ISLAND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS - NOVEMBER 25, 2002

Special Session and Regular Meeting Minutes

 

The Board met in Special Session on November 25, 2002 beginning at 9:30 a.m., Law & Justice Facility, 101 NE 6th Street, Dept. 3 (Courtroom 3), Coupeville, Wa., with Regular  Meeting  at 1:30 p.m. canceled, as outlined the Board’s Agenda/Notice of Special Session  distributed  November 20th.  The  regularly-scheduled Elected Officials Roundtable was  held as usual at  11:30 a.m.   The November 25th schedule change was made in order to accommodate those who wish to attend the memorial service for Maxine Sauter, former Island County Treasurer,  at  the Methodist Church in Oak Harbor at  1:00 p.m.

 

SPECIAL SESSION

 

The Board of Island County Commissioners (including Diking Improvement District #4) met in Special Session  beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the   Law & Justice Facility, Department III (Courtroom 3), 101 N.E. 6th Street, Coupeville, Wa.    Mike Shelton, Chairman;  Wm. L. McDowell, Member, and  William F. Thorn, Member, were present.  By unanimous motion, the Board approved and signed the minutes from regular meeting held on November 18, 2002.

 

VOUCHERS AND PAYMENT OF BILLS

 

The following vouchers/warrants were approved for payment by unanimous motion of the Board:   

 

Voucher (War.) #154313-154602……………………………………………….$352,158.93.

 

Hiring Requests & Personnel Actions

 

As presented by Dick Toft, Human Resource Director, the Board by unanimous motion,  approved the following personnel action authorization:  

 

Dept.               PAA #   Description/Position #                            Action                  Eff. Date

 

Public Works   090/02  Working Foreman I, OHRS, # 2235.03    Replacement   11/25/02

 

Resolution #C-101-02 Establishing a Steering Committee to

Manage Compliance with   Health Insurance Portability

&  Accountability Act

 

Resolution #C-101-02 in the matter of  Establishing a Steering Committee to Manage Compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act  was adopted by unanimous motion of the Board.

 

BEFORE THE BOARD OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

OF ISLAND COUNTY, WASHINGTON

 

 

 

IN THE MATTER OF ESTABLISHING A STEERING COMMITTEE TO MANAGE COMPLIANCE WITH THE HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

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   RESOLUTION  C-101-02

 

 

 

Whereas, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, Public Law 104-191, (hereinafter referred to as HIPAA) was enacted on August 21, 1996 by Congress.  HIPAA provides for improved efficiency and effectiveness of the health care system by standardizing the format, content, and data elements in electronic health care transactions; streamlines processes and lowers overall administrative costs of health care in the United States; and provides for control over the disclosure of health care information that identifies an individual; and

 

Whereas, HIPAA affects policies, procedures, contracts, technology, record retention, and employee training relating to the collection and dissemination of individual health care information gathered during the course of County business; and

 

Whereas, the Board of County Commissioners finds that the most effective means of implementing the requirements of the Health Insurance/Information Portability and Accountability Act is to establish a Steering Committee; and

 

Now, therefore, the Board of County Commissioners of Island County does resolve as follows:

 

 

 

 

Section I.  Individuals in the following positions are hereby appointed to the Steering Committee:  

 

a)      Health Services Director or designee           

b)      Risk Manager or designee

c)      Central Services Director or designee

d)      Prosecuting Attorney or designee

e)      Coroner or designee

f)       Sheriff or designee

g)      Juvenile Court Services Director or designee

h)      Human Resources or designee        

i)        Records and Information Services Manager (Committee Coordinator)

 

Section II.  The HIPAA Steering Committee is responsible for managing the process of planning, implementing, arranging for training concerning, and evaluating compliance with the Health Insurance/Information Portability and Accountability Act for Island County Government.                 

Section III.  Objectives of the Steering Committee:

 

A.  Gather information about HIPAA, evaluate applicability, and disseminate this information to appropriate individuals, agencies within Island County and, after identifying them, any “business associates” as defined in the Act.

 

B.  Conduct a survey of all Island County government offices and departments to identify affected records and offices under HIPAA determine risks, needs, gaps and compliance issues.

 

C.  Make a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners regarding Covered Entity Status of Island County government offices and departments and any “business associates” as defined under the Act.      

