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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM112111 District No.1 Commissioner: Phil Johnson District No.2 Commissioner: David W. Sullivan District No.3 Commissioner: John Austin County Administrator: Philip Morley Clerk of the Board: Elizabeth Hill MINUTES Week of November 21, 2011 Chairman John Austin called the meeting to order at the appointed time in the presence of Commissioner David Sullivan and Commissioner Phil Johnson. PUBUC COMMENT PERIOD: The following are a summary of comments made by citizens in attendance at the meeting and reflect their personal opinions: . One citizen accused another citizen of alleged untruthfuIness last week and this behavior may cause liability; . The ranger Station and Brinnon Community Center will be selling Holiday Tree Permits; the grand opening for the Quilcene gas station will be December 3; . Half of a Full Time Employee (FTE) will be cut from the Sheriff's Department budget and this should not be done as Proposition I was passed under the pretense that staff would not be cut; action should be taken to ban plastic bags and plastic water bottles; . A citizen asked the Board to have a policy for public comment period so fairness can be applied; . We could have a short term ice age while going through a long term global warming stage; the European banking system is about to implode; a nuclear war is close to breaking out; earthquake season is December through March and we should be prepared; . Jefferson County could set an example for the county by not applying for grants to help the national financial crisis; theft is on the rise and the Sheriff's office staff cannot be cut; and . In order to charge someone with slander, it must be proved what was said is false; rules need to be made for public comment period so everyone can abide by them. APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF CONSENT AGENDA: Commissioner Sullivan moved to approve all items on the Consent Agenda as presented. Commissioner Johnson seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. 1. HEARING NOTICE: 2012 Budget; Hearing Set for December 5, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. in the Commissioners' Chambers 2. RESOLUTION NO. 54-11: Create a County Project No. CR1899; Snow Creek Road Culvert Rep1acementMP 3.78 3. AGaEEMENT, Amendment No.2: 2012 - 2014 Auditing Services for Jefferson County Rural Library District; In the Amount of $5,000.00; Jefferson County Auditor; Jefferson County Rural Library 4. Authorization Letter: Offer to Purchase 30.43 Acres (APN 602344015 and 602344023) of Coone Property; Located on the Dosewallips Floodplain for Salmon Recovery Purposes; In the Amount of$183,000.00; Jefferson County Public Health; Verla Coone 5. Advisory Board Appointment: Jefferson County Developmental Disabilities Advisory Board; Three (3) Year Term Expires November 21,2014; Ludwig Becker Page 1 Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of November 21, 2011 .'." ,.,- " 6. Payment of Jefferson County VoucherslWarrants: Dated November 14, 2011 Totaling $1,118,422.42 COMMISSIONERS BRIEFING SESSION: The Commissioners each provided updates on the following items: Chairman Austin reported he attended a Developmental Disabilities Advisory Board meeting last week and will be attending the Washington State Board of Health Environmental conference call this week. Commissioner Sullivan attended a IIlemorial service and reported Olympic Community Actions Program's Board meeting was canceled. Commissioner Johnson attended an Exploratory Regional Parks and Rec Committee meeting, a Coastal Caucus meeting and a legislative steering committee meeting last week. HEARING: Setting the 2012 Ad Valorem Tax Levies/or Jefferson County Levy in 2011 and Collection in 2012: County Administrator Morley stated it is recommended to increase the levy 1 % for the Jefferson County General Fund Levy, Jefferson County Road Levy and the Jefferson County Conservation Futures Tax Levy. The County has made a reduction by 2% in expenditures for the General Fund because of the rising costs of existing services. Assessor Jack Westerman stated the levy rates are a calculation of the levy amount by the levy rates being divided by the tax base. Current expense for the General Fund is down about $100,000.00 from last year and roads are up $279,500.00 which is combination from the levy shift and the 1 % in new construction. New construction helps the County sustain services already provided because of growth. The Chairman opened the hearing for public testimony. Tom Thiersch: There are discrepancies in all of the resolutions and the transmittal memo. For example, on the Conservation Futures resolution it states the levy says its to be $207,050.00 and on the transmittal memo it says $210,000.00. He does not understand how the road levy is $4 million and how it corresponds with the tens of millions of dollars that are spent on roads. It would be helpful if there could be an explanation. Charlie Bernnett: He asked: 1) Are the City tax and the County tax separate? And 2) Is the City only covering those in the City? The Chairman