Quick & Easy Wasco County Commission Dec. 15th Update
Meet the Wasco County Commissioners LEFT TO RIGHT: Steve Kramer, Scott Hege, Kathy Schwartz
By Cole Goodwin
Welcome to Quick & Easy Wasco County Commission Update.
Get the highlights of the recent Wasco County Commission Meeting without having to sit through a 2-hour meeting.
The Wasco County Commissioners Meeting held their regularly scheduled meeting at 9 a.m. on December 15th, 2021.
Watch the meeting: Watch Livestream here.
Read more: December 15th, 20221 Agenda & Board Packet.
Submit public comment: Your County, Your Voice.
The Agenda Break Down
COVID Update from North Central Public Health District
Items on the Agenda for 2:30 p.m. Work Session
Wasco County Radio System Site Assessment Contract
Appointment of Wasco County Fair Board
Forest Collaborative
Election of Commission Chair/Vice-Chair
Campbell Phillips Legal Services Amendment
4-H Extension and Wasco County Library District Meetings
WCLEA Agreement
Substance Abuse Treatment Contract
Information Services Back-Up System
ORMAP Grant Agreement
Wetland Delineation Services Estimate/Agreement for The Dalles Rodeo Grounds
HWY 30 Water System Expansion/Country Club Water Main Design Project
Covid Update From NCPHD
Video Time: 00:36
Dr. Miriam McDonald could not attend the meeting to give an update on COVID in Wasco County.
Items on the Agenda for 2:30 p.m. Work Session
Video Time: 2:21
NCPHD Update from Kathy Schwartz
General Discussion of ARPA Funds
Planning Director Presentation brought forward by Senator Merkley on Environment and Energy in the Gorge
Wasco County Radio System Site Assessment
Video Time: 10:10
Wasco County Commissioners approved the service agreement proposal with ADCOMM Engineering LLC for a new radio system and site assessment.
Backstory
A communications study completed in the spring of 2020 discovered that Wasco County's existing radio system underserves the First Responder community. A new or upgraded radio system will provide public-safety grade radio and pager coverage to increase officer and first responder safety in Wasco County and improve interoperability within and around Wasco County.
Wasco County Fair Board Appointments
Video Time: 13:15
Wasco County Commissioners appointed Wasco County Fair Board applicants Vicki Ashley and Bryan LaRoque to fill vacancies in the Fair Board. Fair Board appointments will expire in 2022.
All three commissioners thanked the applicants for being willing to volunteer.
"We have a golden opportunity to hit the reset button and make this Wasco County Fair bigger and better," said County Commissioner Steve Kramer. "We've got a lot of work to do, and this is just the first step in many as we move through the process.”
Kramer motioned to elect Vicki Ashely and Bryan LaRoque.
Background
There were four applicants to consider: Vicki Ashely, Ken Schanno, Bryan LaRoque, and Shawn Wilkinson. Commissioner Hege called the decision to pick only two applicants a "Sophie's choice," saying all the candidates were great.
Forest Collaborative
Video Time: 18:40
Jon Paul Anderson was added to the Forest Collaborative as a Forest Products Representative.
Election of Commission Chair/Vice-Chair
Video Time: 18:50
Wasco County Commissioners elected Kathy Schwartz as Commission Chair and Steve Kramer to Vice Chair for 2022.
"Thank you. It'll be fun," said Kathy Schwartz upon receiving the nomination.
Background
Chair Scott Hege and Vice-Chair Schwartz have completed 2 years in their current roles. Although not an official policy, precedence has been established that the Vice-Chair may move into the chair position at the end of 2 years of service as Vice-Chair. That said, the board is free to nominate and elect any commissioner to these positions as they will. Nominations must be seconded and then voted upon.
Legal Services Amendment
Video Time: 21:18
Wasco County Commissioners approved the amendment to the Counties existing Professional Services Agreement for Legal Services with Campbell Phillips Law.
The amendment accommodates a price increase in Campbell Phillips public sector rates. Public sector rates are substantially discounted compared to private sector rates.
New Rates Increases:
Kristen A Campbell $225 per hour
Other Attorney: $200 per hour
Paralegal: $120 per hour.
4-H Extension Service District Meeting
Video Time: 26:59
Wasco County Fair Board appointed Kim McCullough as budget officer, reappointed Ken Polhen and Pat Davis to the budget committee.
The County also approved minutes from the June 2nd 4-H District meeting.
Wasco County Library District Meeting
Video Time: 32:03
For years The City of the Dalles has approved Wasco County Library appointments. The City does not have the authority to approve the Library's appointments. The County will need to backdate some prior appointments as a result.
Appointments & Reappointments Wasco County Library District
District Board: Vicki Thomas, Deward Hext
Budget Committee: Ken Polehn, Pat Davis
Budget Officer: Jeff Wavrunek
Wasco County Law Enforcement Agreement
Video Time: 36:20
Commissioners approved a new collective bargaining agreement between Wasco County and Wasco County Law Enforcement Association.
This year's contract negotiations focused on compensation and keeping up with national wage increases for law enforcement and first responders.
"We're comfortable with it," said Lane Magill, Wasco County Sheriff of the agreement.
The new agreement will be effective from July of 2021 through June 30th, 2024.
WCLEA's previous agreement with the County was adopted in February of 2014 and expired in June of 2021.
Substance Abuse Treatment Contract
Video Time: 48:08
Commissioners approved a proposed contract with Monique Adams LLC for the purposes of providing supervision of a staff member of the Department of Youth Services as they provide drug and alcohol treatment services. The supervisory role is mandated by the Mental Health Addiction & Certification Board of Oregon. (MHACBO)
Key Points
Alcohol and drug treatment services are utilized by over 60% of youth who enter the juvenile justice system.
