BOARD OF ISLAND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MINUTES OF MEETING

MAY 17, 2004

 

The Board of Island County Commissioners (including Diking Improvement District #4) met in Regular Session on  May 17, 2004 at 9:30 a.m.  in the   Island County Courthouse Annex, Hearing Room, 1 N. E. 6th Street, Coupeville, Wa.    William J. Byrd,  Chairman, Mike Shelton, Member, and Wm. L. McDowell,  Member,  were present.    The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance.  By unanimous motion, the Board approved the minutes from the May 10, 2004 regular meeting. 

 

VOUCHERS AND PAYMENT OF BILLS

 

By unanimous motion, the Board approved the payroll dated May 15, 2004, and the  following vouchers/warrants:    Voucher (War.) #189610  -  189736  . . . . . . . . . . . . ..$ 365,345.79.

 

Veterans Assistance Fund: [emergency financial assistance to certain eligible  veterans; the names and specific circumstances are maintained confidential].   As recommended unanimously by the Veterans Assistance Review Committee the Board by unanimous motion approved Claim #V4-5  in the amount of $11,349.30.    

 

Hiring Requests & Personnel Actions

 

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

 

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

Planning    046.94    Planning Tech I or II DOQ  1601.04      Replacement              5/17/04

GSA          047/04    DES Deputy Director  1305.00              Personnel Action        5/17/04

                                   .75 FTE to 1.0 FTE

Auditor     048/04    Deputy Auditor/Auditing 211.00            Replacement              6/28/04

 

Health Department ContractS APPROVED

 

By unanimous motion, the Board approved the following Health Department contracts:

 

Contract #8283, Amendment 2   [RM-HLTH-99-0021] DSHS/DASA-AL/SA Treatment and Prevention; no increase or decrease in total maximum program.  Contract total contract remains at  $1,150,631.

 

Contract #HD-13-02 Amendment 2 - Tuberculosis consultation-Christopher Spitters, MD. –

Amendment Amount: $1,500; Amended Contract Total: $4,500 (RM-HLTH-01-0046).

 

County Designated Mental Health Professional

 

The Board by unanimous motion, approved  Jennifer Ross, MS as a County Designated  Mental Health Professional, having met the requirements of RCW 71.24 and WAC 275-57 as confirmed by Jackie Henderson, Island County Human Services Director, Island County Health Department.

 

Re-appointments Named  to Island County Board of Equalization

 

The Board on unanimous motion reappointed the following individuals for another three-year term to May 31, 2007 to the Island County Board of Equalization:  C. R. “Dick” Horgan, Freeland and Maxine Cray, Oak Harbor.

 

New Application for Liquor License # 086298-3C - The Star Store

 

Island County received  new application for Liquor License #086298-3C for grocery store beer and wine by The Star Store for location at  5603 S.  Bayview Road, Suite A (Bayview Corner LLC), Langley, by applicants Eugene and Tamar Gina Felton,  After the  customary review, the Island County Sheriff and Health Department recommended approval.  A May 11, 2004 memorandum from Carole Croft,  Development Services Manager, Planning & Community Development Department, stated no objection to issuance of the  liquor license for The Star Store, subject to:

 

·         The applicant must obtain a Certificate of Occupancy from Island County prior to opening for business.

 

·         Obtain appropriate approval/agreement with the property owner for occupying this portion of the building complex.

 

Based on Departmental recommendations, the Board by unanimous motion approved the liquor license subject to the two conditions  as stated.

 

Assumption of Liquor License #071283-3C  Clinton Square Gas & Deli

 

Assumption of Liquor License #071283-3C  for Clinton Square Gas & Deli,  from  Tae Kyung and Myong Suk Yang  to  Taemyong Corporation was approved by unanimous motion of the Board, consistent with the recommendation of the Sheriff.

 

Amendment A to Interlocal Agreement #EM03-336  - State of Washington Military Department, Emergency Management Division FY04 Wireless Implementation Contract

 

The Board by unanimous motion approved Amendment  A to Interlocal Agreement #EM03-336 [RM-BOC-03-0035] between the State of Washington Military Department, Emergency Management Division and Island County for FY04 Wireless Implementation Contract, the Amendment in the amount of $10,000, bringing the total contract to $55,080.

 

Purchase Order - Signal Services   alarm installation

 

Purchase Order to  Signal Services  for purchase and installation of 14   duress  alarms, 6 located in the Administration  Building and 8 in the Law & Justice Center, for the amount of  $8,575 (plus Washington State Sales Tax)  (RM-MAINT-04-0040) was presented by Dan Sherk, Facilities Director.  These alarms are some that were not included in the original installation and now proposed to be installed. This would be a push button located at the front counters in the specified offices that when pushed, would ring into the Sheriff’s Office.

 

Rufus Rose, South Whidbey, inquired how this had come about, and whether there had been any  threats and/or assault occurrences.

