LAND PURCHASED IN AMBOY FOR NEW BG HIGH SCHOOL

Marcus Brotherton, staff reporter

A purchase and sale agreement for 51.32 acres in Amboy was approved April 28 by the Battle Ground School Board.

The property is earmarked for a new north county high school, said Board chair Fred Striker.

"I'm just as excited as I can be," Striker said. "This is an ideal spot for a new high school."

No date has been set yet to re-run a bond to fund construction of the school, but Striker said a bond would probably be run again this fall. Voters turned town the second part of a bond March 8 that would have provided about $19.5 million to build a new high school.

The property is located directly across SR-503 from Amboy Middle School. Cedar Creek borders the west boundary of the property. No street address is available.

As approved by voters in March, the District will use money from the first part of the bond to purchase the land.

Purchase price is $1.5 million, or about $29,300 per acre. Sellers are Willis and Esther Waldow for the Waldow Living Trust estate.

Board documents describe the property as relatively flat for the north county area, timbered, with a creek that runs along one edge.

Striker said development of environmental educational opportunities exist for the site, similar to the set-up found at the District-owned Center for Agriculture, Science and Environmental Education in Brush Prairie.

Feasibility studies set to be complete within the next 90 days will report on various engineering, environmental and geotechnical aspects of the property.

Striker estimated that 42 acres of the site is buildable. About 40 acres is needed for a new high school.

School officials considered several other properties, Striker said, including a parcel closer to Yacolt and another just north of the East Fork of the Lewis River.

The Amboy site was chosen because of its proximity to the greatest number of students from the north county area, Striker said, and also because of its buildable characteristics.

Dave Waldow, son of Willis and Esther Waldow, said his parents have owned the property since about 1960.

His dad, who goes by "Lucky," did a bit of logging on the site, but has not used the property for other agricultural or business pursuits, Waldow said.

The property used to house part of the Amboy Territorial Days before the organization moved to its current site. North County Little League also used the site, Waldow said.

Walking and nature trails have been on the property for years, Waldow added. He remembered using the site for school projects as a boy while attending Amboy Middle School.

Waldow said he has heard several comments throughout the years by area residents who thought the property would make a good school site.

Schools activist Russ Wadleigh, who has supported construction of a north county high school for some time, thought the site makes sense for the area.

"It's a good site," Wadleigh said. "The most important thing is the kids it'll serve."

Wadleigh said he would support a bond measure to build a north county school on the Waldow site.

Other bond updates

Board members have hosted one hearing and will host two more regarding boundary adjustments to existing schools once a new K-8 school is built on the Cresap property, NE 239th and NE 20th Ave., Battle Ground.

The new, 900-student school is set to open fall 2007 and will affect Chief Umtuch Primary, Captain Strong Elementary, Lewisville Middle, Pleasant Valley Primary and Pleasant Valley Middle schools.

Hearings are set for Wed., May 4, 6:30 p.m., at the Center for Agriculture, Science & Environmental Education, 11104 NE 149th St., Brush Prairie, and Tues., May 10, 7 p.m., at Captain Strong Elementary School, 1002 NW 6th Ave., Battle Ground.

For more information, contact District consultant Kelly Keister 904-1233, 885-5337, or superintendent Shonny Bria, 885-5302.

DUCK FAMILY SAVED BY TROOPER

Heidi Wallenborn, news director

State-mandated storm ponds installed near major roadways sometimes attract trouble in spring.

On May 6 during lunch hour traffic at SR-500 and Thurston Way in Orchards, state Patrol trooper Greg Riddell found a family of nine ducklings and one mama duck trapped on the inside shoulder of a concrete barrier.

As traffic thundered by, "good Samaritans" helped round up the ducklings to put in a cardboard box someone provided, said trooper Garvin March.

However, the mama duck was not as cooperative as her babies, March said. She flew over traffic and gave Riddell "what for" from the safety of high grass on the north shoulder of the highway.

Riddell thought he could capture the duck and release the family in a nearby drainage pond, so he placed the boxed, noisy babies off to the side of the road and hid.

As the mama waddled to the box, Riddell sprang from his place and grabbed the fowl and quickly regretted messing with a mad mama duck, March said.

"She pecked and buffeted and battled her way free of the Trooper's grasp," March said.

