The Okanogan County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on May 3, 2005, with Chairman Mary Lou Peterson, Commissioner Andrew Lampe, Commissioner Don Hover and Brenda Crowell, Clerk of the Board present.

Executive Session – Personnel – Human Resources
Commissioner Lampe moved to go into executive session for 15 minutes at 9:00 AM for personnel matters. Motion was seconded and carried.

Executive Session resumed at 9:15 AM

PH Vacation – Easement Portion of Mazama Trailhead – Public Works
Rob McGaughey, Murray McCory and Char Beam

Commissioner Peterson opened the hearing and noted that no citizens were present to provide testimony. Commissioner Hover moved to approve an order of vacation of Lot 1 plat of Mazama Trail. Motion was seconded and carried. (attached)

Resolution 42-2005 – Vacation Portion of Mazama Trail – Public Works
Commissioner Hover moved to approve Resolution 42-2005, Vacation of a portion of Mazama Trail. Motion was seconded and carried. (attached)

Motion - Consent Agenda – Commissioners
Commissioner Lampe moved to approve the consent agenda with the exception of item #9 which was approved by separate motion.

1. Approval Commissioners’ Proceedings of April 25 & 26, 2005
2. Agreement Amendment #3 NCW RC&D. – Planning
3. Agreement Amendment #1 Highlands Associates – Planning
4. Agreement Law Enforcement – Town of Conconully
5. Contract Okanogan County Superior Court Doors – McNeese Construction
6. Agreement 5 year Reimbursable Nespelem – Public Works
7. Agreement Request for reimbursable work - Public Works
8. Agreement Gravel Removal P6-56 Ellemeham Draw Pit – Public Works
9. Contract Dispatch Remodel – J & R Electronics

TEMSD – Tonasket EMS District
Commissioner Lampe moved to recess as the Board of Commissioners and convene 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 $ 3,227.15 for Emergency Management Services. Motion was seconded and carried. (attached)

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

Open Session Resumed

Discussion – Project Updates – Public Works
Rob McGaughey presented a written report regarding Public Works projects.

Agreement – Purchase and Sale Agreement Winthrop Parking Lot - Winthrop
Commissioner Lampe moved to approve the purchase and sale agreement with the Town of Winthrop for the sale of the Winthrop Parking Lot for a total of $130,000 with $75,000 down and the balance due by December 31, 2005. Motion was seconded and carried. (attached)

Executive Session – Personnel – Human Resources
Commissioner Hover moved to go into executive session for 15 minutes at 10:45 AM on a personnel issue. Motion was seconded and carried.

Open session resumed at 11:00 AM

Discussion – Infrastructure Projects – Economic Alliance
Terry Knapton, Pam Olsen, Mike Sheneer, Public Works Director for Brewster, Kurt Danison, Roni Deffenback

Terry reported that John Larson will be receiving an award for the Operation Enduring Love. The Incubator project is moving along and are presently trying to get an appraisal for the project. They have a grant for $50,000 to use for earnest money and to hire an architect to do the plans. The building will be approximately 22,000 square feet with about the same space for parking. Economic Alliance, OCTC, Revolving Loan Fund will be the anchor tenants. EDD is also plugging along and will review approximately 50 projects. Other projects are; the small business incubator, North end trail complex, and the Stampede Arena project. They have obtained $6000 from University of Washington to help with wages for Economic Alliance and working with the PUD by providing them with a quarterly report.

An application was put forth for the City of Brewster for improvements to the Anderson Field Runway. Terry explained that there has been some infrastructure money returned and recommended moving down the list of prioritized projects to fund. The next project on the list is the Brewster Main Street Improvement. With infrastructure monies and the city’s money they will be able to leverage up to $900,000 for the Airport project. The project is in the Cities Capital Facilities Plan. The Brewster City Main Street project is mainly for replacing the utilities.

Commissioner Hover moved to approve Airport Anderson Field for $22,500 out of the Emerging Opportunities Fund and $27,147 for the Main Street Project. Motion was seconded and carried. (attachment)

Discussion – Property Access – Boots and Saddles
Ed Thiele, Mel Ames and Dave McKee representing the Boots and Saddles Club. They presented a map showing property belonging to the Club. They would like the Commissioners to change the access to the property from the North End to the South End. The railroad will sell a permit for private access but not public access. Commissioner Peterson suggested that they discuss the matter with the Parks and Recreation Board. A formal easement will have to be developed. (attachment)

Discussion – L&I Claims – Risk Management
Emily  of Sedgewick, a third party Administrator explained that she will be conducting a hazards audit and training in the county and will also help draft a safety manual for the county.

Bid Award – Temporary Dispatch Trailer – Sheriff
Two bids were received 1 from Don Kruse Electric $24,457.31 McCandlish $24,640.00 without tax.

The recommendation is to award the bid to Don Kruse Electric. Commissioner Lampe moved to award the bid to Don Kruse in the $26,316.07 to be paid upon completion of job of .08 funds awarded for the dispatch remodel.

Warren Bartleson, Walter Hensly, Helen Casey, Dick Sicks, and others.

Warren Bartleson presented a financial overview of the Tonasket Hospital Operations.

The areas of financial concern are the nursing home and assisted living since there is really no way to recoup these funds. Rural areas are penalized for these services. The clinic and the hospital are paid at cost. The average rural hospital is paid by Medicare at a 6.5% loss. If they were to close the Nursing home and the Assisted Living the hospital would absorb the cost. The Assisted Living facility in Chelan, which is not part of a hospital, is able to make it financially. The administration is looking at converting 25 beds from the nursing home to hospital beds. Mick Howe is researching the requirements for making the assisted living into a non-profit organization. Every hospital that is a critical access facility is required to have an emergency room. Funds from pro-share legislation are forthcoming amounting to approximately $400,000 dollars. The government will pay the depreciation and interest expense after the 10 million dollar bond issue is used to construct the addition, thereby providing a cash flow. Commissioner Lampe asked if this reimbursement would cover the additional costs by creating additional space/staffing. The new space will not increase any beds but will be more efficient.

Commissioner Peterson commended them for their hard work in getting the levy passed. The Commissioners’ are concerned about the Hospital finances in the interim until the bond passes and the construction of the building.

It was explained that the county is in the same situation with layoffs etc and is concerned about the hospitals being on registered warrants. A meeting should take place to come up with a plan on how to resolve the situation. The competition among the hospitals also has to be resolved. The Commissioners would like to put on a workshop to do this. Those present said they would be willing to attend a workshop after the ballot issue is completed. Commissioner Peterson stated that she will have the State Health District people attend.

Contract – Dispatch Remodel Electric – Dispatch-Communications
Commissioner Lampe moved to approve the contract with Don Kruse Electric as Temporary power for the 911 Communication Trailer. Motion was seconded and carried. (attached)

Executive Session – Negotiations – Human Resources
Commissioner Lampe moved to go into executive session for union negotiations for 45 minutes at 3:10 PM. Motion was seconded and carried.

Open Session resumed at 3:55 PM