HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-05-09Board’s Official Business
Highlights from Monday’s Commissioner Meeting May 5, 2009
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: The following
comments were made by citizens: One citizen
feels that staffing levels in the IT Department are
higher than the School District that has 800 staff
and one IT position and he acknowledged that
one position is too few, but feels that 7 is too
many; another citizen read quotes from the 2004
Comprehensive Plan economic element
regarding local government, the economic
problems in the County, and the need to prepare
for unexpected events; a man who has been in
business in the County for 30 years said that he
feels the security industry should be a good
business for this County and he urged the Board
to allow him to stay in the business that fits the
history of this area; another citizen stated that
people that aren't affected by the regulations are
aggressively promoting channel migration zones;
and another citizen stated that no one knows
what the statement "no net loss" means in the
Shoreline Management Master Program and the
citizens are tired of the control that a minority
group holds to make sure that they can take
wealth away from others; and a citizen stated
that he feels the County does not keep a
comprehensive index of all County documents.
CONSENT AGENDA: The Board approved all of
the items on the Consent Agenda.
2 RESOLUTIONS: 1) Establishing Access For
County Employees to the County Courthouse;
and 2) De-Annexation of Property from Water
District No. 3 (Coyle); William W. Thomas
4 AGREEMENTS: 1) E911 Program;
Washington State Military Department,
Emergency Management Division; 2) Upper Hoh
Road MP 7.7 to MP 8.0 Emergency Repair
Project; Washington State Department of
Transportation; 3) Upper Hoh Road MP 4.0
Emergency Repair Project; W ashington State
Department of Transportation; and 4) Upper Hoh
Road MP 9.70 to MP 9.80 Emergency Repair
Project; Washington State Department of
Transportation
Payment of Vouchers/Warrants Dated April 27,
2009 Totaling $170,820.13
COMMISSIONER’S BRIEFING: Commissioner
Austin reported:
*David Turisini and the staff of Jefferson
Transit deserve a pat on the back for the job
they have done getting people across the Hood
Canal now that the bridge is closed for repair.
*The Health Department's Visiting Nursing
Program got the first monetary award from the
Giving Circle.
*There was a ribbon cutting at the Visitors Center
at Highway 104 for the building that has been
turned into a very credible museum.
Philip Morley, County Administrator stated:
*Last Friday the County implemented budget
reductions totaling around $400,000 as part of
the series of reductions over the next few
months and included an hourly or salary
reduction to staff.
*Courthouse hours for the public have been
reduced to 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
*County staff with the help of Commissioner
Sullivan continue to track the DOE in-stream
flow rule to see what can be done to influence it
for agriculture and the viability of properties.
Presentation and Update on Team Jefferson:
WSU Extension Director Katherine Baril, Bill Wise
and other members of Team Jefferson updated the
Board on the economic development work being
done by this committee on behalf of the County.
Update: Hoh Indian Tribe: Alexis Berry, Executive
Director of the Hoh Tribe and several members and
staff updated the Board on the Tribe’s activities to
acquire property and funding to relocate their Tribal
Center out of the flood plain and to develop a
regional EMS and Safety response facility in the
area.
Revisions to the Critical Areas Ordinance: After
review of the draft findings, the Board directed staff
to finalize an ordinance with the amended finding
statements discussed and put this on the agenda
for approval next week.
Update on Swine Flu in Jefferson County: Julia
Danskin, Public Health reported that the State of
Washington has sent 35 lab tests to the Center for
Disease Control but none of those were from
Jefferson County. Everyone needs to practice good
safety techniques including washing their hands or
using hand sanitizer often, covering their mouths
when coughing and staying home if they are sick.