Klickitat County

Board of Commissioners

Minutes – Meeting of Tuesday, July 25^th, 2006

Agenda Item - Comment/Disposition

Call to Order/Roll Call

Morning Workshop Session – Tuesday, July 25, 2006

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

Commissioners present: Ray Thayer and Joan Frey.

Commissioner Don Struck was absent.

Workshop Session Agenda

10:06 AM – Public Works Department Update

Attendance: Public Works Director/County Engineer Scott Smith, Assistant County Engineer Bjorn Hedges and Goldendale resident Daniel Lichtenwald. Lyle resident David Sauter joined the session near its conclusion.

Engineer Hedges informed the Board that the Randall Road project will be completed this week, noting that one area resident is unhappy because more trees were cut in the right-of-way adjacent to them than had been agreed to. Engineer Hedges stated that there had been a communication breakdown between the project engineer and the inspector.

Engineer Hedges said that the Bowman Creek project has now closed State Route 142 and signs have been placed by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). Responding to Chairman Thayer’s inquiry, he noted that there were some problems in placing signs on Horseshoe Bend Road that resulted in delivery trucks temporarily not serving the housing project at the south end of the road.

Engineer Hedges stated that patching repairs are starting today at the site of the BZ-Glenwood Highway landslide. As discussed last week, monitoring will continue over the winter with final repairs scheduled for next year.

Engineer Hedges said that three Bickleton area wire gates (blocking county roads) have now been removed and four more have been opened, adding that if they are closed again, they will be removed.

Engineer Hedges stated that there has been no progress in solving the problem that the Columbia Gorge Regional Airport is having in trying to interpret non-destructive pavement test data that was done by Clark County on their runways. He noted that the equipment used was not set up to give the airport the data that they expected or needed.

Engineer Hedges updated the Board on the Upper Snowden paving project, noting that CSTC (Crushed Surfacing Top Course) is now on the road and the first shot of oil will be applied tomorrow. He added that the road is temporarily posted for 25 MPH.

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Director Smith provided a detailed memorandum on Rural Arterial Program (RAP) funding for the 2007 – 2009 biennium. The memorandum noted that Klickitat County submitted three projects: Lakeside Road from the southern intersection with the Glenwood Highway to the beginning of pavement, Sleepy Hollow Road from the intersection of Snowden Road to the intersection of the Snowden Cutoff Road, and Hale Road from the intersection of East Road to the beginning of pavement.

Director Smith continued that the Board will select one of these RAP projects as most “locally significant” and this project will then be given an additional 20 points for the selection process, thus virtually assuring that it will be chosen for RAP funding. Director Smith suggested that the Board select Lakeside or Hale Road because this would maximize the funding received by the county. He noted however, that there is an advantage to choosing Sleepy Hollow because there is some chance that Lakeside or Hale would get partial funding, and then make that project a very strong candidate for completion funding during the next biennium. The Board stated that they would take the matter under advisement.

Director Smith said that the two new connections to the Dallesport Wastewater System will be finished soon.

Commissioner Frey noted that the Dallesport water board is having a meeting this evening and suggested that a representative from the Public Works Department attend, or perhaps Interim Economic Development Director Glen Chipman could attend instead, or in addition. Director Smith said that he would be happy to attend.

10:53 AM – Executive Session

The Board convened into Executive Session with Public Works Director Scott Smith and Assistant County Engineer Bjorn Hedges in accordance with RCW 42.30.110 (1) (b) to discuss acquisition of property for road right-of-way. It was expected to last until 11:00 AM.

The Board reconvened back to Regular Session at 11:00 AM.

Morning Workshop Session – Tuesday, July 25, 2006 (Continued)

11:07 AM – Economic Development Update

Interim Economic Development Director Glen Chipman stated that one applicant for the Economic Development Director position has withdrawn, leaving three finalists to be interviewed this Thursday. He added that he has prepared a set of interview questions that the Board may wish to use.

Commissioner Frey relayed to Director Chipman that Public Works Director Scott Smith will be going to tonight’s meeting of the Dallesport water board. She asked if Director Chipman had an interest in attending also, or otherwise might just wish to contact Director Smith prior to the meeting to discuss the issues involved. Director Chipman replied that he would contact Director Smith, probably just to discuss the matters involved.

Lunch Recess

The Board recessed for lunch at 11:20 AM.

Call to Order/Roll Call

Regular Meeting for Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Chairman Ray Thayer reconvened the meeting at 1:04 PM.

Commissioners present: Ray Thayer and Joan Frey.

Commissioner Don Struck was absent.

Agenda

Business Agenda

Approved (M/Frey, S/Thayer. Passed unanimously) the Business Agenda with one addition: a proposal to replace the Exhibit Hall roof at the Fairgrounds.

Approval of Commissioner Meeting Minutes

Approved (M/Frey, S/Thayer. Passed unanimously) the Klickitat County Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes for July 18, 2006 as presented.

