BOARD OF ISLAND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MINUTES OF MEETING - DECEMBER 13,
2004
The Board of Island County Commissioners (including
Diking Improvement District #4) convened in Regular Session on December 13, 2004 at 9:30 a.m. in the Island County Courthouse Annex, Hearing
Room, 1 N. E. 6th Street, Coupeville, Wa. Mike Shelton, Member, and
Wm. L. McDowell, Member, were present. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance. William J.
Byrd, Chairman, was not present at the
opening of the meeting because of his participation as a member of the
Canvassing Board, but arrived at the meeting during the review and approval of
vouchers and payment of bills.
VOUCHERS
AND PAYMENT OF BILLS; APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The following vouchers/warrants were approved for
payment by unanimous motion of the Board:
Voucher (War.) #202662-202980 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . $757,879.12.
By unanimous motion, the Board approved the minutes
from the December 6, 2004 meeting.
By unanimous motion, as forwarded by Don Meehan, WSU
Cooperative Extension Agent, the Board approved the following contract
amendments:
G0500052 Amendment
#1 [RM-EXT-04-0117] Department of Ecology to include requirements to follow
Federal accounting guidelines
G0400240 Amendment #1 [RM-EXT-04-0118] Department of
Ecology to include requirements to follow Federal accounting guidelines
Professional Services Agreement, Amendment #2 [RM-EXT-04-0119]– Sound Hydrogeology for GIS mapping work - amendment to change scope of work to add 2
working days and add $200 for additional work with eelgrass
mapping
Cathy Snowden, Probation
Aide, Juvenile and Family Court Services, received the Employee of the Month
for November 2004, a
dedicated professional, always looking
for different and innovative ways to provide opportunities to interest and
enrich the youngsters she helps.
·
Special Recognition - West Beach Road Project
Doug
Holbert - Project Engineer
Mary
Martin - Rights-of-Way Technician
David
Hahn - Survey Party Chief
Ben
Larcena - Engineering Design Technician
Jerry
Helm - Engineering Drafting Technician
·
Special Recognition presented by
Martha M. Rose, Executive Director, Island Transit
to
Public Works employees Joe Araucto, Larry Frostad and Roger Edwards -
Camano Island Terry’s Corner Park & Ride
Lot Project.
General Services
Administration
·
Betty Kemp, Director,
GSA – Certificate of Completion
Recognizing Ms. Kemp as a
Certified Public Official for completing the prescribed
CPO coursework
By unanimous motion, the Board appointed Mark Mouw, Coupeville, to serve on the Housing Authority of Island County for a five year term to expire December 6, 2009.
By unanimous motion, the Board approved Amendment No. 3 with Total Living Concept to increase contract amount using millage funds to subcontract with Village Community Services for back-up support as needed for Developmental Disabilities/Person to Person Program Services, Contract # HS-06-03 [RM-HLTH-98-0004] amendment in the amount of $5,000 for total new contract amount of
$36,283.00.
Briggs Ekrem,
962 Terry Heights Lane, Camano Island,
commented concerning a proposed franchise for Terry’s Heights by David Platter to dump 11,000 gallons of
sewage on eight acres adjoining private wells.
Residents do not want to risk their ground water, and want assurance
that the thin ribbon of gravel does not connect to their water tables. His two 5-acre parcels are glacial till down to about 250’; sewage water will
flow sideways through the glacial till
and that is a concern. He
believes that government needs to stand
up and say that the time is overdue for a comprehensive sewage treatment plant so ground water is no longer threatened. [written
comments provided and placed on file with the Clerk of the Board].
Frank Schmidt, 930 Terry
Heights Lane, Camano Island, registered
concern that potential dumping of
sewage in this area at the bottom of the road would impact the well he ultimately will have to drill and cautioned
that the County look close before granting approval.
Dick Snyder, County Engineer, pointed out that at 10:20 a.m. a public hearing today was scheduled to consider the cancellation of a franchise by David Platter at Terry’s Corner, a franchise that was never completed from Terry’s Corner where a shopping center was proposed in the late Nineties, to Terry’s Heights. He is cognizant of a new franchise proposal from Good Road following the highway towards Terry’s Heights, but the Department has not yet received the application.
Jane Cassidy, 986 Terry Heights Lane, Camano Island, realized the application had not been submitted or approved but wanted the County to know the neighboring property owners are concerned and want to be involved in the process. The well report for her lot shows 48’ of hard pan even before hitting clay. She read Doug Kelly’s concerns and want to make sure those concerns are resolved. The community wants to be involved in the process before the matter comes to the Board for approval.
Ursula Scymetzer, 1077 Terry Heights Lane, Camano Island, spoke against having a commercial septic system next door and was very concerned about the quality of her well water. She was concerned that Mr. Platter’s proposed commercial development on Highway 523 could bring thousands of gallons of wastewater into the residential neighborhood and was concerned how that would affect the wetland, and
would the Health Department give her a guarantee that her water would not be contaminated. [letter submitted for the record and placed on file with the Clerk of the Board].