 

D.  Select Sub-committee members from offices and departments as appropriate to the process of compliance with HIPAA.

 

E.  Lead implementation of necessary changes in policies, procedures, contracts, technology hardware, software and networks, records and information storage, retention, transfer and destruction, and employee training to gain compliance with HIPAA.

 

F.  Create an initial and ongoing HIPAA audit plan for Island County.

 

ADOPTED this  25 day of November, 2002.

 

Board of County Commissioners

 

 

Island County, Washington

 

 

 

Mike Shelton, Chairman

Attest:

Wm. L. McDowell, Member

Elaine Marlow,

Clerk of the Board

William F. Thorn, Member

 

Staff Session Schedule – December, 2002

 

The Board, on unanimous motion,  approved the Staff Session Schedule for December, 2002.  Important to note that the regular first Wednesday staff session on December 4, 2002 has been canceled, and a  special staff session  scheduled for December  11th.  The regularly-scheduled  third Wednesday staff session, December 18, 2002, will be held as usual. Both sessions begin at 9:00 a.m. and are held in Conference  Room #116, Courthouse Administration  Building, 1 N.E. 7th Street, Coupeville, Wa.

 

Claim for Damages #R02-038CD – Dane H. Penery

 

Based on review and recommendation by Betty Kemp, Director, GSA/Risk Management, the  Board by unanimous motion denied Claim for Damages #R02-038CD by Dane H. Penery in the amount of $10,000 alleging breech of contract and additional settlement terms.

 

HEARING SCHEDULED:    Ordinance #C-102-02 Amending ICC, 

Sections   6.08.090 and 9.40.280 – Add Authorized Dog Off

Leash Areas on North Whidbey Island

 

On presentation and overview provided by Lee McFarland, Assistant Director, GSA, the Board by unanimous motion, scheduled a public hearing to be held on  January 6, 2003  at 9:55 a.m. to consider Ordinance #C-102-02 In the Matter of Amending Island County Code sections 6.08.090

 

and 9.40.280 to add Authorized Dog Off Leash Areas on North Whidbey Island.  As noted, the two dog off-leash areas are:   Oak Harbor Off Leash Area, a designated area at the East end of Technical Road in Oak Harbor  and Clover Valley Off Leash Area, a designated area adjacent to North Whidbey Parks and  Recreation Ballfield  complex.

 

Substance Abuse Treatment – Catholic Community

Services Contract #HS-11-01,   Amendment  4

 

The Board by unanimous motion, approved Amendment 4 to Contract #HS-11-10 with  Catholic Community Services for substance abuse treatment, the amendment in the amount of $6,371.26 for a new  total contract amount $558,795.26.  The amendment    reallocates current funds, increases the dollar amount and extends the period of performance through the end of the 2001-2003 biennium for drug court [RM-HLTH-99-0073]. 

 

Resolution #C-103-02/R-38-02 –  Emergency Load Limitations

on County Roads During Winter Months

 

As presented by Bill Oakes, Public Works Director, the Board by unanimous motion approved  Resolution #C-103-02/R-38-02  Governing Emergency Load Limitations on County Roads, the Issuance of Special Motor Vehicle Permits to Use on Weight-Restricted County Roads, and Fixing Penalties for Violations Thereof.

 

BEFORE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

OF ISLAND COUNTY, WASHINGTON

 

A RESOLUTION GOVERNING EMERGENCY       )

LOAD LIMITATIONS ON COUNTY ROADS,          )

THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL MOTOR                 )           C-103-02

VEHICLE PERMITS TO USE ON WEIGHT          )           R-  38 -02

RESTRICTED COUNTY ROADS, AND FIXING     )

PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF           )

 

            WHEREAS, pursuant to RCW 46.44.080, Island County may prohibit or restrict vehicle operations or vehicle weight whenever any county road, by reason of rain, snow, climatic, or other conditions, will be seriously damaged or destroyed unless the operation of vehicles thereon is prohibited or restricted or their permissible weights reduced (such periods hereafter referred to as “load sensitive periods”);

 

            WHEREAS, Island County roads are constructed over relatively thin sub-bases, and sometimes directly over natural soil and roads constructed under aforesaid conditions are very vulnerable to rapid breakup during freezing and thawing periods; and

