BOARD OF ISLAND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MINUTES OF MEETING - MARCH 14, 2005

 

The Board of Island County Commissioners (including Diking Improvement District #4) met in Regular Session on  March 14, 2005,  9:30 a.m. in the   Island County  Annex Building Basement Hearing Room, 1 N. E. 6th Street, Coupeville, Wa.    Mike Shelton, Chairman, Wm. L. McDowell,  Member, and William J. Byrd,   Member, were present.    The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance.  By unanimous motion, the Board approved the minutes from March 7, 2005.

 

VOUCHERS AND PAYMENT OF BILLS

 

The following vouchers/warrants were approved for payment by unanimous motion of the Board:    Voucher (War.) #208361-208611 ………………………….. $883,005.14.

 

REAppointment TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE  ADVISORY BOARD

 

By unanimous motion, the Board  reappointed Kathy Habel, Freeland, to the Island County Substance Abuse Advisory Board for a term expiring April 1, 2008.

 

EMPLOYEE AWARDS

 

Service Awards

Susan Engstrom                                    Planning Dept.                10                      

Donna Hoyer                            Auditor’s Office              25                      

 

February Employee of the Month

Tamra Patterson, Planning Department, was selected Employee of the Month for February.  Tamra joined the County as a Plans Examiner and Building Inspector in October of 2000 and has been a valuable staff member in helping the public and providing prompt, courteous and cheerful service; a gifted problem solver,  takes the initiative to research questions and provide accurate and timely responses. 

 

Information Technology Purchase Primary Agreement  - STAte of Washington, Administrative Office of the Courts and Island County

 

Information Technology Purchase Primary Agreement between The State of Washington, Administrative Office of the Courts and Island County #RM-SC-05-0028 was approved by unanimous  motion of the Board, as submitted and recommended by Superior Court.  

 

Public Input or Comments

 

Adel Saba, Admiral’s Cove resident, Central Whidbey, noted the article in last week’s Whidbey News Times entitled “Property Taxes Due”  advising that   secure drop boxes are available for payment of property taxes located outside the Administration Building and  inside the Treasurer’s Office.  The article caught his attention because in April 2004 his wife deposited an  envelope with a check paying first half  property taxes  in the “secure box” inside the  Treasurer’s Office.  Noting the Treasurer’s Office had not cashed the check in four months, on checking with the  Treasurer’s Office was told they had not received the check.  The Sabas  had to put a stop payment on the check, and pay their taxes again with late payment penalty. Mr.  Saba does not believe there is a “safe box” and will now only

 

 

come to the Treasurer’s  counter in person and ask for a receipt.  He is  concerned about who oversees the operation and hoped  something could be done.

 

HEARING HELD:  Resolution #C-02-05/R-02-05 – FINAL ORDER OF VACATION  of a portion of County Road right-of-way known as Crosby Road

 

A Public Hearing was held, continued from February 14, 2005, to consider Resolution #C-02-05/R-02-05, Final Order of  Vacation of a portion of County Road right-of-way known as Crosby Road, located in  Sec. 28, Twp 33N., R 1E., W.M., petitioned by James and Clarice Taylor.

 

Bill Oakes, Public Works Director, stated that since February 14, 2005,  Public Works on further review now  recommends   vacation of a triangular portion of  property   adjoining  the Taylor’s  property as described in the  Final Order of Vacation and Map Exhibit “A”, subject to payment of $3,6526.46 (less $500.00 deposit),  reimbursement for costs of processing the vacation.    

 

The Taylors were present in support of the Final Order  of Vacation.  No others in the audience expressed  a desire to comment either for or against said action.

 

By unanimous motion, the Board approved Resolution #C-02-05/R-02-05, Final Order of  Vacation of a portion of County Road right-of-way known as Crosby Road, located in  Sec. 28, Twp 33N., R 1E., W.M., subject to the County being compensated by the property owner as recommended by the Public Works  Director.  [Resolution #C-02-05/R-02-05, Final Order of  Vacation on file with the Clerk of the Board]

 

HEARING HELD:  Resolution #C-01-05/R-01-05 –FINAL ORDER OF VACATION  of a portion of County Road right-of-way known as Howard Road and Bayview Road

 

A Public Hearing was held, continued from February 28, 2005, on Resolution #C-01-05/R-01-05, Final Order of Vacation of a  portion of County Road right-of-way known as Howard Road and Bayview Road, located in  Sec. 17, Twp 29N, R 3E., W.M,  petitioned  by  Ed and Marge Gemkow, Meptor, LLC et. al. 

