Commissioners' Priorities: You First, Us Last

by Carrie Bartoldus

Astoria, Ore – The Clatsop County Board of County Commissioners held a work session with the County Parks Department Director Ed Wegner, Parks Foreman Steve Meshke and Glenn Ahrens from the OSU 4-H Extension Office to discuss how the assessment and management of the county parks after the December 2007 storm was progressing.

The parks department assured the Commissioners that paths were being cleared to make them safe for those who would like to use them however they were still, for the most part, not currently usable in many areas and hikers should use extreme caution and not go into any areas which were marked unsafe, flagged as such, or barricaded in any manner. Crews were working constantly to remove any dangerous debris however, many areas were still hard to access.

Cullaby Lake County Park, Carnahan County Park, Nehalem Co Park are open and accessible to the public with little danger from timbers or debris. Klootchy Creek, the site of the once Largest Sitka Sprice Tree in the United States which was knocked down in the December Storm has sustained sever wind damage and its Red Alder stand was hit hard as well as dozens of large Sitka Spruce and Hemlock. The parking lot is cleared and the area where the Sitka tree lies on the ground is now clear for tourists.

Overall what was asked for and approved was for a qualified consultant to provide an assessment of forest conditions and the extent of forest damage in four of its county parks. Using a consultant will provide an overview of the type and amount of salvageable timber, its marketable value and make timber harvest operations consistent with the goals for county parks as well as plan and implement any forest management and timber harvest operation on Clatsop Parks as agreed by the County based on the recommendations made in the assessment report.

The County is seeking services of a qualified Forestry Consultant to provide an assessment and a written assessment report on forest conditions and forest damage with specific recommendations for forest management and timber salvage to meet County’s objectives for the specified parcels, and prepare a detailed proposal for forest management and timber salvage operations specifying methods, costs, and terms based on the assessment in the above. County’s standard form for Professional Services needs to be filled out. The evaluation and selection schedule for this contract is set for February 20, 2008. For further information contact Steve Meshke, 503-325-9306.

In Other CCBOCC news
Commissioner Jeff Hazen was appointed liaison between the BOCC and the Clatsop Care Center. Dr. Roy Little made a presentation during the business from the public section of the meeting asking for the support of the BOCC in looking to develop a long term site for the care of the senior citizens in the community.

Clatsop Care and Rehabilitation admitted its first resident October 11, 1979 and is run as a non-profit organization. There is a long line of applicants waiting for admittance and it has outgrown its present location on 16th street and is looking at the possibility of purchasing a county site that has been discussed as a possibility of becoming available. To keep Clatsop Care Center affordable it relies on volunteers. Community volunteers looking for service opportunities can contact Mandy Brenchley at 503-325-0313.

Consent Calendar
The consent calendar was approved with no additions or changes. The meeting minutes and work sessions for the BOCC and the Planning Commission can be found on the BOCC website.

The adoption of the Budget Policies and Strategic Plan/Resource Reduction Strategy was approved and can be seen on the website. A 1987 ambulance was declared surplus and donated to the amateur radio club. An insurance settlement made a budget adjustment to the Rural Law Enforcement District 07-08 budget.

Approval of Oregon Department of Homeland Security Grant and Adoption of Resolution and Order Amending 2007-08 Emergency Services Budget (per the Interoperable Communications Plan). This is a $107,000 grant split between two functions. $97,745 to go to interoperable communications infrastructure improvements and community emergency response team training and administration.

An amendment to the contracts for county counsel for the services of Heather Reynolds (general counsel) raising her not-to-exceed yearly total amount from $60,000 to $95,000 for the fiscal year of 2007-08 and Jordan Schrader (land use applications related to LNG facilities and measure 49 specific) raising his not-to-exceed yearly total amount from $50,000 to $150,000.

Approved letter to legislatures in regards to the Emergency Housing Bill. The Community Action team had asked the BOCC to send a letter to the state representatives and state senator thanking them for sponsoring the bill to assist rural communities with funding to develop local plans to deal with the homeless situation. Senator Johnson and Representatives Witt and Boone were sent the letter.

A letter in support of a request for federal funding for a railroad line was approved for the 2009 Transportation Appropriations Bill for the Portland & Western Railroad Astoria Line between Scappose and Port Westward. P&W Railroad is seeking 3.8 million dollars in federal funding for the Columbia County Congestion and Safety Improvement Project in northwest Oregon.

They have asked that this letter be faxed to them in time for the January 28th meeting with scheduled meeting with legislators. The Astoria line of the P&W, between Portland and Astoria, connects rail-barge facilities, pipeline terminals, major rail shippers with P&W’s mainline from Portland to Eugene and the UP and the BNSF.

