Klickitat County

Board of Commissioners

Minutes – Meeting of Tuesday, March 7^th, 2006

Agenda Item - Comment/Disposition

Call to Order/Roll Call

Morning Workshop Session – Tuesday, March 7, 2006

Chairman Ray Thayer called the meeting to order at 10:12 AM.

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

Workshop Session Agenda

10:12 AM – Public Works Department Update

Attendance: Public Works Director/County Engineer Scott Smith, Assistant County Engineer Bjorn Hedges, Lyle resident and Planning Commission member David Sauter, and Goldendale residents James Daniel and Daniel Lichtenwald.

Engineer Hedges stated that it is now official that contractors on the Big Horn wind energy project have suspended work in Klickitat County, except for some road maintenance. He added that work will resume when weather and soil conditions improve, but for now, Construction has been moved to projects in Arlington, Oregon.

Engineer Hedges revealed further details of the plan for dealing with the WSDOT closure of State Route 142 for 40 days this summer for culvert replacement at Bowman Creek. He stated that WSDOT will not designate Horseshoe Bend Road as a detour route because portions of the road are primitive, but will provide financial assistance with grading, signage and a dust palliative. Additionally Horseshoe Bend Road will be designated as a one-way road for east-bound traffic only from 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM, then west-bound only from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM, while reverting to two-way traffic the rest of the time. (This affects Horseshoe Bend Road from Mile Post 0.57, just east of SR 142, to Mile Post 5.09 which is the intersection with Harms Road.)

Returning to an issue discussed last week Engineer Hedges stated that the county has no responsibility for correcting muddy conditions at the school bus turn-around on Winegartner Road because the county vacated the road over ten years ago.

Engineer Hedges said that they will submit a small works contract for County-Wide Guardrail Repairs next week.

Engineer Hedges reminded the Board that he will be gone to Tacoma to attend bridge inspection training for two weeks, starting March 13.

Engineer Hedges stated that they have selected a member of a survey crew to be promoted to the new position of Utilities Facilities Specialist. He added that they will present a request to fill the survey crew vacancy.

Chairman Thayer stated that there have been reports that the Public Works Department is planning to remove cubicles and install floor-to-ceiling walls in their annex. Engineer Hedges responded that they are planning to wall off an area and install a hard surface floor for those employees who work predominantly outside and tend to track in mud and dirt. Chairman Thayer asked why such a project doesn’t show up on the Capital Improvements project list. Engineer Hedges replied that he wasn’t exactly sure, but reassured Chairman Thayer that they were only getting cost estimates and weren’t going to proceed without Board approval.

Director Smith stated his agreement with Chairman Thayer that such projects should be considered and listed as Capital Improvements. He added that similar projects for other departments, at least above a certain threshold amount, should be handled in such a way that the Board is aware and can sign off on these.

Chairman Thayer said that it was reported to him that a utility contractor has been doing installation work in the Dot area and has crossed the county road with his track hoe, which is against county policy. Engineer Hedges responded that he would investigate because they certainly don’t want that type of equipment on the county’s paved roads.

Director Smith briefly discussed their efforts to recruit for recent openings in the department, noting that they generally have significantly fewer qualified applicants to choose from than he expected would be the case.

Responding to an inquiry from Commissioner Struck, Director Smith said that he has a meeting this afternoon with Steve Hoodenpyl to address his concerns about damage to his property from stormwater runoff from an adjacent property.

Morning Workshop Session – Tuesday, March 7, 2006 (Continued)

11:04 AM – Proposed organizational changes to the Senior Services Department

Attendance: Senior Services Director Roger Gadway, Personnel Director Lori Wolford, Senior Services Transportation Manager Eric Olsen, Chief Financial Officer Glen Chipman and county residents Daniel Lichtenwald, James Daniel and David Sauter.

Director Wolford stated that the proposal would reduce the present full time Transportation Manager to part-time (1.0 Full Time Equivalent/FTE to 0.6 FTE) and then a half-time (0.5 FTE) Administrative Assistant would be hired to help with largely clerical tasks, predominantly in the Pioneer Center in White Salmon. In response to Chairman Thayer’s inquiry, Transportation Manager Olsen stated that his primary motivation to go part-time was to have more time to build his house. Director Wolford provided a handout showing that this proposal would save $537 per month in wages and benefits, due to the lower wages of the Administrative Assistant. It was also noted that supervision of the Transportation Coordinators would shift from the Transportation Manager to the two Assistant Case Managers.

