The Okanogan County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on December 20, 2005, with Chairman Mary Lou Peterson, Commissioner Andrew Lampe, Commissioner Don Hover and Brenda Crowell, Clerk of the Board present.

Discussion – Salmon Recovery / Watershed Planning – Planning
Nick Christoph briefed the Commissioners on recent meetings that he attended.

Discussion – Bond for New Shop – Public Works
Rob McGaughey, Del Shove

Del presented an estimated indebtedness for a bond at 4.31% to fund several needed construction and renovation projects. His recommendation is to pay back the indebtedness using road fund revenue, capital improvements and .08 (Infrastructure funds). The total of the bond would be $3,850,000 and would be used for the area 1 & 2 Public Works shop, the purchase of a shop in the Brewster area, roofing for the Juvenile building and an HVAC System for the courthouse. Commissioner Hover asked Del if the county could bond without overextending itself. Del indicated that it would not and explained that there will be funds coming in from an insurance settlement, the sale of the Brewster shop and the state’s share of installing the water system that will be used to pay back the bond over the next 20 years. The water system would cost approximately $350,000. The water is a requirement for fire protection. Commissioner Hover stated that he wants to make sure that any future needs over the next 10 years have been considered and that we are not overextending the county’s debt capacity. He also stressed that he doesn’t want to obligate the entire remaining revenue stream from .08 or capital improvement revenues. In Del’s opinion, the county should bond for the full amount of $3 million 850 thousand dollars. Rob explained that there would be plenty of road revenue to repay the bond and sustain the maintenance and engineering program. The Commissioners do not have to make a final decision until mid-January.

Del will bring a bottom line report on the status of the Capital Improvements and .08 funds at the end of the year.

TEMS – Tonasket EMS District
Commissioner Lampe moved to recess as the Board of Commissioners and convenes as the Tonasket EMS District Board of Directors. Motion was seconded and carried.

Voucher Approval – Emergency Management Service – Tonasket EMS District

Commissioner Lampe moved to approve the voucher for $12,073.37 for Emergency Management. Motion was seconded and carried. (attached)

Commissioner Peterson noted that the district will be hiring a private accountant.

Commissioner Hover moved to adjourn as the Tonasket EMS Board of Directors. Motion was seconded and carried.

Open Session resumed.

Public Hearing – CDBG Application – Revolving Loan Fund
Rick Wadson and Kenny Spain via telephone.

Commissioner Peterson opened the hearing and noted that there were no public present. Kenny Spain explained that the application is for federal money passed through the county and would be used in Okanogan County. Rick explained that $58,000 of the $558,000 is earmarked for Okanogan County. The Revolving Loan fund is out of funds. This would also allow for match for additional monies. The guidelines for the block grant are up to 35,000 per job creation. There is no match requirement for this grant. A lot of banks are pulling out of the rural areas and their loan criteria becomes more clear cut there is more need for the rural loan fund because people are having a hard time getting funding. They are audited by USDA as well as independent firms. 50,000 would be awarded immediately and the remainder would be drawn down as it is used. Once the grant is used there would have to be a follow up hearing to assess the benefits of the grant. Kenny asked that the Commissioner approve the resolution authorizing the submission of a grant application. Commissioner Peterson closed the hearing to public comment.

Resolution 139-2005 – Grant Application – Revolving Loan Fund
Commissioner Lampe moved to adopt Resolution 139-2005, authorization of grant application and certifications. Motion was seconded and carried. (attached)

Discussion – Biomass Partnership – Conservation District
Laura Clark explained that they applied for funding from CTED. PUD Commissioners offered up the services of energy NW and up to 10,000 what ever the PUD would put into. PUD gave 20,000. They are still 10,000 short of for the match and a letter of commitment by January 9^th in order to have a shot at the 40,000 grant for a feasibility study. Zozel purchased a wood burning generator that hasn’t been running. The PUD wants them to see what it would take to get the generator up and running. Transportation has not been considered in other studies. The by-product is water and sometimes charcoal that can be used to filter water. Commissioner Hover explained that the budget has been adopted for next year and the Board would have to consider it after the first of the year depending upon the carryover. Laura stated that they will need something in writing by January 9, 2006.

Rocklyn Culp requested an extension for expenditure of the Town of Winthrop’s .08 award for electrical services because bidding requirements, delays in getting supplies and medical problems with the contractor have delayed the project. Engineering documents are complete and could go out by the end of January. The project has been scaled back to a doable level. The town would know by the beginning of February. Commissioner Hover stated that because of the deadline he would only be willing to go to the middle of March the county will pull back the money. The town will provide a status report by the first part of February.

Commissioner Lampe moved to extend the Town of Winthrop’s’ Chewuch Utility Crossing .08 project out of emerging opportunities fund to be expended on or before March 17^th, 2006. The city will have bids in hand on or before January 31^st and billed to the county no later than March 17^th. Motion was seconded and carried.