 

            WHEREAS, reduced weights and speed help prevent the early breakup of roads from conditions as cited above; and

 

            WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Island County, Washington, upon recommendation of the County Engineer, has deemed it advisable to place certain restrictions on various county roads during load sensitive periods to protect such roadways from extensive damage;

 

            NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to RCW 46.44.080, BE IT HEREBY ORDERED by the Board of County Commissioners of Island County, Washington, THAT the following notice be published once in a newspaper of general circulation in the County; THAT the wording and intent of same is a part of this Resolution; and THAT the Island County Engineer is hereby duly instructed and ordered to execute the action implied therein.

 

            NOTICE IS HEREBY DULY GIVEN, that, under the authority of Chapter 36.75.270 and 46.44.080, Revised Code of Washington, all Island County roads subject to damage during periods when inclement natural forces are at work, will be closed to all vehicles exceeding the gross weight indicated for each tire size shown in the following tables (when said roads are posted in accordance with Item 5 below), WITH THE EXCLUSION of passenger vehicles including sedans, station wagons and pickup vehicles not licensed for tonnage, school buses, emergency vehicles, garbage trucks, and trucks transporting perishable commodities, home heating oil, propane, other fuel and buses other than school buses necessary to the health and welfare of local

 

 

residents.  (However, under the provision of this notice, in no case shall the gross load exceed the gross loads as set forth in R.C.W. 46.44

WINTER LOAD RESTRICTIONS

(Same as Washington State Department of Transportation Emergency

Load Restrictions, WAC 468-38-080)

 

            Conventional Tires                                   Tubeless or Special Tires with .5 Marking

 

Tire Size           Gross Load Each Tire                Tire Size                       Gross Load Each Tire

 

7.00                              1800 lbs.                       8-22.5                                       2250 lbs.

7.50                              2250 lbs.                       9-22.5                                       2800 lbs.

8.25                              2800 lbs.                       10-22.5                                     3400 lbs.

9.00                              3400 lbs.                       11-22.5                                     4000 lbs.

10.00                            4000 lbs.                       11-24.5                                     4000 lbs.

11.00                            4500 lbs.                       12-22.5                                     4500 lbs.

12.00 or over                 4500 lbs.                       12-24.5 or over                          4500 lbs.

 

EMERGENCY LOAD RESTRICTIONS

(Same as Washington State Department of Transportation Emergency

Load Restrictions, WAC 468-38-080)

 

When a rapid surface thawing over a fully frozen road base occurs (i.e., warm rain over frozen ground, or rapidly melting snow), the Emergency Load Restrictions as cited below shall be immediately imposed as directed by the Island County Engineer.

 

            Conventional Tires                               Tubeless or Special Tires with .5 Marking

Tire Size          Gross Load Each Tire                        Tire Size                      Gross Load Each Tire

 

7.00                              1800 lbs.                       8-22.5                                       1800 lbs.

7.50                              1800 lbs.                       9-22.5                                       1900 lbs.

8.25                              1900 lbs.                       10-22.5                                     2250 lbs.

9.00                              2250 lbs.                       11-22.5                                     2750 lbs.

10.00                            2750 lbs.                       11-24.5                                     2750 lbs.

11.00 or over                 3000 lbs.                       12-22.5 or over                          3000 lbs.

 

1)                  High pressure pneumatic tires shall have the same rating as set forth in the above tables.

 

2)                  No allowance shall be made for any second rear axle that is suspended from the frame of a vehicle independent of the regular driving axle, and commonly known as a “Rigid Trail Axle”.

 

3)                  The load distribution on any vehicle shall be such that it will not load the tires on said axle in excess of the prescribed load set forth in this order; provided that a truck, truck tractor, passenger bus or school bus having conventional 10.00 x 20 tires, or larger, may carry a maximum load of 10,000 lbs. on the front axle over any county highway placed under Regular Winter Load Restrictions.

 

4)                  Should there be evidence that any truck supplying motive power for any type of trailer is inadequate to handle with safety the specific maximum load for such trailer, the load on the trailer shall be reduced sufficiently to allow said truck and trailer to operate with safety.  Any loading in excess of the specified maximum load will be considered a violation of this order.

