Scenic Area. Ms. Sauter and Mr. Johnson then responded that they have been told by several people in Washington DC that there are no official maps. Mr. Andersen said it was his understanding that the maps used by congressional committees eventually went to President Reagan.

Chairman Struck stated that the Board would invite Special Counsel Steve DiJulio to participate in discussions within the next three weeks and that they would notify interested parties when this was confirmed.

Columbia Gorge Regional/The Dalles Municipal Airport Issues: FAA Lease Agreement & Airport Master Plan Update

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Bill Coles, Manager of the Columbia Gorge Regional/The Dalles Municipal Airport and Chuck Covert, Regional Airport Board Chairman briefed the Board on two airport issues, the first being a new lease agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It was noted that the FAA has had an agreement with the airport to lease 679 square feet of airport space. Now that there are no weather observers, FAA only requires 100 square feet for the ASOS (weather station) equipment. The previous yearly total was $8,148.00, while the new lease will be $1,380.00 for the year.

The second topic was the need to update the airport’s master plan. Mr. Coles stated that the Oregon Department of Aviation (ODA) had contacted him asking if the airport would participate in a three-airport contract to have the master plans updated. The ODA would be responsible for administrative tasks, while the airport would be required to form a committee to review changes and would also put up a $5,000 match. Mr. Coles stated that the only other option was to update the master plans in-house, but he has no experience with such a task.

Chairman Struck responded that the Board has no objection with moving ahead with the ODA contract to update the master plan or with the new FAA lease agreement.

New Business

Loan of Funds from the Cumulative Reserve Fund #125 to the County Road Fund #101

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Approved (M/Thayer, S/Struck. Passed unanimously) Resolution #20901 authorizing the transfer of $1,000,000 from the Cumulative Reserve Fund #125 to the County Road Fund #101 as a repayable loan to be paid on or before December 31, 2001. Commissioner Thayer noted that the loan would allow Klickitat County to pay a contractor for a paving project, with the county being reimbursed by state funds.

Consent Agenda

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

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1. Public Utility Easement with Saburo and Marie Akita granting Klickitat County a perpetual easement to construct, install, reconstruct, repair, operate and maintain certain utility facilities, in consideration of $4,000.00.

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2. Transfer of funds between BARS categories within the Assessor’s Office Budget in the amount of $2,600.00 from salaries/benefits to capital expenditures.

3. Memorandum from the Planning Department scheduling a public hearing at 1:30 PM on Monday, December 10, 2001 to consider a variance to road construction standards for Short Plat SPL2001-00036, the applicant being Ron Aspaas.

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4. Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife Cooperative Agreement Amendment No. 1(#C21001) Lead Entity Operational Grant Agreement reallocating $22,350 for the Program Manager from $10,450, and $19,600 for the Coordinator from $31,500.

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5. Resolution #21001 reorganizing the Senior Services Department by combining several areas of responsibility for the Transportation Manager.

Road Permits

There were no Road Department permits requiring approval at this time.

Old Business

Transportation and Senior Programs Issues

Senior Services Director Roger Gadway discussed several issues, beginning with the state Aging and Adult Services Administration (AASA) proposing new changes in the way that Medicaid Case Management is provided. Mr. Gadway stated that there is concern that there may be a significant increase in liability for case managers associated with providing that service. This has come about because of a successful lawsuit of a case of skin breakdown (developing pressure sores). The response from AASA is to identify case managers as having responsibility for preventing the sores, while Mr. Gadway suggests that clients who choose to live at home should acknowledge there is greater chance that they may develop these sores. He added that the situation could lead to a decision not to contract to provide Medicaid Case Management.

The second topic was a supplemental budget request of about $9,000 so that contracted services could be provided through the remainder of this year. Mr. Gadway said that overspending has been due to the loss of Rural Mobility grant funding and other unforeseen occurrences. Commissioner Thayer stated that better planning and improved utilization of drivers might have helped to avoid the shortfall. Interim Chief Financial Officer Glen Chipman suggested that a supplemental budget was not necessary and the situation could be addressed by transfers within categories of the Senior Services budget.

Tourism Advisory Board 2002 Funding Recommendation

Business Retention & Expansion Specialist Tom Seifert presented the Tourism Advisory Board (TAB) recommendations for 2002 development, planning and tourism promotion, noting that transient lodging tax revenues to the county are expected to be $38,000:

• $4,500 for advertising in the 2002 Gorge Guide.
• $2,000 for advertising in Experience Washington: The Official State Tourism Travel Guide.
• $31,500 to be evenly split between the Mt. Adams Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Goldendale Chamber of Commerce.

Eva France, Executive Director of the Greater Goldendale Chamber of Commerce stated that they are exploring ways to reduce their financial dependence on Klickitat County and expressed appreciation for the county’s support over the past four years.

The Board reached consensus to accept the TAB recommendations.

Payment Approvals

Voucher Certification and Approval

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Approved Warrants (M/Thayer, S/Struck. Passed unanimously) Commissioner Thayer noted that the accounts payable amount is unusually high because of large contractor payments:

Accounts Payable: (#107043 – 107281) $2,281,076.53

Combined Payroll: (#057221 – 057490, 107072 – 107042 & Electronic Trans. # 88) $375,858.95

For a combined total of $2,656,935.48

Road Department Contract Payments

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Authorized (M/Thayer, S/Struck. Passed unanimously) Progress Payments to M. L. Houck Construction Company in the amount of $1,760,250.59, which includes $88,012.53 retainage for a net of $1,672,238.06 for the Warner Road/Sunnyside Road/ Trout Lake Highway/BZ-Glenwood Highway project.

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Authorized (M/Thayer, S/Struck. Passed unanimously) Change Order No. 1 increasing payment to the James W. Fowler Company in the amount of $110,729.49 for the Dallesport Wastewater Collection System project.

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Approved (M/Thayer, S/Struck. Passed unanimously) Payment No. 1 to IMCO General Construction in the amount of $282,034.74 for the Dallesport Wastewater Treatment Facility project.

Adjournment

There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 5:15 PM.

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Reference Document on File