 

Mr. Oakes reported in favor of the vacation at the corner of Howard and Bayview Road.  The map included with the material represents vacating one half of the existing County right of way to the larger parcel, subject to the County receiving $4,205.00 (less $500.00 deposit) for costs and expenses incurred in the proceedings, and that Island County receive an executed and recorded Quit Claim Deed in  exchange for an additional  ten feet of right of way on Howard Road. 

 

At the time of hearing, no one in the audience spoke either for or against said vacation.

 

By unanimous motion, the Board approved Resolution #C-01-05/R-01-05, Final Order of Vacation of a  portion of County Road right-of-way known as Howard Road and Bayview Road, located in  Sec. 17, Twp 29N, R 3E., W.M,  subject to the two conditions stated by the Public Works Director.

[Final order of vacation to be signed on compliance with the two conditions]

 

HEARING HELD:  Resolution #C-03-05/R-03-05 – In the Matter of Closure of a Portion of Old Cornet Bay Road

 

A Public Hearing was held, continued from February 28, 2005  on Resolution #C-03-05/R-03-05 In the Matter of Closure of a Portion of Old Cornet Bay Road located in Section 35, Township 34 North, Range 1 East, W.M. 

 

At the time of hearing, several interested citizens attended, including:   Trisha and Captain John Aydelotte and J. A. Aydelotte, along with several County staff from Public Works Department.

 

Mr. Oakes advised that as directed by the Board at the last hearing, County Engineering  staff coordinated with Washington State Department of Transportation  (WSDOT)  and conducted a public  meeting  held at the Environmental Learning Center at Cornet Bay  the evening of March 9th.  Approximately 15 citizens  attended the meeting, along with County and WSDOT staff.  The proposal  looks to improve the 5-way intersection of the highway, a high accident location with some 75 accidents in a 7 year period, mostly rear-end accidents with high severity of injuries. To do that requires realigning SR 20,  dropping the  grade of the road, straightening out the curve somewhat.  The road shifts about 17 feet to the east and drops about 10 to 12 feet. Cannot leave a skewed intersection.   If the County vacates Old Cornet Bay Road as proposed in today’s resolution,  Mr.Oakes confirmed that the County in fact does not give up ownership of the right of way; there just will not be access to SR 20.  

 

Mr. Oakes reviewed  by way of display posted on the wall five alternatives WSDOT pursued and considered:     

 

1.         Leave everything where it is and realign  the road, adding left turn lane between the two intersections.  For  engineering reasons this alternative is not  recommended because (1)  creates a  turning conflict which is not  preferred with modern engineering standards; (2) a 3-way intersection has a problem with north bound right turn conflict.

2.         Realign Deception Circle to align with Ducken Road.  This alternative would take at  least one home in the development and there is a  high degree of uncertainty about replacing the water source for all 60 houses; also the  north bound right turn conflict would remain.

3.         Shift Deception Circle  intersection to half way between the two Cornet alignments.  This alternative spreads out the left turn conflict but  leaves a  right turn conflict and does not meet intersection spacing requirements.  

4.         Realign Ducken Road to the Deception Circle intersection.  Also looked  at connecting Old Cornet Bay Road back into Ducken Road, closing a portion of Old Cornet Bay Road but making  the connection at a different location.  This alternative adds one-half million dollars to the project.

5.        WSDOT recommended option is to realign Ducken Road to Deception Circle;  close access from Old Cornet Bay Road to SR 20; provide a right turn  lane from SR 20 north onto Cornet Bay Road.

 

Summarizing from the March 9th meeting, Mr. Oakes believed  consensus of  the citizens generally was

that they would like to see the connection of Old Cornet Bay Road with Ducken Road to provide a second route south on the Island. 

 

John Aydelotte, Sr.,  5145 Jefferson Place  (Cornet Bay Heights) Oak Harbor,  agreed that the 200+ residents  in the Cornet Bay, as well as emergency vehicles, need  an alternate ingress and egress without  having to use  SR 20.   The  alternate discussed  on one of the diagrams would provide the ability to get from the Cornet Bay community south bound to Oak Harbor without using SR 20.    He believed  DOT did a good job of studying alternatives but had not gone far enough.   He noted that on  Ducken Road there is the golf course and four houses before reaching the gun shop and believed that  closing Ducken Road made  sense to the 200+ residents northeast of there.