When Riddle was unable to coax her again, he turned the babies over to Clark County Animal Control.

Riddell will recover from beak- pinched skin and a good feather dusting, March said, but the loss of self-respect from being bested by a 4-lb. waterfowl may be harder to deal with.

The "ducks in the roadway" call is common this time of year on that stretch of road because newly hatched families travel between ponds on both sides, March said.

RIDGEFIELD AMENDS PACT WITH MANAGER

Bill Myers, stafff reporter

Ridgefield city manager George Fox said April 28 that city council members revised his employment agreement.

An addendum to the city manager's employment agreement, signed April 14 by mayor Gladys Doriot, modifies an initial employment agreement executed Feb. 24.

The new accord provides Fox, a consultant and interim city manager for almost a year prior to March 1, with a salary of $9,700 in March and a monthly salary of $10,811.11 from April 1 through December 31.

The agreement sets a minimum monthly salary of $11,892.22 during 2006.

An emergency clause granting Fox broad discretion to take action and then require city council approval was deleted from the agreement.

Council members and Fox revised the Feb. 24 agreement because it contained unintended salary provisons.

NEW COUNTY VOTING EQUIPMENT COMING

Marcus Brotherton, staff reporter

Punch cards will soon be a thing of the past.

Clark County Elections Department officials have begun examining new voting systems to determine which will be best for area voters.

The decision to switch is because of a federal congressional mandate to eliminate punch cards by Jan. 1, 2006, said County auditor Greg Kimsey.

Department officials have brought together a citizens' committee to learn about the County's plans to purchase the new voting system, attend presentations by voting system vendors, and provide input prior to the purchase of a new voting system.

Four voting systems have been certified in Washington and are eligible to be used. Committee members will examine them all.

Kimsey, who chairs the committee, said regardless of which system is selected, a new system will still have a voter-verifiable paper trail. None will be connected to the Internet. Results will not be transmitted via phone or fax lines.

"The new system will still be a discreet, stand-alone, secure system," Kimsey said.

The County's current system was established in 1969.

Committee members are as follows:

Representing the Democratic party are Don Gardner, Tom Burkholder, Morgan Miles and Jane Buchanan-Banks.

Representing the Republican party are Josephine Wentzel, Mike Gaston, Paul Mulwitz and Lee Davis.

Representing the general public are Robert Tice, Kim Dalton, Debbie Abraham, Andrew Johnson, George Vartanian, Patrick Horenstein and Onofre' Contreras, Jr.

County elections director Tim Likness is also a member.

All committee meetings are open to the public. Meetings are scheduled for Thursdays, 3-5 p.m., at the Elections office, 1408 Franklin St., Vancouver, as follows:

** May 19, voting system equipment issues including paper trails, open source software, Internet voting, access for disabled voters, security, accuracy, legislation.

** May 26, demonstration by Sequoia Voting Systems.

** June 2, demonstration by ES&S Election System & Software.

** June 9, demonstration by Hart Intercivic.

** June 16, demonstration by Diebold Voting Systems.

** June 23, general discussion, committee recommendations.

For more information, contact the County administrative assistant Kay Dixon, 397-2241, ext. 4886.

UTILITY APPLIANCE REPAIR PROGRAM GETS GREEN LIGHT

Clark Public Utilities will be allowed to continue its popular appliance repair program, including guaranteed hot water program, following approval of a bill by the state legislature and Gov. Christine Gregoire.

Sponsored by State Sen. Craig Pridemore (D-Vancouver), the bill allows the utility to continue its 60-year-old program of appliance repair despite court decisions saying it is illegal.

A decision by the state Supreme Court on the matter was expected soon but is no longer pertinent.

"We're very pleased that the governor has signed this measure into law," said utility general manager Wayne Nelson. "Many of our customers love this service, and we've wanted clarity on the issue.

"We want to thank Sen. Craig Pridemore and Rep. Bill Fromhold who took the lead on getting this legislation passed," said Nelson. "Reps. Deb Wallace and Jim Moeller also played key roles."

Clark Public Utilities offers repair of heating and cooling equipment, water heaters and ranges. Customers are charged $66 for the first half hour and $17 for each additional $15 minutes, rates utility officials say are comparable to private companies in Clark County.