closed the hearing for public testimony. Mr. Westerman stated the reason the resolution amounts don't match the amounts on the transmittal is because the resolution amounts do not include new construction, refunds or increase of utilities. The resolutions are only listing the 1 %. The levy rates are calculated separately per district City residents have a rate for their General Fund and EMS and a levy rate for the County General Fund and Conservation Futures. The County Road levy is paid only by residents outside of the Port Townsend City limits. They also do not pay the Library levy. Anne Sears stated on the County web site there is a narrative on the County Road fund that has a lot of information on how the money is spent. Page 2 Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of November 21,2011 Commissioner Johnson moved to approve RESOLUTION NO. 55-11 increasing the Jefferson County General Fund Levy for 2012 taxes. Commissioner Sullivan seconded the motion which carried by a nnllnimous vote. Commissioner Sullivan moved to approve RESOLUTION NO. 56-11 increasing the Jefferson County Road Levy for 2012 taxes. Commissioner Johnson secQnded the motion which carried by a nnllnimous vote. Commissioner Johnson moved to approve RESOLUTION NO. 57-11 increasing the Jefferson County Conservation Futures Tax Levy for 2012 taxes. Commissioner Sullivan seconded the motion which carried by a nnllnimous vote. Commissioner Sullivan moved to approve the letter to the Assessor regarding the 2012 real and personal property levy amounts. Commissioner Johnson seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. HEARING: Emergency Budget Appropriations/Extensions; Various County Departments: County Administrator Morley stated after the third quarter budget appropriations were completed, there were some billings that came in for Superior Court that needed a budget extension before the scheduled fourth quarter budget extensions. Aune Sears, Budget Consultant, reviewed the appropriation requests from Superior Court, Economic Development, Law Library and Equipment Rental and the Revolving fund. Chairman Austin opened the hearing for public testimony. Tom Thiersch: $328,000.00 is being appropriated after the fact for Jeffcom expenditures already spent. Hopefully expenditures are approved before the money is spent. The use of the word emergencies in this resolution is inappropriate, He would like to know if there is an RCW or County regulation that requires the use of that word. Is it because of policy, custom, habit or the law? Because ifits not an emergency then do not call it an emergency. Cleaning up the books to account for expenditures is not an emergency. He is opposed to spending more money on Team Jefferson in the amount of$17,208.00 of unanticipated expenditures for professional services. Fred Davis (aka Mike Belenksi): Professional services can be a scam, what is the County getting for $17,000.00? There are people that work here and get paid for work and do not do what they are supposed to. The County seems to be paying a lot of money and not receiving anything back. In 2004 Court Commissioner A and Court Commissioner B got paid $50,000.00 a year for nothing. He would like a break down of what expenses the $17,000 was used for rather than a lump sum. Is there a contract for this? That way he could see if the standards are being met as stated in a contract. Donna Eldridge. County Auditor: The loan for $328,000.00 is going through this process so there is transparency. The Auditor and Treasurer offices will be working together in regards to when an instance like this comes again and to resolve why this was necessary to happen. Chairman Austin closed the hearing for public testimony. Ms. Sears stated the loan was approved at a previous Board meeting and the Auditor had requested it go through an appropriation process. Commissioner Johnson moved to approve RESOLUTION NO. 58- 11 approving emergency budget appropriations/extensions for various County Departments. Commissioner Sullivan seconded the motion which carried by a nnllnimous vote. Page 3 Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of November 21, 2011 Transmittal of Recommended 2012 Jefferson County Budget: County Administrator Morley made a presentation of the recommended 2012 Jefferson County Budget and stated the complete recommended budget would be on the County web site later today. The meeting was recessed at 11: 17 a.m. and reconvened at 1 :35 p.m. with all three Commissioners present. COUNTY ADMINlSTRATORBRIEFING SESSION: County Administrator Philip Morley reviewed the following with the Bollrli Washington State Department of Natural Resource County Income Report Calendar Coordination Budget Update Miscellaneous Items Future Agenda Items Commissioner Sullivan left the meeting at 4:00 p.m. NOTICE OF ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Johnson moved to adjourn at 4:01 p.m. until the properly noticed special meeting or the next regular meeting. Chairman Austin seconded the motion. The motion carried. JEFFERSON COUNTY ~MMmmo~ ~~ Raina Randall Deputy Clerk of the Board Philb:t~ David Sullivan, Member Page 4