 

5)                  Island County roads shall be subject to closure during the effective dates stated below; said closure to be identified by continuous or intermittent posting at such locations upon each road as may be necessary by the Island County Engineer, as conditions require, to protect and maintain the same during each period.

 

6)                  Speed limit is 30 miles per hour for all trucks or buses except emergency vehicles, school buses, and passenger carrying vehicles as described above.

 

SPECIAL PERMITS

 

Special permits may be issued by the County Engineer, or his representative, for loads in excess of allowable loads stated above, by the following method:

 

1)                  Any application shall apply in person to the County Engineer’s office or

 

 

Road Shop Supervisor’s office for the applicable district during normal business hours.  The applicant must be the vehicle operator, owner, or other responsible party.

 

2)                  A permit will be issued only when the applicant has provided all necessary

Information.

 

3)                  The following will be considered in evaluating the permit application:

a.                   number and frequency of trips requested,

b.                   other permits granted for the same route,

c.                   availability of alternate routes,

d.                   climatic conditions,

e.                   degree of overload over restricted load limits, and

f.                    current road surface condition.

 

4)                  If a permit is issued, it must be carried in the vehicle while traveling a County

road on which weight restrictions have been imposed.

 

PENALTY

 

Any person violating any emergency load limitation on a County road during a load sensitive period shall be in violation of this Resolution.  A violation of this Resolution shall constitute a traffic infraction under the provisions of RCW 46.44.105, and RCW 46.44.080, subjecting the violator to the monetary penalties provided in RCW 46.44 and RCW 46.61.

 

ACTION FOR DAMAGES

 

Any person operating a motor vehicle upon, across, over any County road in violation of any provision of this Resolution shall be liable under RCW 46.44.110 and RCW 46.44.120 for any damage caused to such County road as the result of such violation.

 

SEVERABILITY

 

If any provision of this Resolution or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the Resolution or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected.

 

THIS ORDER SHALL BECOME effective and be in full force on or after the date of adoption through the 30th day of April 2003, and the foregoing regulations will be rigidly enforced.

 

            ADOPTED this 25 day of November, 2002.

 

                                                                        BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

                                                                        ISLAND COUNTY, WASHINGTON

 

                                                                        Mike Shelton, Chairman

                                                                        Wm. L. McDowell, Member

                                                                        William F. Thorn, Member

ATTEST:

Elaine Marlow

Clerk of the Board

 

Resolution #C-104-02/R-39-02 – Annual Road Construction 

Program for year 2003 and proposed ER&R Fund

Equipment Purchases 2003

 

Resolution #C-104-02/R-39-02 In The Matter of Approving Annual Road Construction     Program for year 2003 and proposed ER&R Fund Equipment Purchases 2003, was approved by unanimous motion of the Board, as presented by Bill Oakes, having been a topic of discussion at a previous  staff session.

 

BEFORE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

OF ISLAND COUNTY, WASHINGTON

 

IN THE MATTER OF ADOPTION OF     )

THE ANNUAL ROAD CONSTRUCTION)           RESOLUTION  C-104-02

PROGRAM FOR THE YEAR 2003            )                                                   R-39-02

 

 

 

WHEREAS, it is required by RCW 36.81.130 that the Annual Road Construction Program be adopted prior to the Annual Budget; and

 

            WHEREAS, the Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program was adopted at public hearing as required by law on June 24, 2002; and

 

           

WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners has reviewed the work accomplished under the current Six-Year Program to determine current needs in order to revise and extend the comprehensive road program; NOW, THEREFORE,

 

            BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that the attached list of projects as selected from the aforementioned Six-year Transportation Improvement Program with 2003 Proposed Equipment Purchases by ER&R Fund be adopted.

 

            PASSED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE AND ADOPTED this 25th  day of November, 2002.

