Minutes
Board of WahkiakumCounty Commissioners
Regular Meeting
January 13, 2004
Call to Order
Chairman Mark Linquist called the regular meeting of the Board of Wahkiakum County Commissioners to order at 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, January 13, 2004, in the public meeting room of the Wahkiakum County Courthouse.
Present: Commissioner Mark Linquist; Commissioner Daniel L. Cothren; Commissioner George A. Trott; Clerk of the Board Holly Pfenniger; Prosecuting Attorney Fred Johnson; Public Works Director Jack Tobin; Public Works Director/County Engineer Pete Ringen; Sheriff Dan Bardsley; Health and Human Services Director Joell Archibald; Auditor Diane Tischer; Wahkiakum County Eagle Editor Rick Nelson; Delvin Fredrickson of the Grays River Habitat Enhancement District; and Kent and Irene Martin.
Approval of Regular Meeting Agenda
It was MSA by Commissioners Trott and Cothren to approve the regular meeting agenda. Carried.
Approval of Consent Agenda
It was MSA by Commissioners Cothren and Trott to approve the consent agenda. Carried. The consent agenda contained the following items:
A.Minutes of January 6, 2004
B.OpenSpaceLand or TimberLand Applications:
1.Kevin Prestegard for parcel# 140806-23-0002 – Open Space
2.Joseph Mackey for parcel #200905-44-0002 - Timberland
3.Joseph Mackey for parcel #200905-44-0004 – Open Space
4.Daniel and Lisa Doty for parcel #150908-21-0006 – Timberland
C.Martin Luther King Day – Holiday Notice
New Business
WashingtonState Liquor Control Board
Commissioner Linquist reported a liquor license is up for renewal for the Haiying Chinese Restaurant
Department of Natural Resources Transmittal
Commissioner Linquist reported the county had received a Department of Natural Resources transmittal in the amount of $7,657.88.
Rescind Motion re: TRSN Alternate Appointment
It was MSA by Commissioners Cothren and Trott to rescindthe motion made on December 16, 2003, appointingYvonne Duvall to the TRSN Advisory Board as an alternate to Mary Pederson. Carried.
Commissioners Reports
Commissioner Dan Cothren
Commissioner Cothren reported attending a port meeting last week, where the port commissioners agreed to pay $500.00 towards the annual dues to Pacific Northwest Waterways Association. Cothren discussed the Puget Island Erosion issue live on radio with talk show host Don Fullerton, Puget Island resident Nina Watson, Commissioner George Trott, and a Corps of Engineer representative to discuss thePuget Island erosion issues. Cothren also worked on the blue grass festival and arranged for shows in the local area. Cothren reported the blue grass musical scheduled for January 24, from 6-9 p.m. is open to the public. Commissioner Trott offered to attend the Fair Board meeting scheduled for January 13, after Cothren reported he could not attend due to a conflict.
Commissioner George Trott
Commissioner Trott reported the county commissioners will be working to shore up the bank at the Watson property by filling and placing sandbags, on January 24, 2004. Trott indicated he would work with Emergency Management Coordinator Dolly Tawater to get volunteers to help with the sandbagging project. Trott noted that union negotiations were cancelled last week due to the weather conditions, which gave the management team time to review collective bargaining material. Negotiations were rescheduled for January 21 and January 23. Trott held a phone conference with Health and Human Services Lead Therapist Chris Holmes, Workforce Development Councilwoman Linda Elliot, and Wahkiakum School District Counselor Sam Kresge regarding youth employment and training. Trott reported funding is available for students to obtain specialized vocational training, which is an area Trott plans to target for the youth in the county. Trott reported that Washington Counties Insurance Fund meeting and the Corps meeting occur on January 22; Trott asked the other two commissioners to handle the Corps business because he anticipates being appointed to the Washington Counties Insurance Pool Board.
