Minutes - Meeting of Monday, May 19, 2003 

Topic 

Agenda Item - Comment/Disposition 

Call to Order/Roll Call 

Morning Workshop Session – Monday, May 19, 2003 

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

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

Workshop Session Agenda 

10:06 AM – Public Works Department Update

Attendance: Assistant County Engineer Bjorn Hedges, Building & Grounds Manager John Ihrig and Goldendale resident Daniel Lichtenwald. 

Engineer Hedges said that he has a meeting this Wednesday with Washington State Department of Transportation (DOT) representatives regarding the Harms Road bridge that has been selected by DOT for funding. 

Engineer Hedges stated that he is working on a crack sealing contract and will contact potential contractors, including Mid-Columbia Asphalt and Clark County. He also obtained information on the costs of materials and equipment rentals. 

Engineer Hedges said that the top two miles of Hoctor Road would be oiled this week. 

Engineer Hedges noted that Public Works Director Larry Nicholas has submitted a draft of the Memorandum of Understanding to the Port of Klickitat on infrastructure development and is now awaiting their response. If acceptable to the Port, it will be on next week’s agenda. 

Engineer Hedges said that he has a meeting tomorrow with Sprint and Maryhill Museum regarding Sprint’s plans to lay a fiber optic cable along the Maryhill Loops Road. He asked if there were any other topics that the Board wanted raised with the museum. Chairman Thayer stated that he would like to explore the idea of allowing some sort of public access to Maryhill Loops Road, even if only a few times a year. Engineer Hedges said that he would report back. 

Engineer Hedges revisited the problem with overfills at the White Salmon reservoir, stating that Director Nicholas will present a solution at next week’s meeting. Commissioner Struck said that there is a need for dialog with the city. 

Engineer Hedges said that the Public Works Department made a mistake by supplying the wrong job application to an applicant for one of the temporary engineering assistant positions. He stated that the applicant didn’t get the correct paperwork in on time, thus preventing an interview and hire, but the person has been a good employee and recommended that the Board allow for his hire. Commissioner Frey noted that these are coveted positions and that she is uncomfortable in bending the process to accommodate one individual. Chairman Thayer stated that he is also opposed to making an exception, adding that he is concerned because the department was aware of the problem before the position closed and the individual should have had time to submit his application before the deadline. Engineer Hedges said that there might be another option for this individual, besides the county hiring him. 

On the same topic, Engineer Hedges stated that only one student from Goldendale got more than half the answers correct on the math test administered to applicants for the temporary engineering assistant positions, which may explain why so many students from the community of Klickitat have been hired for these positions. 

Building & Grounds Manager John Ihrig updated the Board on the asbestos situation in the Courthouse basement, stating that Washington State Department of Labor and Industries has fined the county $1,500, which the county will appeal. He added that the county now is determining a scope of work for abatement. 

Manager Ihrig discussed Item 10 of today’s Consent Agenda, noting that the department recommended construction of a steel building, rather than a pole structure, because of the greater longevity. He added that it falls within the budgeted amount. The Board stated that they were supportive of the recommendation. 

Manager Ihrig said that he and Public Works Director Larry Nicholas have discussed the need for more security at the fairground, and are recommending that the trailer on site be renovated so that a Building & Grounds employee can live in it. Chairman Thayer responded that he has been in favor of repairing the trailer for such a purpose for some time, but would like to know what it would cost. Manager Ihrig said that they will provide an estimate and believes that there is money budgeted for the renovation. 

Engineer Hedges stated that the Outlet Creek Bridge deck has been ground down and he is preparing a contract to adjust the approaches to deal with cracks that still exist. He added that the ground deck might be used as a driving surface. Chairman Thayer replied that they might wish to chip-seal the surface. 

Commissioner Struck said that a resident of Childs Road has asked the county to remove tall weeds and other vegetation on a stretch of that road.

11:07 AM – Adult Correction and Detention Facility Dispute

Goldendale City Administrator Larry Bellamy reported to the Board that his conversation this morning with Sheriff Chris Mace has resulted in resolution of the dispute regarding city use of the Klickitat County Adult Correction and Detention Facility. Mr. Bellamy noted that Sheriff Mace has rescinded his earlier notice of cancellation and the contract will now continue until the end of the year.

Lunch Recess 

The Board recessed for lunch at 11:45 AM. 

Call to Order/Roll Call 

Regular Meeting for Monday, May 19, 2003 

Chairman Ray Thayer reconvened the meeting at 1:20 PM.

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

Agenda 

Business Agenda 

Approved (M/Struck, S/Frey. Passed unanimously) the Business Agenda with two additions: Consideration of an amendment to the WRIA 31 Watershed Planning Grant and discussion regarding the Roberts nuisance abatement.