Chairman Thayer expressed concerns that the Transportation Manager may wish to go back to a full-time schedule at some point after his house was completed. Manager Olsen responded that he would be content to stay at part-time employment and would not request that the position go back to full-time status.

Chairman Thayer then noted concerns that he had expressed some time ago that the Senior Services Department was “top-heavy” and had too many managers supervising too few drivers. He stated that this proposed reorganization proves his point (because it removes the Transportation Manager from the supervision of drivers and reduces this position’s hours). Director Gadway agreed that Chairman Thayer had proved his point.

Commissioner Struck stated that he had no objection to the proposal, and Commissioner Frey also voiced no objections. Chairman Thayer said that he was unconvinced that this was appropriate, but noted that the proposal could proceed, as it had a majority of the Board in support.

Lunch Recess

The Board recessed for lunch at 11:26 AM.

Call to Order/Roll Call

Regular Meeting for Tuesday, March 7, 2006

Chairman Ray Thayer reconvened the meeting at 1:07 PM.

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

Agenda

Business Agenda

Approved (M/Struck, S/Frey. Passed unanimously) the Business Agenda with two additions, the first being a resolution amending Resolution #19805 imposing a Real Estate Excise Tax, and the second being an amendment to the Technical Services Agreement with the Watershed Professionals Network.

Approval of Commissioner Meeting Minutes

Approved (M/Frey, S/Struck. Passed unanimously) the Klickitat County Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes for February 21, 2006 as presented.

Citizen Comment

There was no one present wishing to provide public comment.

Public Meetings/Public Hearings/Bid Openings

There were no public meetings, public hearings or bid openings scheduled for this date.

Elected Official Report/Update

Auditor’s Office Update

In a follow-up from last week County Auditor Diana Pafford stated that former Chief Deputy Auditor Jerri Atkins has agreed to return to work in the Auditor’s office on a temporary, part-time (maximum of 3 days per week) basis. Auditor Pafford added that Ms. Atkins would be involved in training the Senior Accountant Anita Thompson and perhaps a new Chief Deputy Auditor, if one is hired. The Board expressed support.

Approved (M/Frey, S/Struck. Passed unanimously) an Authorization to Pay Outside the Base Rate to place Jerri Atkins at Range 18, Step D ($19.69 per hour) for temporary, casual employment on an as-needed basis within the Chief Deputy Auditor classification. Effective date is March 7, 2006 and terminates December 31, 2006 with a maximum of 24 hours per week.

Related to this Auditor Pafford said that she intends to present a request to fill the Chief Deputy Auditor position, adding that perhaps they may be at the interview stage in a couple of months.

Auditor Pafford said that she is working on a credit card policy and hopes to have a draft for Board review by the end of March. She added that the new policy will incorporate rulings from the Washington State Auditor’s Office as well as applicable statutes from the RCWs (Revised Code of Washington).

Returning to an issue from two weeks ago, Chairman Thayer asked if Auditor Pafford had any unresolved concerns regarding the 2006 Community Development Projects (Item 9 of today’s Consent Agenda). Auditor Pafford responded that after discussing the matter with Executive Secretary Cris McEwen and Prosecuting Attorney Tim O'Neill all of her questions had been answered to her satisfaction.

Department Update/Comment

Request to Reduce Clerical Staffing in the White Salmon Public Health Department

Public Health Director Kevin Barry presented a request to reduce the clerical support staffing level at their White Salmon Pioneer Center office from 2.6 to 2.2 FTE. He noted that a full-time employee has recently resigned and he proposed to hire a replacement, but at three days per week rather than five. The Board reached consensus to support the proposal.

Approved (M/Struck, S/Frey. Passed unanimously) an Authorization to Hire an Administrative Assistant I for the Public Health Department in the Pioneer Center. This will be replacing a 1.0 FTE with a 0.6 FTE at Range 9, Step A.