In recent years the number of certified alcohol and drug counselors (CADCs) has forced Wasco County Youth Services to seek CADCs from surrounding regions. However, hiring Monique Adams LLC would develop skills within current Youth Services staff and may allow the department to create a relationship with the Mid-Columbia Center for Living and/or Oregon Health Authority for reimbursement of services provided.
Information Services Backup System
Video Time: 50:50
Commissioners approved moving forward with purchasing a $12,276 Veeam backup to protect Wasco County's data from cyber attacks. The County believes the Veeam solution will increase the capability to respond and mitigate any cyber threats or other incidents to the security and continuity of Wasco County data.
Background
Wasco County evaluated its Unitrends information backup system and determined that it does not meet modern data security and continuity requirements and may be vulnerable to cyber threats. The County budgeted $18,000 to rectify the issue and plans to purchase a Veeam backup.
ORMAP Grant Agreement
Video Time: 1:00:23
The Department of Revenue has approved Wasco County Surveyor's requests to approve a grant agreement to receive $41,504 in funding from the ORMAP program.
Wasco County commissioners approved ORMAP IGA #DOR-560-21, funding the continued conversion of Wasco County tax maps.
Surveys are in their 12th phase of this multi-year project and this marks their 24th agreement with the County to continue identifying historic landmarkers that act as the control points for the County.
"We use metal detectors and a shovel, and we pinpoint the area," said Ivan Donahue from the Public Works Surveyor's office.
Donahue stated that only one more grant would be needed to complete all the survey controls to date and may then proceed to remapping.
Wetland Delineation Services Estimate/Agreement for The Dalles Rodeo Ground Site
Video Time: 1:06:25
Wasco County Commissioners approved an Agreement with Terra Science Inc for Contemporary Wetland Delineation Services for The Dalles Rodeo Ground Site contingent on Business Oregon's approval of a Strategic Investment Program (SIP) Agreement between Google and the County.
Wetland delineation refers to determining the precise location, size, and boundaries of a wetland for regulation purposes. The scope of work is expected to cost $10,895 and does not include planning permitting, surveying, engineering, functional analysis reporting, sensitive plant/animal surveys, mitigation design, or related development services.
Wetland inventory work is required before any development can occur on the 35 acres recently transferred to the County. The County is performing the wetland inventory as a part of their due diligence in considering siting the land for a sports complex project that would replace Kramer ball fields in the event Mid Columbia Medical Center's new hospital facilities project moves forward and is relocated to Kramer Field. The proposal states that relocating to Kramer field would allow MCMC to expand mental health facilities and potentially co-locate with the Columbia Gorge Resolution Center.
HWY 30 Water System Expansion, Country Club Water Main Design Project
Video Time: 1:45:00
Commissioners approved the next steps to approve the Country Club Water Main Design Project.
The next steps include: getting bids from contractors and then presenting those bids to the County by spring of 2022.
The Dalles Country Club is looking to expand its water usage capability. The Country Club has been struggling to provide enough water to keep its fairways green. The issue has been ongoing for many years. The lack of water has been especially impactful to the Country Club during the summer months.
The project would include the installation of a fire hydrant and connecting it to the Kuck Well system, which will provide water to the golf course. An expansion of this water main could potentially make it possible to expand further and serve customers in the surrounding area at a later date.
Tenneson Engineering estimated the project cost would range between $373,238 and $444,996 depending on whether the project was completed in 2021 or 2024.
Background
The Kuck Well water system was originally designed to help serve the Discovery Center when it was being built in the late 1990s.
Future customers to be served by the Kuck Well at that time included the golf course and Pine Wood Mobile Manor.
At that time, due to various regulations, it was determined that the Kuck Well would be a County asset maintained and managed by the City of The Dalles.
Once the proposed expansion project is complete, the County plans to continue looking into the process of transferring management and maintenance responsibilities back to the City. As it is unclear at this time if or how the legalities would support that transfer.
Commissioners Heard From Several Stakeholders
Billy Brost, North Wasco County School District 21 Athletic Director, said he was in full support of the project.
"Golf was the one activity for the children of our community during the pandemic," said Brost.
"If the Country Club doesn't get what they need with water support, there would be no more Dalles High Varsity golf, boys or girls. It would also eliminate Dufur's ability to golf. Closest courses would be Goldendale, Hood River. I spoke to my coaches, they said that's not an option for us financially.
So whatever we as The Dalles Athletic Department can do to support the Commissioners, City of The Dalles on this project please know that I am here and our District is here to support you in this move for the Country Club."
Lisa Farquharson CEO of The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce spoke to the potential benefits of supporting the Country Club expansion project.
"We are frequently asked…where can I go golfing in The Dalles because you have avid travelers who come specifically to try the different courses," said Farquharson.
Farquharson also pointed out that having more tourism dollars in the community helps support multiple local businesses and not just the Country Club. In 2019 tourism dollars brought in $15 million dollars to the community.
"For me it is a win-win to have a better golf course," said Farquharson.
Steve Lawrence, the President of the Country Club, also spoke in support of the project.
"Historically, The Dalles Country Club had sufficient water access through it's wells. Several years ago, the loss of the water table prompted us to invest $30,000 to strengthen well number two.
We only received 50% of expected gains. The amount of water in our wells is not sufficient in the summer months to refill the pond quick enough to provide adequate irrigation," said Lawrence.
”As a result of inadequate water, the hot sun and hot wind of the Columbia River Gorge soon dries out the fairways turning the course brown in many areas...This has had a negative effect on our ability to recruit members of the public to play."
Travis Kane, PGA, and several other golfers also spoke in support of the project.
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