Approval of Commissioner Meeting Minutes 

Approved (M/Frey, S/Struck. Passed unanimously) the Klickitat County Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes for April 28, 2003 as presented.

Citizen Comment 

There was no one present wishing to provide public comment.

Public Meetings/Public Hearings/Bid Openings 

Bid Opening – Purchase of Used 4X4 Utility Vehicle for the Juvenile Department 

Bids Forwarded (M/Struck, S/Frey. Passed unanimously) to the Juvenile Department for their review and recommendation of bids received from three dealers for a used 4X4 utility vehicle for use by that department:

C. H. Urness Motors, The Dalles, OR: 

2002 Dodge Durango with 22,000 miles –

$22,625.55 

Ray Schultens Motors, The Dalles, OR: 

2001 Ford Explorer XLT with 28,420 miles – 

$22,059.70 

2002 Ford Explorer XLT with 10,157 miles –

$24,084.60 

Cliff Smith Motors, Hood River, OR: 

2003 Chevrolet Blazer with 11,102 miles –

$18,733.50 

Old Business 

Recommendation for a Chemical Dependency Provider 

Accepted (M/Frey, S/Struck. Passed unanimously) a recommendation presented by an ad hoc committee and the Public Health Department to enter into contract negotiations with Dependency Health Services to provide chemical dependency services.

Attendance: Public Health Director Kevin Barry, Chief Financial Officer Glen Chipman, Skip Ruppel of Quest Counseling, Rhonda Nelson from the Washington State Department of Corrections, and Goldendale resident Dennis Goodrich. 

Prior to passage of the motion, Director Barry identified the selection committee members as Dr. Jeff Teal, Dr. Nancy Barron, Don Beaker, Glen Chipman and himself. He noted that the committee used a point system to rate the three contractors who had responded to the county’s RFP (Request for Proposals). Director Barry added that the committee members unanimously rated Dependency Health Services highest with an average score of 85.8 (100 points possible) and ranging between 72 to 96. Quest Counseling Services was next with an average score of 63.6 and a range of 44 to 75 from the evaluators. Finally, Kick It Counseling and Support Services had an overall score of 46.6 with individuals ranking them from 31 to 59. In light of the unanimous rankings, Director Barry recommended that the Board approve negotiations between himself, as representative for the county, and Dependency Health Services. 

Responding to Commissioner Frey, Director Barry stated that he would recommend that the county continue the separation of prevention services and that the county administer these services for one year, at which time the arrangement can be evaluated to determine whether prevention services should be taken over by the contractor. 

Skip Ruppel was allowed to make a statement that focussed on his belief that the five years of chemical dependency services provided to the county by Quest Counseling seemed to be overlooked, as well as many letters of recommendation. He also noted that Quest presently has a staff of twelve people (whose continued employment is now questionable). Quest also received statements of support from Rhonda Nelson and Dennis Goodrich. 

Director Barry responded that the Public Health Department has had a good working relationship with Quest Counseling, but the selection committee attempted to be as objective as possible.

Intergovernmental Agreement for WRIA (Watershed Resource Inventory Area) 31 

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Authorized (M/Struck, S/Frey. Passed unanimously) the Chair’s signature on an Intergovernmental Agreement (#C10103) regarding Planning Unit Composition, Watershed Planning Scope of Work, and Planning Process for WRIA 31.

Watershed Project Coordinator Dave McClure stated that this agreement brings to a close the first phase of planning for WRIA 31.

Amendment to WRIA 31 Watershed Planning Grant 

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Authorized (M/Frey, S/Struck. Passed unanimously) the Planning Director to sign and submit an application to amend the WRIA 31 watershed planning grant, extending the period of performance to June 30, 2005, increasing funding by $200,000 and expanding the scope of work to include Phase 2 watershed planning tasks.

Consent Agenda 

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

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1. Resolution #09103 declaring one (1) 1993 Ford Van, Serial #1FBJS31G9PHB41905, License #28210C as surplus to be removed from the Sheriff’s Department inventory to be sold at public sale. 

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2. Resolution #09203 declaring two (2) Motorola Syntor 9000 radios, Serial Numbers 621HQY1327 and 621HQY1324 as surplus to be removed from the Sheriff’s Department inventory list and donated to Rural Fire Protection District No. 7. 

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3. Washington State Department of Community Trade and Economic Development Contract #01-64001-091, Amendment A, (#C10203) extending the contract end date to November 30, 2003 in order to complete the qualifying of LMI households for the side sewer work (Dallesport Wastewater Treatment System). 

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4. EPA Lobbying and Litigation Certification for Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Dallesport Wastewater Treatment System) certifying that none of the funds have been used to engage in lobbying of the Federal Government or in litigation against the United States unless authorized under existing law. 