Commissioner Mark Linquist
Commissioner Linquist reported the Columbia River Channel Deepening Project has been given the authority to move forward once funding is secured. Wahkiakum County Eagle Editor, Rick Nelson questioned whether the shorelines issues that were identified to be problematic for WahkiakumCounty were included in the final plan. The board confirmed that the plan did not include the concerns regarding WahkiakumCounty shorelines. Linquist noted the board should maintain their position regarding the cost of doing business should include the general maintenance of shorelines along the Columbia, which will be impacted by the project. The board agreed. Linquist reported the GraysRiver forum moved to January 27, at 6:30 p.m. at the Grays River Grange. Linquist reported attending the legislative steering committee meeting on Friday, January 9, where the committee discussed the primary election system, the state supplemental budget, tax incentives for business, tort reform, and a new initiative supporting a 25% reduction in property taxes. The new initiative would impact 86% of KingCounty’s revenue, but would leave school levies alone. Linquist reported the new initiative would also impact port district and fire department levies. There was considerable discussion on sales tax streamlining and the impact on cities and counties.
Legislation will be proposed to establish the same timber taxes on public and private lands, phasing in a 4% local timber excise tax on timber harvested on public land and reducing the state timber tax on public land, ultimately eliminating the property tax on timber on public land. The legislation would increase county tax revenue and over time, reduce tax revenue to the state. To collect property tax revenue equivalent to the 4% excise tax, a timber harvester would have to hold standing timber for an average of eight years, which rarely happens.
Linquist reported the Governor’s budget includes a 5.2 million dollar increase to Community Trade and Economic Development for rural areas. Linquist noted the funding is being made available to rural areas for community and economic development, suggesting the Lower Columbia Economic Development Council take advantage of the opportunity. Linquist reported that he is going to propose that the Lower Columbia Economic Development Council board bring in the Washington Rural Development Council, a private non-profit,to conduct an assessment on WahkiakumCounty’s rural communities. The assessments are normally performed onnon-profits, utilities, government, education, and private communities. The assessment is put into survey form with data reported afterward.
Public Comment
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Issues
Kent Martin expressed his concern over the management of fish and wildlife in WahkiakumCounty by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, suggesting the agency treats rural areas differently that metropolitan areas. Martin was specifically disappointed about the lack of compensation for landowners who incur damage to crops and tree farms from the elk herds, which Martin believes are managed at a higher population today then in the past. Martin also believed the populations are being managed to provide hunting opportunities for people from outside of the county. Martin believes that Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has mismanaged habitat for the recreation of the wider society.
Commercial Fishing – Spring Chinook
Kent Martin requested the commissioners support a proposal to allow a 50/50 split of spring Chinook salmon for recreational fisherman and commercial fisherman. The 50/50 split would give recreational fisherman 60% of the catch, as the commercial fishing mortality rate is 18% versus a 10% mortality rate for recreational fishing. It was MSA by Commissioners Cothren and Trott to support the proposal to allow a 50/50 stock split to commercial and recreational fisherman. Carried.
Irene Martin noted the importance of supporting viable commercial fisheries in Wahkiakum County and urged the board to continue their support and to continue pushing the issue at the state level. Commissioner Trott indicated the money that comes from the spring fishery season provides the means for fisherman from the local area to fish in Alaska.
Public Works Department
Maintenance Projects
The board noted several maintenance projects that needed to be done around the courthouse and county that could be done by inmates. Sheriff Bardsley recommended people contactPete Ringenwhen they have recommendations and Ringen would then pass that information to the sheriff for consideration.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife MOU
Ringen reported that he spoke to Lee Van Tussenbrook of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife regarding the Public Works Department’s role in the Grays River study being conducted by the Corps of Engineers. Tussenbrook assured Ringen the county’s in-kind services would be minimal and would include equipment time, and technical review of plans.
Puget Island Erosion Update
Ringen reported that he contacted Coast and Harbor Engineering about attending the meeting between the Corps and the County to discuss Puget Island Erosion issues. Dave Simpson recommended that both he and Vladimir Shepsis attend the meeting, which would cost the county additional dollars. The board did not disagree.
Ferry
Ringen reported that he would be meeting with the Master Mates and Pilots Union to discuss the ferry crew schedule during Lewis & Clark Bridge closures. Tobin reported the state planned a bridge closure, notified the county who then scheduled the ferry crew to provide service during the closure hours, only for the state to notify the county that the bridge closure was cancelled. The county is required to give the crew 24 hours notice in instances like this; however the county did not have 24 hours notice in order to meet that requirement. Ringen reported he was looking forward to meeting the union representative for the Master Mates and Pilots Union.
