Minutes - Meeting of Monday, December 31^st, 2001

Topic

Agenda Item - Comment/Disposition

Call to Order/Roll Call

Morning Workshop Session – Monday, December 31, 2001

Chairman Don Struck called the meeting to order at 10:15 AM.

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

Workshop Session Agenda

10:15 AM – Road Department Update

Attendance: Interim County Engineer Ed Hoyle, Resource Development Director Dana Peck and Goldendale Sentinel News Reporter Jeff Chew.

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

• Mr. Hoyle noted the drafting of an escrow agreement to invest all retainage amounts due to IMCO General Construction Company, contractor for the Dallesport Wastewater Treatment Facility.
• It was noted that construction of the treatment facility and collection system are both moving forward rapidly.
• Mr. Hoyle reported some concern on the part of certain county residents regarding construction work on the Dallesport Wastewater Project occurring on December 24. Mr. Hoyle stated that he had talked to both contractors and there is no controversy as the contractor can make up time that employees may have been given off.

• Mr. Hoyle noted public works items on today’s agenda, including payments to contractors and investment of the Dallesport Wastewater System Fund #401.

10:50 AM – Canadian Lynx Controversy

Commissioner Frey noted a conversation with Neil Kayser of the Cattlemen’s Association regarding a news story about the planting of fur samples from Canadian Lynx by biologists from the State Department of Fish and Wildlife. It is believed that the biologists were attempting to eliminate commercial use of national forest areas by planting evidence in these areas, thus indicating the presence of an endangered species.

11:00 AM – Juvenile Detainee

Commissioner Frey said she had been made aware of a situation regarding a juvenile being held on a pretrial basis over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. His family is upset that they have not been able post bail from December 20, and will not until January 3 when he is expected to have a court date. The Prosecuting Attorney’s office expressed their regrets but said there was nothing that could be done because of the timing so close to Christmas.

11:08 AM – Chemical Dependency Contract Issues

Attendance: Chief Financial Officer Glen Chipman, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Shawn Anderson, Chemical Dependency Coordinator Steve White, Skip Ruppel and Les Porter of Quest Counseling, and Prevention Specialist Jodie Deignan.

Attendees discussed several aspects of the current contract between Klickitat County and Quest counseling as well as other chemical dependency issues:

• Skip Ruppel began the discussion by noting several points of concern regarding their present contract with Klickitat County, including Quest’s billing cycle period and whether advance payments would be allowed. Chairman Struck stated that he had seen a draft that had changed the billing to semi-monthly, which appears to be acceptable to all. Mr. Ruppel stated they had been in contact with the state Attorney General’s office and there appears to be a means that will allow county auditors to approve advance payments. After some discussion Chairman Struck suggested that Deputy Prosecutor Shawn Anderson could research this more fully.
• Mr. Ruppel also requested there be authorization for someone else to sign payment checks to Quest in the absence of Steve White. Mr. White suggested that the Board could be signature backup to himself.
• Mr. Ruppel also asked for an extension of the bid process so that Quest can purchase the Robeson-Gibbs Professional Building. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Shawn Anderson noted that former Prosecuting Attorney Jim Hagarty had left this his hands, but he had not had a chance to review it. Chairman Struck and Commissioner Frey both indicated that they were not willing to extend the process and it would have to be re-bid.
• There was discussion regarding a $1900 billing that was deducted from Quest’s budget, yet payment went to the previous chemical dependency contractor. Mr. Ruppel asked for documentation so that Quest can recover the sum. Chief Financial Officer Glen Chipman stated that he would provide a response.
• There was also discussion regarding chemical dependency aspects of the County’s 2002 Budget. Mr. White stated that decisions need to be made on how the prevention part will operate and who the contracting entity will be. He added that the Board will need to decide how money for after school activities programs will be distributed with the Prosecuting Attroney’s office reviewing this. Chairman Struck requested that Mr. White draft a memo regarding these prevention contract issues.

Lunch Recess

The Board recessed for lunch at 12:00 Noon.

Call to Order/Roll Call

Regular Meeting for Monday, December 31, 2001

Chairman Don Struck reconvened the meeting at 1:15 PM.

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

Agenda

Business Agenda

Approved (M/Thayer, S/Frey. Passed unanimously) the Business Agenda with five additions. Under Approval of Commissioner Meeting Minutes: consideration of approval of November 19 and November 26, 2001 minutes. Under New Business: a resolution authorizing investment of Cumulative Reserve Fund #125, and Request for Transfer Between Categories within the East District Court 2001 Budget. Under Old Business: a Dallesport Wastewater Treatment Facility Escrow Agreement and a resolution authorizing investment of the Dallesport Wastewater System Fund #401.

