The Okanogan County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on April 4, 2005, with Chairman Mary Lou Peterson, Commissioner Don Hover and Brenda Crowell, Clerk of the Board present. Commissioner Lampe absent on personal business.

Executive Session – Litigation - Commissioners
Commissioner Hover moved to go into executive session for 10 minutes at 9:50 AM to discuss potential litigation. Motion was seconded and carried.

Open Session resumed at 10:00 AM

Discussion – Title II Applications – Tonasket & Methow Forest Service
Mark Morris and John Newcomb

Mark Morris explained a new process for forest planning saying that they are no longer doing the full NEPA process. This will reduce the time involved in revising the forest plan. There will be more public meetings involved in the new process. The Okanogan-Wenatchee Forest Plan should be completed in another 20 months. The Commissioners were asked to prioritize the list of Title II Forest projects. Commissioner Peterson expressed concern about weed control and asked that the funds actually go on the ground instead of salaries. Her second and third priorities would be natural resources and then recreational trails. The board decided their priorities as follows:

1. Weed Maintenance MV Ranger District
2. Weed Project – Tonasket District
3. Upper Methow WUI Mechanical Fuels Reduction
4. Road Resurface Loup Loup Road
5. Culbertson Rural Interface Fuels
6. Lake Chelan Trails
7. Salmon Creek Troths
8. Outhouse Projects
9. Fencing
10. Trail Signage

Commissioner Peterson stated that she believes that safety in the forest should be the number one concern and then water issues. Commissioner Hover will discuss the salmon recovery projects with Julie Pyper to see if there is other funding available.

Resolution – Supplemental Appropriation – Vehicle Reserve Fund
Commissioner Peterson opened the hearing and called for public testimony. No comments were given. Commissioner Hover moved to approve Resolution in the amount of $14,000. Motion was seconded and carried. (attached)

Executive Session – Personnel – Human Resources
Commissioner Hover moved to go into executive session at 1:15 PM for 30 minutes to discuss a personnel issue. Motion was seconded and carried.

Open Session resumed at 1:45 PM

Discussion – SEPA Process – Methow Watershed Plan – Water Resources
Julie Pyper and Heidi Appel

The Planning Unit approved the plan in August. The Watershed Plan has to go through the SEPA process. The GAP Analysis has been completed. Need to do a lead agency determination. Develop a MOU with DOE which will require a formal letter. Commissioner Hover asked about the downside to being co-lead with DOE. Heidi Appel explained that this would allow us to just attach the GAP Analysis to DOE’s EIS. The benefit would be that DOE has to defend their EIS.