 

 

Captain John Aydelotte, 221 Cornet Bay Road, Oak Harbor, submitted  a copy of the original right of way deed to Island County for Old Cornet Bay Road filed on March 20, 1913, containing the stipulation  “to have and hold for purposes of public road forever” [copy on file with the Clerk of the Board].  His belief was the safest option – closing  Ducken Road – had not received serious consideration.  If  WSDOT  moved both  Deception Loop access and re-diverted  Ducken Road to the stop light, an already controlled intersection,  there would be no need  to move Oak Harbor’s waterline or  change the grade.   Cornet Bay Road is not an accident location; there are no rear end accidents from leaving the

highway.   He believed too that it only made  sense to provide an alternate access to Cornet Bay Road, noting that it is not  uncommon that EMS needs  access to Cornet Bay Road; diverting  EMS to a stop light still takes time. 

 

In response to a question from Chairman Shelton,  Mr. Oakes confirmed  State law provides that WSDOT cannot utilize park land if there is a feasible  alternative [subdivision abuts the Park].  Legally now there are  two ways into Cornet Bay; one way out.   He noted that typically right of way for a new road is half the expense.

 

Commissioner McDowell observed that  even though there may have been  no  rear-end accidents when exiting off the highway onto  Cornet Bay Road  the whole system in that area certainly has a lot of accidents, 98 in the last nine years.

 

With regard to the potential connection to tie in  Old Cornet Bay Road with Ducken Road [or somewhere in the vicinity], on recommendation of Commissioner McDowell, the Board directed the

Public Works Director  look at that  possibility  during  review of the County’s  six year road program to see how that would stack up from the standpoint of engineering,  circulation and  need.    It is a relatively heavily populated area and folks have a valid point; the  County usually tries to provide two accesses even to small plats. 

 

Commissioner Byrd reluctantly moved approval of Resolution #C-03-05/R-03-05 In the Matter of Closure of a Portion of Old Cornet Bay Road located in Section 35, Township 34 North, Range 1 East, W.M., with the direction to County Road staff as stated, to  look at the feasibility of  reconnecting Old Cornet Bay Road  with Ducken Road.     Motion, seconded by Commissioner McDowell, carried unanimously.  [Resolution #C-03-05/R-03-05 In the Matter of Closure of a Portion of Old Cornet Bay Road 0n file with the Clerk of the Board].

 

Final Approval of  PLP 328/04  Tee-SIDE LANE

 

Mitzi Hall, Planner, submitted Final Approval of  PLP 328/04 Tee-Side Lane, by SWDC, Inc., the final five-lot subdivision in the Rural Residential zone located at the corner of Antelope Drive and Spinnaker Drive on Whidbey Island, Wa., in the NW Part of Section 3, Township 29 North, Range 2 East, W.M. Assessor's Parcel Number S7165-08-04029-0 & S7165-08-0000C-3.   The Hearing Examiner’s approval is dated  January 3, 2005.

 

By unanimous motion the Board approved and signed Final  PLP 328/04 for Tee-Side Lane as presented.

 

 
 
Executive Session

 

Chairman Shelton announced that the Board would meet at 11:15 a.m. in Executive Session as  allowed under RCW 42.30.110(i)  to discuss with legal counsel potential litigation, anticipating that the meeting would last approximately one-half hour, with no announcement afterwards.  The  Executive Session was held in the  Commissioners Conference Room #218, County  Administration Building. 

 

 GOVERNING BODY OF STANWOOD/CAMANO ISLAND LIBRARY CAPITAL FACILITY AREA

 

Note:  At 4:00 p.m.,  Island County Camano Multipurpose Center, 141 N. East Camano Drive, Camano Island, the governing body of Stanwood-Camano Island Library Capital Facility Area will meet in special session   to conduct a public hearing on a proposed resolution  to dissolve the Stanwood Camano Island Library Capital Facility Area.    (The governing body consists of the three members of the Board of Island County Commissioners and  three of the five members of the Snohomish County Council.)

 

There being no further business to come before the Board at this  time, the meeting adjourned on conclusion of the  Executive Session at 11:45 a.m.     The next regular meeting of the Board will be on March 21, 2005  at   9:30 a.m.

 

                                             BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

                                             ISLAND COUNTY, WASHINGTON

 

 

                                                 ______________________________

                                                 Mike Shelton,    Chairman

                                                      

                                                                                                       

         _____________________________

                                             Wm. L. McDowell,  Member

 

                                                                                                                                           ____________________________

                                              William J. Byrd,   Member

 

 

ATTEST:    ____________­­­­­___________

Elaine Marlow, Clerk of the Board