Approval of Commissioner Meeting Minutes

Approved (M/Frey, S/Thayer. Passed unanimously) the Klickitat County Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes for November 19, and November 26, 2001 as presented.

Citizen Comment

Dr. Howard Kubler – Asked the Board their opinion on the proposed removal of Condit Dam.

Chairman Struck replied that Klickitat County has retained the services of two law firms, Foster Pepper & Sheffelman in Seattle and Winston & Strawn in Washington D.C. to explore what the county can do to counteract the possibility of removal. He added that this is a very emotional issue and that he has spent a lot of time on this. He stated that blowing a hole in the dam and allowing the accumulated debris to flow into the lower part of the river is "idiotic".

Commissioner Thayer stated that PacifiCorp (the present operator of Condit Dam) had asked for Klickitat and Skamania County’s support for relicensing two dams in Grant County. After receiving support from both counties, they "bailed out" without notification to the counties, and because of this, they don’t deserve our trust or support for the Settlement Agreement they have signed to remove Condit Dam. He added that he supports keeping Condit Dam.

Commissioner Frey said that she does not support removal of Condit Dam and there has been complete disregard for established procedure, notably the short-circuiting of the EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) process. She added that the dam has been in place for over 80 years and removal would destabilize soils and is very irresponsible. She said she is confident that the vast majority of residents support keeping the Condit Dam and that there is more to this than just the removal of this one dam.

Public Meetings/Public Hearings/Bid Openings

Public Meeting – Consider Final Approval of Short Plat SPL2001-00031; Applicant: Don Struck

Continued (M/Frey, S/Thayer. Passed unanimously) until Monday, January 7, 2002. Assistant Planner Jannette Herrington advised that the matter was not ready for Board consideration.

Public Meeting – Consider Final Approval of Short Plat SPL2001-00027; Applicant: Karl Moore

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Granted (M/Frey, S/Thayer. Passed unanimously) final approval of Short Plat No. SPL2001-00027 which alters Lots 2 and 3 of SP-80-43 to create three lots, the applicant being Karl Moore. In response to inquiries from Commissioner Frey, Assistant Planner Jannette Herrington stated that the zoning is Rural Center, and the private road (Grand View Drive) shown on the Mylar has been constructed.

New Business

Authorizing Investments of the Cumulative Reserve Fund #125

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Approved (M/Thayer, S/Frey. Passed unanimously) Resolution #25401 authorizing the County Treasurer to make investments of $10,500,000 for the Cumulative Reserve Fund #125.

Transfer Between Budget Categories for the East District Court 2001Budget

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Approved (M/Thayer, S/Frey. Passed unanimously) a Transfer Between Budget Categories in the amount of $2000 for the East District Court 2001 Budget.

Old Business

Authorizing Investments of the Dallesport Wastewater System Fund #401

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Approved (M/Frey, S/Thayer. Passed unanimously) Resolution #25501 authorizing the County Treasurer to make investments of $4,500,000 for the Dallesport Wastewater System Fund #401.

Consideration of a Wastewater Treatment Facility Escrow Agreement

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Approved (M/Thayer, S/Frey. Passed unanimously) a Wastewater Treatment Facility Escrow Agreement (#C23801) authorizing the deposit of retainage funds of IMCO General Construction, Inc.

Consent Agenda

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

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1. Resolution #25101 providing a grant to the Klickitat County Public Economic Development Authority in the amount of $81,000.00 to assist the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District to establish a revolving loan fund to be initially used for businesses within Klickitat County.

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2. Resolution #25201 in the matter of a Human Services Council/Southwest Washington Agency on Aging 2002 Contract (#C23601) #CI-SWAA-Klickitat County Senior Services-2002-001 for case management, nutrition, and transportation services.

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3. Resolution #25301 in the matter of listing Klickitat County Priority Projects for the WA-CERT process in order of priority.

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4. Working Agreement (#C23701) between Educational Service District 112/Child Care Resource & Referral and Klickitat County effective July 1, 2001 through June 30, 2003 to provide health consultation services to child care providers.

Road Permits

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

Payment Approvals

Road Department Payment

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Authorized (M/Thayer, S/Frey. Passed unanimously) Progress Payment to IMCO General Construction, Inc., in the amount of $347,157.33, which includes $16,222.31 retainage for a net of $330,935.02 for the Dallesport Wastewater Treatment Facility project.

Voucher Certification and Approval

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

Accounts Payable: (#108408 - 108598 and including cancelled warrants #107907, 108432, 108456, 108471, 108488, 108491, 108516, 108531, 108557, 108562, 108580, 108584 and 108589) for a net of $126,099.31

Combined Payroll: (#058330, 108407 and including cancelled warrants #108405 and 058138) for a net of $0.00

For a combined total of $126,099.31.

Adjournment

There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 4:05 PM.

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Reference Document on File