Consent Agenda

Approved (M/Struck, S/Frey. Passed unanimously) the Consent Agenda except for Item 1 to be pulled for further consideration:

1. (Pulled) Request for authorization to purchase two computers for the West End Sheriff’s Office at an estimated cost of $3,000.00.

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2. Resolution #05006 scheduling a public hearing to be held at 1:30 PM on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 to consider supplemental appropriations and amendments to the 2006 Budget for various departments and funds in the amount of $312,603.00.

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3. Resolution #05106 approving a temporary construction permit to the State of Washington, Department of Transportation allowing use of a portion of the county owned property at the Klickitat mill site for the purpose of construction access to do dewatering and re-vegetation in the improvement of State Route 142, Bowman & Snyder Fish Barrier Removal project.

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4. Memorandum from the Planning Department scheduling a public meeting for Tuesday, March 14, 2006 at 1:30 PM to consider the Planning Commission recommendation of approval, with conditions, for Preliminary Plat Application No. SUB2005-05; Applicant: Scott Nielsen.

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5. Department of Natural Resources Application for Reclamation Permit for the county owned Quarry Site 101 on State Highway 141, James Dean Construction as applicant/permit holder, and Klickitat County as owner.

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6. Memorandum from the Planning Department scheduling a public meeting for Tuesday, March 14, 2006 at 1:30 PM to consider approval of alteration of SP-99-17, Short Plat No. SPL2005-44; Applicant: Richard Robins.

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7. Agreement for Digital Data Sharing (#C04706) between Klickitat County and EnXco for specific data compiled by the Public Works Department in an ArcView “shape” file format to use in wind farm location optimization.

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8. Centerville School District request for reimbursable work to be performed by the Road Department to grade their parking lot up to a maximum guaranteed reimbursement of $1,000.00.

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9. Resolution #05206 and agreements (#C04806 through C6606) in the matter of providing contracting for the 2006 Community Development Projects in the total amount of $350,000.

Old Business

In the Matter of Amending Resolution #19805 Imposing a Real Estate Excise Tax

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Approved (M/Struck, S/Frey. Passed unanimously) Resolution #04906 in the matter of amending Resolution #19805 imposing a Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) on the selling price of real property in the unincorporated areas of Klickitat County as allowed by RCW 82.46.010(3). Commissioner Struck noted in his motion that the amendment clarifies the original resolution by making the REET effective “for all documents dated March 1, 2006, or later.”

New Business

Amendment B – Task Order No. 9 to the Watershed Professionals Network Agreement

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Approved (M/Frey, S/Struck. Passed unanimously) Amendment B – Task Order No. 9 (#C04606) for the Technical Services Agreement between Klickitat County and Watershed Professionals Network, Agreement No. C24803. The amendment increases the scope of work to include technical support for review of the revised draft “Washington State Recovery Plan for the Western Gray Squirrel”, extends the effective end date of the task to June 30, 2006, and the not-to-exceed amount is increased from $20,830 to $30,000.

Miscellaneous Reports/Comments

SSB 6141 Passes the Washington State Legislature

Klickitat County Assessor Van Vandenberg informed the Board that SSB 6141 which will change the way that wind energy projects are taxed has passed both chambers of the legislature and now awaits Governor Gregoire’s signature. He noted that the county will not see any of the revenues until 2008 however, due to the lag time when property taxes are applied. The Board congratulated Assessor Vandenberg for his diligence and hard work, including numerous trips to Olympia to lobby for this bill.

Payment Approvals

Voucher Certification and Approval

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

Accounts Payable: (#153157 – 153320) $94,904.66 (There were no payroll/benefits warrants requiring approval at this time.)

Road Department Payments

Approved (M/Struck, S/Frey. Passed unanimously) three Releases of Retainage as follows:

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• To B.C.V., Inc. in the amount of $5,300.48 for County-Wide Crack sealing – 2002

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• To Randy’s Red Rock in the amount of $816.66 for Sanding Materials – 2003

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• To Pacific Excavation, Inc. in the amount of $1,123.10 for the Bickleton Highway (Cleveland) bridge replacement project.