Paul Herzog, 935 Terry Heights Lane, Camano Island, expressed the same concerns as previous speakers who live on Terry Heights Lane.
Karl Neue-Lawson, 366 E. North Camano Drive, Camano Island, residing in the same neighborhood on Camano Island as previous speakers, attended today’s meeting in Coupeville to express opposition to plans for the Platter development. It was his hope that the State or County would do a hydrological study and not just accept what Mr. Platter puts forth. He plans an organized opposition to the proposal and be politically vocal. He found it hard to believe that eight acres can handle all that sewage when others have to put in special systems.
Carl Neue, 351 Ridge Lawn Place, Camano Island, became aware of the possibilities from the proposed hotel, and is interesting in knowing what is going on. He is not against development and aware it is necessary, realizing the population calls for it not just in Island County but the country as a whole, but should be done responsibly with adequate provisions for services including roads, water, sewer. Development at any cost is not needed.
Terry Jo Smith and Lori Hilleary, South Whidbey, addressed problems Ms. Smith encountered when inquiring about the property she purchased the end of March this year. The car port according to the building inspection she paid for was built at the same time as the house, but Planning records show it was never permitted, and built as recently as 2002. Ms. Smith wants to cooperate with the County and understand how there could be such a discrepancy, but needs assistance with difficulties she is now experiencing when trying to enclose the outside of the carport.
Commissioner Shelton agreed to check into the matter and get back in touch with Ms. Smith.
HEARING HELD:
Cancellation of Franchise #304 -
David R. Platter - Sewer Franchise North Camano Drive/Sunrise Blvd.
At 10:20 a.m. as advertised, Chairman Byrd opened a Public Hearing for the purpose of considering the cancellation of Franchise #304 by David R. Platter, a Sewer Franchise located on North Camano Drive/Sunrise Blvd.; Sec. 19/20, Twp 32N., R 3E.
Bill Oakes, Public Works Director, reiterated the recommendation of cancellation based on the comments of the County Engineer as outlined in letter to the Board dated November 29, 2004:
1. Mr. Platter never provided Island County with proof of ownership of property outlined in
Franchise. Therefore, the franchise was not presented to Mr. Platter for acceptance.
2. There has been no authorized construction since the franchise was granted on 5 April 1999.
Condition No. 11 of Franchise #304 states “the construction that is authorized through the
granting of this franchise shall be commenced within one year from the date hereof;
otherwise the franchise shall be null and void and terminated upon notice as provided by
law.”.
3. Following the procedure outlined in Section 7 of franchise #304, notification was made to David R. Platter on November 15, 2004 by certified mail. Notification of the public hearing was published in the Whidbey News Times November 24, 2004 and December 1, 2004 and the Stanwood/Camano News November 30, 2004 with the last publication being 10 days prior to the hearing on December 13, 2004.
Karl Neue-Lawson, 366 E. North Camano Drive, Camano Island, spoke in support of cancellation of the franchise.
No other comments were made for or against franchise cancellation.
By unanimous motion, the Board approved cancellation of Franchise #304 as recommended.
CONSTRUCTION EASEMENTS AND QUIT CLAIM DEEDS APPROVED - BAYVIEW ROAD
PROJECT - CRP 98-17
As presented and recommended by Mr. Oakes, the Board approved the following Construction Easements and Quit Claim Deeds associated with Bayview Road Project CRP 98-17:
Construction Easement
PW-0420-21 between Island County and
James E. Price,
Parcel 019-0120; Sec. 8, Twp 29N, R 3E.
Construction Easement
PW-0420-38 between Island County and
James B. & Iladeene G. Leierer,
Parcel 097-1`1840; Sec 5, Twp
29N, R 3E.
Quit Claim Deed between Island County and James E. Price in the
amount of $5,043.00 for land;
Parcel 019-0120, Sec. 8, Twp 29N, R 3E.
Quit Claim Deed between Island County and James B. & Iladeene G.
Leierer in the amount of
$3,969.00 for land; Parcel
097-1840, Sec. 5, Twp 29N, R 3E.
At 10:35 a.m. the Chairman opened a Public Hearing, continued from December 6, 2004, on the following 2005 budget resolution and ordinances:
Resolution
C- 92
-04 Adopting the Island County
Budget and Diking District #4
Budget for Fiscal
Year 2005
Ordinance
C- 93
-04 Increasing the Taxing
District’s Prior Year’s Levy Amount for
Collection in
Fiscal Year 2005 for the County Current Expense Levy
Ordinance C-
94 -04 Increasing the Taxing District’s Prior Year’s Levy Amount for
Collection in
Fiscal Year 2005 for the County Roads Levy
Ordinance C-
95 -04 Increasing the Taxing District’s Prior Year’s Levy Amount for
Collection in
Fiscal Year 2005 for the County Conservation Futures Levy
At the time of hearing the audience contained two representatives of the press, several citizens, Elected Officials and Department Heads.