 

The Commissioners explained this was a personal safety issue in various offices with respect to concern about personal safety from threatening people coming into an office or at the counter.

 

Motion, as made and seconded carried unanimously.

 

Review Monthly Financial Reports - Auditor & Treasurer

 

Treasurer.  Linda Riffe, Island County Treasurer, submitted the Treasurer’s written monthly financial report for the period ending April 30, 2004. Notes of interest:

 

Property Tax-current – down $739,791 from April 2003, represents receipt of many tax payments later this year; the  Office is sill processing those payments.

 

Property Tax-prior - also down but was  anticipated.   Last year had been working on collection of  outstanding delinquencies  from the previous years that  had never been collected.

 

Property Tax-compensating - changed to a new tax program and rather than making a full distribution only did a test.  The test has been confirmed accurate and the distribution will be made at the end of May.

 

Excise Tax-timber is an end-of-May distribution.

 

Investment interest – even though the interest rate dropped for the investment pool to  1.00%  there has been some slight gain.

 

Community and Planning Development, second page line 12, shows a negative number indicating down by $43,000 the entire month, although a positive $54,000 YTD.    It is the only negative number on that page and she will check with the Department and report back to the Board. 

 

Auditor.   Suzanne Sinclair, Island County Auditor, submitted the Auditor’s written financial report for the period ending April, 2004, reporting that the percent-to-budget figure at this point  of the year is 33%  and Current Expense  Fund is right at  33% overall for both revenues and expenditures.  Revenue from other funds are lagging slightly, as are the expenditures.  Other notes of importance:

 

Dog control shows 41%  reflecting the fact that  licenses are due by April 30th as well as reflective of collection of   $11,826 in shelter fees.

 

County Mental Health, page 3, line 13, reflects  $94,841 from grant reimbursement 2003, the last part of the construction grant.

 

Line item 40 delinquent taxes 47% would appear to be a reflection of the Treasurer’s  efforts in collection of delinquent taxes.  Jail expenditures are at 41%  and  believed to represent higher food costs in the jail this year as well as the   retro payment.   For these two issues, she will provide further information to the Board after further review.

 

 

Public Input or Comments

 

Rufus Rose, continuing on with the discussion about a duress “panic” alarm button installation, believed further consideration should be given to the matter, and posed the following questions and suggestions:

 

Have there been threats or assaults such that warrants installing panic alarms?  What  constitutes a threat that would cause an employee to push a panic button, and what is the result of pushing the panic button?   What provisions are made if an employee pushed a panic alarm out of spite or a grudge against a member of the public?  If an employee feels  threatened and pushes the panic alarm, with no justification, what is proposed  to happen to the employee?  Did the Board consider using a looped  video such as 7-Eleven?

 

The Commissioners  advised that  various employees over time had asked for alarms and after discussing with Maintenance, the Board decided to go ahead and have the buttons installed.  If there is a threatening situation, the button would be pushed and a Sheriff’s deputy would respond, assess the situation and get it under control, and likely  take statements from both   Individual and the  employee.  There has to be a legitimate reason for the employee to feel danger or  threatened.   Commissioner  Shelton pointed out that the Board considered the most cost effective way possible.

 

Linda Riffe provided an example of an assault case that happened with an employee in her office. 

 

In the case of an assault Commissioner McDowell commented that  it would be up to the Sheriff’s Office  working with the Prosecutor that would decide whether or not to bring  criminal charges against the person who assaults an employee. 

 

HEARING HELD:  Franchise #46R – Renewal of existing water distribution system; June Beach Property Owners Association,  Plat of June Beach, South Whidbey

 

A Public Hearing was held at 10:20 a.m. as advertised, for the purpose of considering   Franchise #46R , renewal of an existing water distribution system by the  June Beach Property Owners Association in the Plat of June Beach located in  Sec. 35, Twp 30N, R 2E, South Whidbey.

 

Bill Oakes, Public Works Director, reported that all departments requested to comment had responded as having no objection to the proposal, and recommended granting the franchise as submitted.

 

No comments were made either for or against the franchise renewal by members of the public.

 

By unanimous motion, the Board approved Franchise #46R , renewal of an existing water distribution system by the  June Beach Property Owners Association in the Plat of June Beach located in  Sec. 35, Twp 30N, R 2E, South Whidbey.

 

There being no further business to come before the Board at this  time, the meeting adjourned at 10:22 a.m.    The next regular meeting of the Board will be held on May 24, 2004, beginning at 11:00 a.m.

 

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

                                                ISLAND COUNTY, WASHINGTON

 

 

 

                                                 ______________________________

                                                 William J. Byrd,     Chairman

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                _____________________________

                                                Mike Shelton,  Member

 

 

 

                                                _____________________________

                                                Wm. L. McDowell,   Member

 

 

 

 

 

ATTEST:    ____________­­­­­___________

Elaine Marlow

Clerk of the Board