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5. Agreement (#C10303) between Klickitat County (Health Department) and Klickitat Valley Broadcasting Service Inc. for radio ads on a variety of health issues. Topics include West Nile Virus prevention, on-site sewage system maintenance, food protection, tobacco prevention and cessation, and emerging health issues. 

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6. Agreement for Digital Data Sharing (#C10403) with Washington State University with data to be used by the Wildfire Prevention Coordinator as an aid to develop complementary databases that will be returned to the county to enhance county services. 

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7. Agreement for Digital Data Sharing (#C10503) with Northwest Service Academy Fish Recovery Team who has completed a fish passage barrier inventory of culverts on public roads in Klickitat County. In order to create the final report NWSA will cooperate with Klickitat County Road Department GIS expert to create maps. 

8. Scheduling a consolidated public hearing for 1:30 PM on Monday, July 7, 2003 to consider an appeal to the SEPA Threshold Determination and issuance of a Mitigated DNS (SEP2003-00002) to construct and operate a mobile home park and storage lot for mobile homes on a 81.66 acre parcel within a portion of Section 29, Township 3 North, Range 20 East, W.M. (Sundale/ Roosevelt vicinity); and request for a conditional use permit (CUP2003-00002); Applicant: Ed O’Neill d.b.a. Fort Fun, Inc. Appellant: Sundale Fruit Company represented by Teunis Wyers (Wyers & Haskell, P.C.) and Richard and Sidney Blaine. 

9. Scheduling a consolidated public hearing to be held at 1:30 PM on Monday, July 9, 2003 to consider an appeal to the SEPA Threshold Determination and issuance of a Mitigated DNS (SEP2003-00009) to establish and operate a composting facility on approximately 17.54 acres of a 34.58 acre tract of land described as Tract 19 of Klickitat County Port District No. 1, Dallesport Industrial Park and located within portions of Sections 25 and 26, Township 2 North, Range 13 East. W.M. (Dallesport Industrial Park); and request for a conditional use permit; Applicant: NW Premium Compost, represented by Rece Bly. Appellant: Yakama Indian Nation. 

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10. Acceptance of Bid and Small Works Contract (#C10603) with Simcoe Metal & Electric in the amount of $31,779 to construct a 36’ x 30’ x 14’ storage/garage building at the Klickitat County Fairgrounds.

Road Permits 

Permits Approved:

P051903 through P051903-2 

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P051903 

Tom Chamberlain & Des Verley, White Salmon, WA – Install water and sewer lines to City utilities on Rio Vista Road, County Road No. 10950, at M.P. 0.18. 

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P051903-1 

Sprint, % Bill Muncey, Hood River, OR – Bury and maintain a cable along the south side of Sleepy Hollow Road, County Road No. 14100, from M.P. 0.99 to 1.47. 

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P051903-2 

Sprint, Hood River, OR – Construct and maintain a telephone communications electronic switch cabinet at the Northwest corner of the intersection of Old Highway 8, County Road No. 12300, and Balch Road at M.P. 3.96, thence crossing by pipe push with a buried cable to the south side of Old Highway 8 and continuing east to M.P. 5.07 and crossing to the north side.

Payment Approvals 

Road Department Payments 

Authorized (M/Struck, S/Frey. Passed unanimously) Progress Payment No. 1 to James Dean Construction, Inc., in the amount of $90,916.39, which includes $4,545.82 retainage for a net of $86,370.57 for the Herion Bridge project. 

Old Business 

Discussion on the Bid for the Roberts Nuisance Abatement; Related Nuisance Abatement Issues 

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Accepted (M/Frey, S/Struck. Passed unanimously) a recommendation not to accept a bid from Joe’s Towing and West Winds, Inc. to abate the nuisance on Parcel No. 05-17-2100-0005/00, the owner being Rick Roberts. 

Prior to the motion, Building & Compliance Director Skip Grimes and Code Compliance Officer Jody Fleury discussed the bid that was received on May 5, 2003 for abatement of the Roberts nuisance. Director Grimes recommended that the Board reject the single bid received solely on the basis that it was not in conformance with bid documents. 

Director Grimes also stated that they had paid Mr. Roberts a visit this morning and noted that he was making substantial progress in removing vehicles and other debris. Director Grimes recommended that the Board defer any action for 60 days at which time the situation would be reevaluated. He expects the nuisance either to be removed or significantly reduced by that time. He stated that they would also attempt to help Mr. Roberts establish a legal wrecking yard if he so chooses. 

Director Grimes also discussed two related issues, the first being that the department has found that some properties that have been foreclosed by the County Treasurer have also been declared nuisances. In an effort to inform the public, notably those who might wish to bid on these foreclosed properties, he recommended that notices for abatement action be recorded with the County Auditor. 

Director Grimes also noted that the Sheriff’s Office has notified him that deputies are not available on Thursday for security duty at nuisance abatement sites. He stated that this could be a significant problem.