Adjournment (2:30 PM)

There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned until 10:30 AM on Thursday, March 9, 2006

Call to Order/Roll Call

Regular Meeting Extension: Workshop Session for Thursday, March 9, 2006

Chairman Ray Thayer reconvened the meeting at 10:32 AM.

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

Workshop Session Agenda

10:32 AM – Joint Meeting with the Klickitat County Public Utility District No. 1 – County Commissioner’s Chambers

The Klickitat County Board of Commissioners convened into joint session with the Klickitat County Public Utility District No. 1 (KPUD) Board of Commissioners comprised of President Dan G. Gunkel, Vice President Randy L. Knowles and Secretary Ray A. Mosbrucker.

Also in attendance representing KPUD were General Manager Tom Svendsen, Operations Manager Ron Ihrig, Water Manager Doug Miller and Accounting Manager Greg Gallagher.

Klickitat County representatives included Planning Director Curt Dreyer, Chief Financial Officer Glen Chipman, Public Health Director Kevin Barry, Economic Development Specialist/Interim Director Wayne Wooster and Watershed Project Coordinator Dave McClure.

Also in attendance were Community of Klickitat representatives Jan Hall and Johny Clarence, and Goldendale resident Daniel Lichtenwald.

KPUD President Dan Gunkel announced that this was a reconvening of their regular meeting from Tuesday, March 7, 2006 and Chairman Thayer also announced the reconvening of the Klickitat County Board of Commissioners meeting.

The first topic was the effort to recruit Cameron Family Glass Packaging, LLC to site their new wine bottle manufacturing plant at the Dallesport Industrial Park. Commissioner Struck expressed his thanks to KPUD, especially to Engineering Manager Jim Smith’s presentation yesterday, which emphasized that KPUD is very well suited to supply the firm’s significant power needs. Manager Svendsen stated that KPUD is uniquely positioned to provide Cameron Family Glass with reasonable long-term electric rates, especially past 2011. He also noted that the firm will require a power source with a sophisticated tripping system, noting that the cost for this system will be about $3 million. Commissioner Struck noted that Klickitat County had tentatively offered to provide 10% of this amount and Chairman Thayer and Commissioner Frey voiced their agreement. Manager Svendsen said that they will be sending a letter to Cameron Family Glass detailing these points. Interim Director Wooster advocated that the letter emphasize the advantages that KPUD can offer in terms of reasonable post-2011 electric rates.

The next item was discussion of regulatory issues in regard to economic development in Klickitat County. Commissioner Struck stated that there is a need to encourage state and federal agencies to involve local jurisdictions at the beginning of regulatory processes and not to wait until the point where municipalities are asked to comment on drafts authored by state and federal agencies. Commissioner Struck said that to this end Planning Director Curt Dreyer and Watershed Project Coordinator Dave McClure have drafted a Natural Resource Plan for Klickitat County. Manager Svendsen responded that their operations are more regulated than other adjacent areas, both in terms of air and water regulations. He noted that the Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) seems intent on taking away water rights that have already been established and there is a need for the proper amount of oversight from higher agencies. Manager Svendsen and all three KPUD Commissioners noted that they have had to resort to litigation against DOE, only to have DOE back off on their original objections, but still at the cost of having to go through the necessary legal steps. Coordinator McClure stated that other counties and their water conservancy boards are facing similar problems, especially in the last few years, and there is currently an interest in seeking legislative solutions. Commissioner Struck noted that State Senator Jim Honeyford has expressed concerns. Manager Svendsen said that the KPUD is interested in working with the Planning Department on this issue.

The Cliffs Water District was discussed next and Manager Svendsen stated that there were three aspects to this effort. First KPUD believes that it has accomplished all formative steps to legitimately establish this system and protect the water right from relinquishment. Manager Svendsen said that the second step was to put the system into a trust. He added that the third stage is to develop a water system plan that would include reserving enough capacity to service the Goldendale Aluminum plant in the event that it restarts, and to provide water to other users within the Water System Planning Area, noting that the plan should be released by this coming summer. Manager Svendsen stated that there may be excess water available in this water right that could be used for the City of White Salmon, but the issue is complex and it may be a year or more before it is known whether this is a solution for White Salmon’s water supply difficulties. He noted that the KPUD will be meeting with legal counsel tomorrow on this issue.