Citizen Comment

Ric Palmer, Bickleton School District Superintendent, discussed road improvement projects in the east end of the county and expressed specific concerns regarding Hale Road and how long it would be before the project is completed. Chairman Thayer responded that the Board had not received an update in some time but offered to contact Public Works Director Scott Smith to get current information.

Superintendent Palmer also inquired about how property tax revenues from wind power projects might be directed toward the school district, notably because they will eventually need a new school building. He added that he was unsure what could be done after having talked to County Assessor Van Vandenberg about the issue. Chairman Thayer responded that the Board hasn’t discussed the topic for some time, also noting that the earliest that taxes from any of the county’s wind power projects would be collected would be 2008. He suggested also that the Board must look at the broad picture, noting, for example, that revenues going to the county from the operation of the aluminum smelter south of Goldendale went to the county as a whole and not just to the area around the aluminum plant. Chairman Thayer noted that Bickleton residents would realize significant income from the passage of a school levy and the wind power projects would contribute the bulk of the revenues. Superintendent Palmer replied that the school district hasn’t attempted to pass a levy because a handful of local residents would experience a large impact. Chairman Thayer responded that the cost of new school construction would be spread out over 20 to 30 years. He advised Superintendent Palmer that the Board would schedule a work session on this topic and they would let Superintendent Palmer know the date.

Public Meetings/Public Hearings/Bid Openings

Public Meeting: Consider Final Approval of Short Plat No. SPL2006-21; Applicants: Mel and Dixie Walker

Granted (M/Frey, S/Thayer. Passed unanimously) final approval of Short Plat No. SPL2006-21, the applicants being Mel and Dixie Walker. Associate Planner Jannette Herrington stated in her staff review that this is a re-division of Lot 1 of SPL2004-01 to create one additional lot.

Public Meeting: Consider Approval of Boundary Line Adjustment No. BLA2006-13; Applicant: Daryl Woodruff

Approved (M/Frey, S/Thayer. Passed unanimously) Boundary Line Adjustment No. BLA2006-13, the applicants being Daryl Woodruff and SDS. Planner Herrington noted in her staff review that this adjustment proposes to alter the boundary between Lots 3 and 4 of Short Plat No. SP-95-02.

Elected Officials Reports

Auditor’s Office Update

Klickitat County Auditor Diana Pafford inquired as to who might set the maximum amount that can be given from the Veteran’s Relief fund, noting that it is presently $500 per year, per veteran. She suggested that in light of the present conflict in Iraq, this figure might be revisited. Executive Secretary Cris McEwen responded that it is the Board of County Commissioners that is responsible for setting the amount and believes that it has been this amount for quite some time. Auditor Pafford stated that she would do some further research, including contacting local veterans groups, before she reports back to the Board.

Auditor Pafford said that she has now filled the Senior Accountant position, noting the incoming employee has some good governmental experience.

Auditor Pafford requested that the Board consider a wage increase for the Accounting Assistant – Accounts Payable in her office. She suggested that it should go from Range 9 to 10. Commissioner Frey responded that the Board would consider the request.

Auditor Pafford and the Board briefly returned to the June 27, 2006 discussion of proposed changes to the Klickitat County Personnel Policy regarding travel and transportation. Commissioner Frey stated that she would complete her review to allow for the wider review of the proposals by department heads and other elected officials.

Commissioner Frey asked why California (their Secretary of State) chose to decertify touch screen voting terminals manufactured by Diebold Election Systems. Auditor Pafford responded that California officials felt that Diebold hadn’t been completely honest, though Auditor Pafford noted that these are different machines than are being used in Klickitat County and she remains confident that the machines that they use would prove very difficult to compromise. She also noted that there are now ten states that have filed lawsuits against the federal government’s mandate to use electronic voting systems.

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Approved (M/Frey, S/Thayer. Passed unanimously) an Authorization to pay outside the base rate for Chief Deputy Auditor Pam Pimley, authorizing a salary increase from Range 18, Step A to Range 18, Step C. Prior to the motion Auditor Pafford stated that the request is due to the level of Ms. Pimley’s experience and she had intended to make this request immediately after the hire.

Prosecuting Attorney Update

Prosecuting Attorney Tim O'Neill revisited the issue (first discussed on July 11, 2006) of language in state contracts that would make counties responsible for the actions of subcontractors. Also in attendance was Senior Services Director Roger Gadway and it was noted that the issue at hand is a proposed contract between Klickitat County (Senior Services) and the Human Services Council/Transportation Services Brokerage which has the objectionable clause regarding subcontractors. Prosecutor O’Neill said that he surveyed his counterparts in other counties and received three responses, all recommending that he not approve the contract. He noted however that Senior Services will not be involving subcontractors with the execution of this particular contract. He also stated that he would write a letter to the other contract parties explaining the county’s position. Executive Secretary Cris McEwen noted that the Board had not had a chance to review the contract and the Board chose not to make the contract an add-on, but to consider it next week.

Prosecutor O’Neill stated that the county’s Natural Resources Plan is now being reviewed by the law firm of Foster Pepper.