Payment Approvals 

Voucher Certification and Approval 

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

Accounts Payable: (#123269 – 123534 and including cancelled warrants #121953, 122406, 121127 and 122619) for a net of $332,327.64.

(There were no payroll/benefit warrants needing approval at this time.) 

Adjournment (3:20 PM) 

There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned until 6:00 PM on Wednesday, May 21, 2003. 

Call to Order/Roll Call 

Regular Meeting Extension – May 21, 2003 : Joint Meeting with the City of White Salmon on Lincoln Street Issues 

White Salmon Mayor Roger Holen called the Joint Commission/Council meeting of May 21, 2003 to order at 6:00 PM. Klickitat County Commissioners Ray Thayer, Joan Frey, and Don Struck were present. Councilmembers White-Morris, Gookin, Benedict, and Stone were present. Councilmember Gaddis was excused. Staff present consisted of Kelly A. Ingraham, CPA, Clerk-Treasurer and Public Works Director/County Engineer Larry Nicholas. Public representatives included Jack & Joan Barrett; Bob Havig; Dave & Robin Hindahl; Jean Morley; Travis Klineline; Mark Lemly; Bill & Kathy Bartsch; Jeanette Fentie; Ulrich Goebel; Anne-Marie & Michael Slater; Elizabeth Aughney; Dino Terrana; Joe Wiederhold; Jesse Burkhardt of The Enterprise; and Mildred Lykens of The Klickitat County Monitor.

Joint Meeting 

Mayor Roger Holen briefly reviewed the rules for public comment. He requested that any comments be limited to new information only and each person would only be allowed two minutes. There was a brief discussion. 

Dave Hindahl – 70 Palos Verdes, commented that Lincoln Street is not up to current standards and yet the county has approved and encouraged growth & development in the Los Altos area. He recommends widening and improving Lincoln Street. 

Mike Wellman – 200 Rio Vista, provided a brief history and recommends the addition of a stop sign at the blind corner just west of the bottleneck. 

Ulrich Goebel – 210 Rio Vista, commented that he has observed good driving practices on Lincoln Street. 

Travis Klineline – 456 NW Lincoln Street, commented that safety was his biggest concern. He has small children and would like the traffic on Lincoln Street to slow down. 

Public Works Director Larry Nicholas reviewed the public input from last December’s meeting and presented his recommendation for resolve. He proposes holding the south line of the roadway and excavating on the north side of the roadway to a width of 22’ for a length of 700’ through the choke area. The estimated cost of the project is $50,000 to $60,000. 

Joe Wiederhold – 150 El Camino Real, had a question regarding whether the widened road would still be within the right-of-way. Larry responded the County has a prescriptive easement only. After further discussion, Larry summarized that this proposal will fix the road – it does not address the speed or safety of Lincoln Street. 

Dave Hindahl commented that it seems like bad logic to leave the road unsafe in order to keep the speed low. Mayor Holen responded the same bad logic applies to Dock Grade Road and it works. 

Commissioner Struck commented several years ago the county looked at improving Lincoln Street when the fund were available, but the community overwhelmingly rejected the county’s proposal. Now, the community is asking the county to do something when the funds are not at hand. 

Mike Wellman inquired about the simple use of a stop sign. Director Nicholas responded he rejected that idea because it does not allow for a free flow of traffic. 

Joan Barrett – 445 Lincoln Street, inquired why Lincoln Street is getting all the attention. Why are we not looking at the other access roads such as Spring Street, West Lincoln Street and Cochran Lane? 

Robin Hindahl – 70 Palos Verdes, commented that she uses East Lincoln Street because it is the fastest and easiest route to where she is trying to go. Spring Street is up the hill from her house and is very dangerous in the winter. Cochran Lane is up the hill from her house and is very curvy. She has not tried to drive it in the winter. West Lincoln Street is one mile the opposite direction and comes out on SR 141 at a blind corner, which is dangerous. East Lincoln Street is the direction she is trying to head in and it is much easier than the alternatives. 

Jack Barrett – 445 Lincoln Street, spoke for several minutes and he recommends we reject the improvements and keep East Lincoln Street just like it existed as Slaughterhouse Lane. 

Bob Havig – 160 Rio Vista, commented he was in favor of the county’s proposal and encourages the county to look at the corner further to the west. He also inquired about the results of the most recent traffic study, which has not been completed yet. 

This was the end of the public testimony. The proposal has been presented for the first time to the Commissioners and to City Council. Everyone would like to time to review the proposal and make further inquiries of Director Nicholas. The two bodies will meet again on June 17 for a joint work session and the City of White Salmon will address the issue at their regular meeting on June 18. The public is welcome to attend both meetings, but will not be allowed any further comment unless submitted in writing prior to the work session.

Adjournment 

The joint meeting was adjourned at 6:56 PM. 

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Reference Document on File