Manager Svendsen stated that there is renewed interest in a new barge unloading facility at Roosevelt. He noted that such a facility could be valuable to KPUD and wind energy contractors in the construction of wind energy projects in the eastern part of the county and might be of more long term value to the regional landfill also. Director Dreyer noted that, unlike the unloading of waste from barges along the shoreline at the intermodal yard , unloading wind power equipment from barges at the same shoreline location would be permitted outright, though there may need to be an application for a shoreline substantial development permit. Interim Director Wooster noted that, depending on the extent of in-water work, other federal and/or state permits may be required.

KPUD Operations Manager Ron Ihrig noted that the state legislature has approved $600,000 to go toward replacement of the wastewater treatment system in the Community of Klickitat. Commissioner Knowles added that DOE was also very cooperative in securing these funds when the saw the cooperation between the community, KPUD and Klickitat County. Manager Svendsen added that $249,000 of energy revenues allocated to Klickitat County (by way of the Landfill Gas Sale Agreement) will be used to pay off the debt of the old obsolete wastewater infrastructure, thus lowering the very significant debt owed by the community. Commissioner Struck indicated that the county will consider a resolution to have this occur, but the present draft resolution will need to be rewritten to make clear that $249,000 is being allocated for this purpose. Manager Svendsen added that they have received bids for construction of the new system and they will be deciding upon a contractor shortly. He noted also that construction will take about two years and will not commence until the wastewater treatment project in Lyle is completed.

Finally, Manager Svendsen returned to the issue of a possible restart of the Goldendale Aluminum plant, stating that this may depend upon contract negotiations with the Bonneville Power Administration. He noted that alumina (the raw ore) has jumped in cost, but so has the price of the refined aluminum. Interim Director Wooster stated that 250 to 300 jobs would be added to the local economy if just one production line goes back into operation.

Participants expressed appreciation for the opportunity to discuss these matters of mutual interest and the joint meeting was adjourned at 11:40 AM.

11:40 AM – Lunch

Regular Meeting Extension: Workshop Session for Thursday, March 9, 2006 (Continued)

1:15 PM – Supplemental Budget Discussion

The Board and Chief Financial Officer Glen Chipman discussed aspects of Supplemental Budget 2006-01, to be considered at the March 28, 2006 public hearing.

2:15 PM – Consideration of Nuisance Abatement of Parcel Numbers 04-13-2350-1309/00 and 04-13-2350-1310/00

Building and Compliance Director Skip Grimes presented nuisance abatement cases involving Parcel Numbers 04-13-2350-1309/00, Mary Stolt owner, and 04-13-2350-1310/00, Jeff Cummings owner. In both cases Director Grimes recommended that no abatement be pursued. The Board agreed with the recommendations and directed Director Grimes to prepare the necessary resolutions to resolve these two cases.

Regular Meeting Extension: Workshop Session for Thursday, March 9, 2006 (Continued)

3:20 PM – Executive Session

The Board convened into Executive Session in accordance with RCW 42.30.110(1) (d) to conduct an annual personnel evaluation. It was noted that the session would last for 40 minutes.

The Board reconvened back to Regular Session at 4:00 PM.

4:10 PM – Discussion on the Economic Development Director Position

Attendance: Economic Development Interim Director Wayne Wooster, Personnel Director Lori Wolford, Chief Financial Officer Glen Chipman and Goldendale resident Daniel Lichtenwald.

Interim Director Wooster discussed his interest in being named permanently to the Economic Development Director position. The Board questioned whether Director Wooster would be willing and able to accept the position for the long term. Director Wooster responded that a change in his business plans would now make this feasible.

4:30 PM – Executive Session

The Board convened into Executive Session at 4:30 PM with Personnel Director Lori Wolford and Economic Development Interim Director Wayne Wooster in accordance with RCW 42.30.110 (1) (g) to discuss a personnel issue, including wage negotiations. It was noted that the session would last for 30 minutes.

The Board reconvened back to Regular Session at 5:00 PM.

Adjournment

There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 5:00 PM.

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Reference Document on File