Prosecutor O'Neill said that the Gardner Funeral Home in White Salmon has questioned why they receive a smaller amount of compensation, as compared to the Erdman Funeral Home in Goldendale, when they transport a body to the medical examiner in Vancouver. Chairman Thayer suggested that it may be because the distance is significantly longer from Goldendale.

Executive Session

Executive Session – Pending and Potential Litigation

The Board convened into Executive Session at 2:40 PM with Prosecuting Attorney Tim O'Neill in accordance with RCW 42.30.110(1) (i) to discuss potential and pending litigation in regard to the Housden case, Condit Dam and the Windy Point wind power project. It was noted that the session would last for 15 minutes.

The Board reconvened back to Regular Session at 2:55 PM.

New Business

Request for Waiver of Building Fees for Rural Fire Protection District No. 15

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Approved (M/Frey, S/Thayer. Passed unanimously) a waiver of the plan review fees in the amount of $472.06 for the new fire hall building being constructed for Rural Fire Protection District No. 15 (Wahkiacus).

Consent Agenda

Approved (M/Frey, S/Struck. Passed unanimously) the Consent Agenda except for item #4.

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1. Resolution #10806 in the matter of authorizing temporary closure of Randall Road, County Road No. 21860, from Mile Post 2.61 to Mile Post 4.16 on October 28 and 29, 2006 for a certain cross country event.

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2. Memorandum from the Planning Department scheduling a public meeting for 1:30 PM on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 to consider approval of Boundary Line Adjustment No. BLA2006-17, adjusting the boundaries of Lots 36 & 37, West Roosevelt Addition; Applicant: Dean Mitchell.

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3. Authorization to Hire Outside the Base Rate for the GAL/CASA Specialist position within the Juvenile Department and placement of the new hire at Range 10, Step E ($13.71 per hour) of the 2006 County pay plan schedule.

4. (Pulled) Interlocal Agreement to establish the South Central Workforce Development Council as a non-profit corporation and to designate the South Central Workforce Development Council as the fiscal and administrative agent of the South Central Consortium effective August 1, 2006.

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5. Resolution #10906 in the matter of setting a public hearing for 1:30 PM on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 to consider vacation of a portion of Market Street in the Town of Bickleton.

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6. Request for Reimbursable Work from the White Salmon Valley School District to pave an ingress area for a parking lot.

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7. Local Agency Standard Consultant Agreement (#C15506) between Sargent Engineers, Inc. and Klickitat County to prepare the preliminary plans and to estimate costs for the replacement of the Wahkiacus-Big Klickitat Bridge over the Klickitat River.

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8. Local Agency Standard Consultant Agreement (#C15606) between Sargent Engineers, Inc. and Klickitat County to prepare the plans, specifications and to estimate costs for the replacement of the Harms Road Bridge over Swale Creek, and the Rock Creek Bridge over Rock Creek.

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9. Memorandum from the Planning Department scheduling a public meeting for 1:30 PM on Tuesday, August 8, 2006 to consider approval of Preliminary Plat No. SUB2005-22; Applicants: Gary and Linda (Olson) Lavine.

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10. Notice to Contractors and Scheduling of a Bid Opening for 1:30 PM on Tuesday, August 15, 2006 for 2006 Pavement Markings, RM 6402.

New Business

Authorization to Replace the Exhibit Hall Roof at the Klickitat County Fairgrounds

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Approved (M/Frey, S/Thayer. Passed unanimously) a proposal by Rapid Roofing Systems, Inc. to replace the Exhibit Hall roof at the Klickitat County Fairgrounds, in the amount of $23,892.00, including sales tax.

Old Business

Findings, Conclusions and Decision Granting a Road Right-of-Way Variance for a Proposed Short Plat; Applicant: Brian Sigley

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Approved (M/Frey, S/Thayer. Passed unanimously) Resolution #11006 in the matter of granting a variance to reduce the access easement from 60 feet in width to 40 feet for a proposed short plat located within a portion of Section 13, Township 3 north, Range 10 east, Willamette Meridian, the applicant being Brian Sigley.

Payment Approvals

Voucher Certification and Approval

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

Accounts Payable: (#157319 – 157581 and DOR Electronic Transfer) $395,050.58

Combined Payroll: (#089227 – 089525, 157300 – 157318 & Electronic Transfer 359) $612,502.71

For a combined total of $1,007,553.29

Adjournment (3:15 PM)

Motion by Frey to adjourn the meeting until Thursday, July 27, 2006. Seconded by Thayer and passed unanimously.

Call to Order/Roll Call

Regular Meeting Extension: Workshop Session for Thursday, July 27, 2006

Chairman Ray Thayer reconvened the meeting at 1:00 PM.

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

Workshop Session Agenda

1:00 PM – Executive Session

The Board convened into Executive Session in accordance with RCW 42.30.110(1) (g) to evaluate the qualifications of three applicants for public employment: Interviews for the position of Economic Development Director. It was noted that the session would last for four hours.

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