Utility spokesman Mick Shutt said the appliance repair service is not subsidized by electricity rates.

The utility also offers a hot water heater guarantee program that provides repair or replacement of water heaters within 24 hours of failure. This program costs $2.40 per month.

The utility's authority to offer appliance repair services was questioned by the state auditor in 1999 based on an opinion by the state attorney general. That opinion said the utility did not have the authority to repair appliances it had not sold.

Owners of private companies that repair appliances had been critical of the utility's repair programs.

Private operators argued that the utility's workers were not properly licensed to do the work they have been doing. Auditors from the state Department of Labor and Industries have been at work at the utility and are expected to announce their findings soon.

"We will take all necessary steps to ensure full compliance with all legal requirements," said Nelson. "As a public agency, we will be a visible example for the repair industry to follow."

Private operators also argued that the utility did not obtain required permits, a situation that the utility has conceded.

Shutt said the utility failed to obtain permits for 63 of 89 water heaters installed last year.

"We have to adhere to the code," said Nate Kysar of Nate's Plumbing, stating that the utility needed to do so also.

State Sen. Jim Honeyford, who represents a portion of southeast Clark County, has asked state attorney general Rob McKenna to investigate allegations that public funds have been used illegally in the utility's appliance repair program and that the program is a restraint of free trade.

Honeyford's letter to McKenna does not include details of alleged illegal expenditures.

The Building Industry Association of Clark County urged Gov. Gregoire April 20 not to approve the measure, arguing that appliance repair was an inappropriate government competition to private enterprise.

The Association argued that utility commissioner Byron Hanke was not accurate when he said the utility did not sell or install new appliances. The utility regularly installs new water heaters, the Association argued.

Voting on the bill followed party lines of southwest Washington legislators, with Democrats favoring and Republicans opposed.

State Rep. Ed Orcutt (R-18th District) said he voted against the bill not because of the arguments by private companies, but because utility officials declined his suggestions that appliance repair be limited to low income seniors and to older appliances.

"Furthermore," stated Orcutt, "recent reports of Clark PUD's failure to get necessary permits and licenses, coupled with their refusal to restrict their service to those who need it, convinced me that Clark PUD was more interested in a carte blanche repair service. When I realized that this is what they sought, I had to oppose the bill."

The legislative action allows Clark Public Utilities, but no other public utilities in the state, to repair appliances.

Shutt can be reached at 992-3238.

SUSPECTED ARSON FIRE DAMAGES VACANT HOUSE

Officials say someone intentionally set a fire April 26 that damaged a vacant house at SE 5th Ave. and SE 1st St., Battle Ground.

Fire District 11 spokesman Dean Lange said the 4:46 p.m. fire started in a mattress and materials stacked in the basement of the house and spread to the walls.

Lange said the blaze was the third at the boarded-up house in the last 1 1/2 years.

Lange said seven firefighters were on the scene plus three chiefs. Crews left about 7:30 p.m., he said.

Clark County Fire Marshall Jon Dunaway said the fire was arson and not accidental. The home had no electricity.

Dunaway said the home shows evidence of more fires having been set that may have gone out by themselves.

JOLMA BUYS CEDARS GOLF COURSE

Long-time Clark County resident Gordy Jolma, along with partner Greg Anderson of Vancouver, have purchased the Cedars Golf Course and clubhouse in Brush Prairie.

The partners took over April 1 and have already begun to make changes.

Jolma, 53, said the 18-hole golf course has endured 15 years of deferred maintenance.

Jolma said improvements will begin with drainage work.

Soil has become compacted, he said, and water doesn't penetrate. That means grass is unhealthy.

Some ditches are plugged and brushy areas need to be cleaned.

Jolma said about a quarter inch of sand will be added throughout the course annually. Cart path and bunker improvements are also planned.

Jolma said the course is watered from Salmon Creek with existing water rights.

The course will remain public, said Jolma. Golfing fees are presently $18 during the week and $22 on weekends, which will includes to $26 and $34 during summer months. Some 20 tournaments are scheduled so far for 2005.

Jolma said the clubhouse is very well built and needs no structural work, but refurbishing is planned. The pro shop has been recarpeted and painted. New furniture will add to the efficiency of the dining room and lounge, he said.