The 2005
List of Supplemental Requests dated 12/6/04 @ 8:33 a.m. was
incorporated into the documents by the Budget Director as instructed by
the Board, with corresponding changes
and additions to the budget to reflect
those items. Elaine Marlow, Budget
Director, reported that the 2005 budget
basically was a status quo budget, totaling approximately $69 million for all funds and programs, of which
almost $45 million forecast to be spent
on public health, safety and transportation.
Overall the 2005 budget
continues existing programs in most departments. As in previous years, the
largest category of expenditures continues to be employee salaries and benefits.
The budget includes approximately 411 full time employees, of which 53% work in departments directly responsible for
public health, safety and transportation.
Major sources of revenue continue to be property tax, sales tax, state
and federal assistance. There are
no increases in fee schedules proposed or included in the 2005
budget. The three ordinances reflect
property tax levy increases budgeted at
the statutory 1% increase plus approximately a little less than 3% for the
value of new construction.
Richard Bryan, Coupeville, inquired as to what
alternatives had been considered when deciding to raise levy rates 1%; what would happen if the levy rates were not approved, and what were the key initiatives
the Board has under way to ensure that
levy rates will not increase a year from now.
He was interested as well about
what can be done to move forward
with technology; Central Services is working on a plan with a target delivery
date mid-February, thus probably looking two years out to start having any
impact.
In response, the Budget
Director noted that the main
alternative considered was reduction of programs. The levy rates in the general fund account for less than
$60,000 out of a 20 million dollar budget.
The Board considered and in the end approved some additional funding, for example, senior services; on the other hand, the ROPES program out of WSU was not funded.
With regard to the roads
levy, Commissioner Shelton explained that
road funds are used to maintain
the existing County road system; if the 1% is not taken the consideration would
require that the maintenance seal coat program be shortened
up to accommodate the decreased revenue. It is the responsibility of the County
to maintain roads in a reasonable way
to avoid the greater cost of having to rebuild roads.
Commissioner McDowell
pointed out that prior to passage of I-747 counties and cities could opt for up
to 6%., though this Board did not always take the full 6%. Even at the 1% levy rate, the dollar figure
does not cover just the increased costs of doing business, employee COLAS,
health care costs, gas, mailing, etc. and with the inflationary costs of doing business he believed that for the
foreseeable future the rate would go up 1%.
As Commissioner Shelton
noted, in addition to I-747
limiting property tax I-695 passed that had a dramatic impact upon local government. The
budget represents a restoration to a small degree of some of the cuts
made several years ago; added an employee for the Assessor, WSU Extension
Services, added dollars to Senior Services; allocated small increases for indigent defense contract and animal control
contract.
Reese Rose, Clinton, reminded that when I-747 was voted in the voters were trying to convince government that taxpayers had reached a limit and were not able to bear an ever-increasing property tax.
Commissioner McDowell clarified that the Board was not lifting any levy lid, rather taking the 1% increase as allowed.
Ms. Rose asked what was the overwhelming need to
increase 1% levy lid with Conservation
Futures, especially having heard each Commissioner say at various times there
has to be some limit as to what property the County continues to acquire without
having the ability to maintain it.
Commissioner Shelton stated
that Conservation Futures clearly was different than
other budgets. He did say previously that
Island County needs to determine
at what point it owns enough. There
are still many people who believe the conservation of certain properties in terms of open
space is a good thing for the quality of life.
It is a question of balancing, and one he continues to struggle with.
As a point of information Ms. Marlow commented that by
state law the Conservation Futures levy is set at 6-1/4% and that is what the
ordinance addresses, the same rate that has been taken in past years. It is not considered a regular levy in the
sense that the RCWs define a regular levy.
Spending is not being exceeded beyond what is allowed by State law.
On unanimous
motion the Board adopted Resolution
C-92-04 Adopting the Island County Budget and Diking District #4 Budget for Fiscal Year 2005; Ordinance C-93 -04 Increasing the Taxing District’s
Prior Year’s Levy Amount for Collection
in Fiscal Year 2005 for the County Current Expense Levy; Ordinance C- 94-04
Increasing the Taxing District’s Prior Year’s Levy Amount for Collection in Fiscal Year 2005 for the
County Roads Levy; and Ordinance C-95
-04 Increasing the Taxing District’s Prior Year’s Levy Amount for Collection in
Fiscal Year 2005 for the County Conservation Futures Levy.
[resolution
and ordinances placed on file with the
Clerk of the Board]
There being no further business to come before the Board at this time, the meeting adjourned at 11:06
a.m. The next regular meeting of the
Board will be held on December 20, 2004 at
9:30 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