The Okanogan County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on September 18, 2006, with Chairman Don Hover, Commissioner Andrew Lampe, Commissioner Mary Lou Peterson and Brenda Crowell, Clerk of the Board present.

Executive Session – Personnel – Commissioners
Commissioner Peterson moved to go into executive session for 20 minutes at 9:05 AM to discuss personnel issues. Motion was seconded and carried.

Open Session Resumed at 9:25 AM

Update – Planning
Greg Wilder reviewed the proposed agreement between the county and the City of Oroville regarding the Eastlake Sewer Project.

Public Hearing (cont) – Gavin Road Vacation – Public Works
Bob Breshears and Verlene Hughes

Commissioner Hover opened the hearing and asked staff to provide additional information. Verlene stated concerns expressed at the previous hearing related to the snow drifts, steepness, turning radius, existing approaches that need to be addressed and that the county doesn’t maintain the road. Bob Breshears presented an engineers drawing and explained his proposal for the Gavin Road approach. The new design proposes to change the road grade which would require additional fill of 1.7 feet at the intersection. Verlene reported that there have been no known accidents related to the intersection. Commissioner Hover asked if a 90 degree exit could be created. Bob Breshears explained that it could be done. When asked how the proposal to vacate came to the forefront, Verlene replied that anytime there is a platting process the roads are reviewed. Commissioner Hover said that if it is unsafe it will need to be blocked off. The Commissioners discussed possible changes to Gavin Road.

Verlene recommended that the Commissioners make a decision on this and then discuss possible solutions to make the area safer with the Engineer. Any construction would have to wait until next year. Commissioner Peterson stated that she is obligated to make a decision based on the safety to the public. Commissioner Peterson wants to know what Public Work’s recommendation would be for the north end as well.

Commissioner Lampe moved to continue the hearing to the public hearing to November 14th at 11:00 and direct the county engineer to look at alternatives for the approach from Gavin Road to Highway 97. Motion was seconded and carried.

Commissioner Peterson explained that the Department of Transportation has deemed the current access unsafe and so this puts the county in a liability situation. She would like make sure that the design on the south end will meet the needs of the citizens and be safe at the same time.

Open Public Comment
Dick McClean

Mr. McClean explained his concern that there have been changes to the county road map published by the Public Works Department. He stated that they have eliminated some roads from the county system. One road goes to Lemonoski Lake which is public lands. The Commissioners asked him to provide the documentation for their review of the maps and court findings.

Discussion 2007 Budget – Central Services
Mandy Handcock presented her proposed 2007 Budget for Central Services and the Equipment Reserve Fund. She noted that her office needs another staff member and showed comparisons with the workloads of other counties.

Discussion – Forest Service Fire Dispatch/Contracting
Those present briefed the Board on the process for hiring firefighting personnel. They stated that the "best value" approach is used.

Mark Morris explained that there is a list of qualified firefighting personnel and equipment that are derived from a bidding process. This bid rate is what they are paid and during the inspections, a point system is used to determine qualifications and "best value". Whoever gets points lowers the bid rate thereby reducing the cost. A "best value" determination is made. The dispatching area covers all Okanogan County to Yakima. There are between 160-170 contract engines listed. Commissioner Hover remarked that every time a new team comes in they have different ways of doing things. However, all the staff has been great to work with.

Commissioner Peterson said that every weekend she receives calls from firefighting personnel complaining that although they are local they get demobilized and someone from further away gets to stay. The Central Washington dispatch agency are the ones who dispatch the units. Each contractor has different values. After selecting the best value within central Washington the agency looks to Oregon and then Idaho contractors.

Commissioner Peterson stated that a previous resolution was adopted to have an ever-widening circle unitizing local citizens first.

Dave Schulz explained to ensure local hires they could look at the registration to find out where these people really live; suddenly everyone is from Conconully. Commissioner Hover said that some of the concerned people do not speak up for fear of being blackballed. Commissioner Peterson and Commissioner Hover indicated that they have received 3-4 complaints. Dave Schulz stated that while on the frontlines he has heard complaints from 30-40 people.

Crews are working for the Division Supervisors and when a downsizing occurs the operations chief speaks with the supervisors and asks them who they want to keep, who’s equipment is best suited for the job and who is working the hardest. When decisions get made all these factors are being considered.

Commissioner Hover stated that the other issue that goes with that is favoritism between people who know one another. Both Commissioner Hover and Commissioner Peterson stated that the incident commanders where great to work with and tried to accommodate the commissioners requests. Commissioner Lampe suggested that with the current mop up situation it would seem that the local people would be the most useful. Commissioner Peterson and Commissioner Hover both stated that there were a couple people who were treated badly when they were inquiring of the situation. It was noted that the teams have a human resources unit that deals with these types of issues. There will be crews here doing rehab for quite sometime.