CES Engineers Meeting – Ferry Ramp Design
Ringen reported that he and Tobin planned to meet with CES Engineers in Olympia to reviewthe ferry ramp replacement project budget and schedule. Ringen recommended the county hold an open house for the public to discuss this project before the design is finalized. The board agreed.
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Biologist
Ringen reported the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is interviewing people to fill a biologist position that would serve both Cowlitz and Wahkiakum County.
Equipment
Ringen reported the 1984 GMC Truck is having engine problems and needs to be taken to Portland for repair.
Janitorial Services
Ringen reported the person who was to lead the effort on janitorial services notified the county that he is no longer interested in the position, but would work through the end of the week of January 16. Tobin and Ringen noted they are working with the HHS Department and the Elochoman Partners to find a replacement.
Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
Executive Session
Collective Bargaining
Potential Litigation
Chairman Linquist recessed out of regular session at 11:45 a.m. for the purpose of entering into executive session to discuss collective bargaining issues and potential litigation issues. Linquist noted the board would reconvene at 1:00 p.m.
Reconvene/Recess/Reconvene
Chairman Linquist reconvened the regular meeting at 1:05 p.m. No action was taken as a result of the executive session. Chairman Linquist recessed the regular meeting for lunch at 1:05 p.m.. Chairman Linquist reconvened the regular meeting at 1:50 p.m.
Unfinished Business
Motion Supporting Proposed Legislation re: Timber Management
It was MSA by Commissioners Cothren and Trott to authorize chair’s signature on a letter addressed to the Commissioner of Public Lands Doug Sutherland, requesting his support of proposed legislation to eliminate the SEPA review process from the Department of Natural Resources timber management requirements. Carried.
Board of Health Workshop
Present: Commissioner Mark E. Linquist; Commissioner Daniel L. Cothren; Commissioner George A. Trott; HHS Director Joell Archibald; Dr. Mimi Fields; Clerk of the Board Holly Pfenniger and Wahkiakum County Eagle Editor Rick Nelson.
Board of Health Officer
It was MSA by Commissioners Cothren and Trott to adopt Resolution 003-04, A RESOLUTION APPOINTING ACTING LOCAL HEALTH OFFICERS FOR WAHKIAKUM COUNTY, WASHINGTON TO SERVE IN THE ABSENCE OF THE WAHKIAKUM HEALTH OFFICER. Carried.
Workshop
The board met with HHS Director Joell Archibald and Dr. Mimi Fields to identify priorities for the Health Department. The board recognized the State Health Department strives to provide the following standards for public health: protecting people from disease; assuring a safe, healthy environment; promoting healthy living; and helping people get services they need.
Dr. Fields identified three standards that she believed were basic and necessary for Wahkiakum County. Those standards included communicable disease prevention, surveillance and response; early prevention and intervention; and tracking and reporting data.
The board noted they shared the same priorities with Dr. Fields but were concerned about the current workload on the staff and whether it was reasonable. The board feared the immense billing and reporting duties have fallen behind schedule. The group discussed the amount of administrative time it takes to process paperwork for each of the programs offered by the Health and Human Services Department. Dr. Fields brought up the issue of managerial accountability and the need to cut back on services if the current staffing levels cannot meet the demands and requirements of the contracts and obligations to the state. Archibald reported that the board and she have worked to reorganize the department which should correct some of the issues that have plagued the department. The board agreed with Archibald, noting the changes should correct the compliance concerns.
The board agreed they did not want to hire additional staff to handle the current workload, and would support reviewing programs for feasibility. Archibald reported that she is working on obtaining the needed fiscal infrastructure system to meet the demands of reporting and billing.
Adjournment
With no further business to come before the board, Chairman Linquist adjourned the regular meeting at 3:45 p.m.
______
Attest:Holly A. PfennigerApproved: Mark E. Linquist
Clerk of the BoardChairman of the Board
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