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

ISLAND COUNTY, WASHINGTON

 

Mike Shelton, Chairman

Wm. L. McDowell, Member

William F. Thorn, Member

ATTEST:

Elaine Marlow,

Clerk of the Board

 

Lease Agreement #PW0220-78 -  Washington State Department of Transportation and Island County FOR Operation

and Maintenance of Kettles Trail

 

The Board approved by unanimous motion Lease Agreement #PW0220-78 [State Numbers AA1-11238/IC 1-15-06040] between Island County and the State of Washington Department of Transportation, for leasing State right-of-way to operate and maintain a trail segment as part of the Ebey’s Landing National Historic Reserve Trail system/Island County Community Trails Project (Kettle’s Trail).  As indicated by Mr. Oakes, this is a 10 year lease, and upon expiration of the initial term, may be renewed for two additional ten year periods. 

 

Annex Remodel Project Bid Award: Public Works recommends award to second lowest bidder, Hanson Brothers, Inc.,  and rejecting low bid by Ebenal General, Inc.

 

The recommendation of Public Works Department for the Courthouse Annex Remodel Project Bid Award to be made to the  second lowest bidder, Hanson Brothers, Inc., and rejection of the low bid from Ebenal General, Inc., was presented by Mr. Oakes.

 

Chairman Shelton first advised that the Board had been handed a  document a few minutes before the meeting began, a Temporary Restraining Order, signed by Superior Court in Skagit County indicating that the Board could not  sign a contract, and the Chairman asked for comments from the County’s Chief Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, in that regard.  

 

David L. Jamieson, Jr., Chief Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, reported that he had been on the phone earlier this morning with Attorney  Frank Chmelik, Bellingham, who represents Ebenal General, Inc. and some others.  From his conversation and from reading the Temporary Restraining Order, it does not restrict the Board from determining who to award the bid to for the Courthouse remodel project, but Ebenal will take issue if the Board  awards a contract to anyone other than Ebenal, and in that case, the  Board is enjoined, at least temporarily,  from entering into a contract with anyone other than Ebenal. 

 

Bill Oakes handed out for the Board’s review and proposed action, a  Resolution in the matter of awarding the bid for the Courthouse Annex Remodel Project, with Findings of Fact outlining the basis on which Public Works’ made its recommendation to award bid to the second lowest bidder.  Based on  background reference check, he  confirmed recommendation that the bid not be awarded to the lowest bidder, Ebenal General, Inc., but instead be made to the second lowest bidder,  Hanson Brothers, for the base bid and alternates  1, 2, 3c, 4, 7, 9, 10a, 10b and 10c,  and  trench safety systems, including sales  tax, in the total amount  of $2,968,503.00.

 

 

Scott Maresh, Attorney, Chmelik Sitkin & Davis, P.S., Attorneys, Bellingham, Wa., representing Ebenal General, Inc., Blyth Heating & Plumbing, and Sound Electric and a  taxpayer in Island County,  identified himself as the  person who delivered this morning the Temporary Restraining Order.  He advised that bids were opened on October 31, 2002, and in the subsequent weeks his client and the two subcontractors he represents sought information from the Public Works Department and the Architect on the status of the contract award.  None   of his  clients received any information, although in the  contracting  community,  rumors were rampant the bid would go

 

to Hanson Brothers instead  of  Ebenal General.     His concern was that Ebenal General did not get an opportunity to respond to any potential concerns there might be.  His clients were not aware of this meeting until they contacted Public Works Friday afternoon, and it was not until over the weekend through an Internet search they saw an  agenda for today’s meeting which indicated that the  Public Works’ recommendation was that Ebenal  not be given the award.   A period of 14 days is requested in order to sort this out, and that if there are any issues, they have an opportunity to  respond to those issues.  Sound Electric as  a taxpayer in Island County has concern that instead of the award being made to the low bidder, that it will go to a higher bidder without at least some  consideration.

 

Mr. Oakes was out of the County last week, but was aware that the Assistant Public Works Director talked to Ebenal last week.   Mr. Oakes had not  received any calls from any of  these companies.

 

Commissioner Thorn moved that the Board approve Resolution  #C-105-02 in the matter of Awarding the bid for the Courthouse Annex Remodel Project to Hanson Brothers, Inc. the lowest responsible bidder,   for the base bid and alternates  1, 2, 3c, 4, 7, 9, 10a, 10b and 10c,   and  trench safety systems, including sales  tax, in the total amount  of $2,968,503.00. Motion, seconded  by Commissioner McDowell, carried unanimously.

 

BEFORE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

OF ISLAND COUNTY, WASHINGTON

 

IN THE MATTER OF AWA