Currently, between 15,000 and 20,000 carloads of traffic originate or terminate on this line annually. The top 10 shipper employ 2,200 employees in Clatsop and Columbia County and support another 4,000 Oregon jobs indirectly according to staff reports.

Ordinances approved
Ordinance 08-01 -Jurisdiction over statutory ways of necessity was transferred to circuit court with the second reading of this amendment, approved unanimously. No public testimony offered.

Ordinance 08-02 – Amended the Clatsop County Comprehensive Plan Zoning Map, approved unanimously with no public comment. Russ Earl requested amending property’s comprehensive plan designation change from Rural lands to Natural lands and changing from RA-2, Residential Agricultural 2 acre minimum to NU, Natural Uplands. Purpose of the change is so applicant can transfer three development rights from the property to another parcel in Clatsop Plains. With the second reading of this amendment it was approved unanimously. No public testimony offered.

Other Presentations
The Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) reported that sixteen separate donors had contributed $21,455.00. OCF granted $32,145 from both the Clatsop County Endowment fund and the Betty Lou Roberts Fund to fulfill $53,600 in approved grant requests. The local advisory committee met five times from December 17 to January 16.

At its initial meeting the committee adopted a set of operating principles for the Fund. These placed priority on grants to nonprofit and public agencies for provision of storm-related emergency relief to needy families and individuals including, but not limited to, food, clothing, shelter, personal hygiene items, fuel for heat or transportation, public transportation vouchers or tickets, equipment, and utility expenses.

The priority was to fill gaps in relief not being already met by another relief agency, insurance or FEMA. The committee determined to complete its work by January 31,2008 at the latest, however the BOCC elected to make the Clatsop County Disaster Relief committee a permanent committee. Members include Bob Bridgens, Warrenton; Eileen Cheuvront, Knappa; Don Larson, Seaside; Rich Mays, Cannon Beach; Helen McDaniels, Astoria; former OCF board member Jon Englund and current OCF board of director member Hal Snow.

Chief Deputy Paul Williams made a presentation to the BOCC in favor of directing Staff and the Communication Subcommittee of the Emergency Preparedness Committee to study the feasibility of establishing a new county emergency operations center and consolidating dispatch center. Camp Rilea is being looked at as a primary choice however there is concerns that it may not be high enough in the event of a tsunami. There are several other factors that make it beneficial including its proximity to the National Guard, which were and continue to be extremely helpful in dealing with the December storm and other weather and catastrophic events. The BOCC gave approval of the feasibility study.

Senator Wu sent a framed award commending all five commissioners for the excellent leadership during the December storm. Chair Roberts read the award and proposed hanging the document in the BOCC office.

After a productive work hour followed by a regular Board of County Commissioner meeting in which constituents and the publics’ concerns and matters of safety were addressed the Commissioners made closing remarks that revealed continued work was anticipated as personalities conflicted in a recent work session the day before.

Chair Roberts comments

Commissioner Lee’s comments

And Commissioner Samuelson asks for a resolve in her letter:

Commissioner Sam Patrick
800 Exchange Street, Suite 410 Astoria, OR 97103

January 23, 2008

Dear Commissioner Patrick:

The purpose of this letter is to express my disappointment regarding my lack of response yesterday in reference to your behavior during our annual goal setting session.
A number of tunes you acted out in a demeaning manner and did not participate in our discussions and on one occasion made an obscene and sexual gesture with your finger. This occurred particularly when I brought up the issue of “building a culture of respect.” You also referred to one exercise we were participating in as “bullshit.” At the time I was shocked by your actions and hoped you would stop. Your behavior is intentionally demeaning to me as a woman. Further, your references to violence in our one on one discussions creates an atmosphere of fear and intimidation.
We are elected to be community leaders and I am personally humbled by it. I am ashamed that I have tolerated this behavior for a year. It is imperative that I set boundaries so that the public at large can be assured that we are respectfully doing the work of the County and looking out for their interests without bullying tactics, disregard of diversity, or abusive behavior.
Having said that, I have determined that we, as a commission, have no policy regarding Board behavior. So I am proposing a written policy regarding sexual harassment, acknowledging the diversity of our county and training on these issues as well. This is not a subject that I am willing to let go. Not acting on this puts Clatsop County at risk and models poor behavior to the citizens we serve and county staff. Even though we don’t see eye to I am asking you to join me to put this issue to rest.
As an elected official I am asking you to objectively look at this and the first step would be to support a written policy that creates a culture of respect for us and future commissions.
Sincerely,

Commissioner Ann Samuelson
Cc:
Patricia Roberts
JeffHazen
Richard Lee
County Counsel

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