Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Dedicated to the citizens of Mason County, Washington since 1886
Sorted by date Results 26 - 34 of 34
As the Legislature prepares to begin the 2023 session, there are many issues before us. How those will impact Mason County, the 35th District, and our state will be top of mind as I approach each issue. First and foremost, we begin the work on our biennium budget. The budget is our two-year spending plan for the state and is largely driven by policy decisions. I have had the honor to serve as one of the senior Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee for the past eight years. In...
In July, the County Commission participated in a retreat to set priorities for the rest of 2022 and look ahead to 2023. Many of the presentations from staff began with "in the future, the county needs ..." But, I asked our team, when is the future? The answer is simple - the future is now. And in Mason County, the future is bright. Throughout 2022, we have taken action on several fronts to ensure Mason County leads our region and competes for opportunity in the post-pandemic years ahead. In...
It has been an amazing year here in the City of Shelton. Looking back on this year and the accomplishments of the city, I want to highlight a few items that will have a direct impact on the quality of life for the community members and businesses that we do our best to support. Everything we work on at the city, ideally, ties back into at least one of your City Council’s strategic goals. The City Council met in March of this year to review and update these goals through 2025, and you can find t...
Homelessness is a multifaceted, contentious issue and it's important to acknowledge that there is no one right answer that will single-handedly solve the problem. We are listening and understand concerns of the residents, business owners, and other community members who have to deal with this issue and the direct and indirect impacts on our community. We intend to deliver solutions. Responding to homelessness has been a focus for many years in Shelton and Mason County. In this column, I'd like...
By Mike Sheetz, Ron Gold and Jack Janda | Mason County PUD 1 Commissioners For years, our PUD and the Northwest public power community at large have tried to communicate to our public ratepayers that the Lower Snake River dams are an essential source of clean, reliable, renewable and affordable hydropower generation for Mason County and for millions of households in the Northwest. Mason County PUD 1 receives over 85% of our energy from hydropower. The four lower Snake River dams — Ice Harbor, Lower Monument, Little Goose and Lower Granite ...
Dad is a private contractor, a builder and an improver of things, who lives along Hood Canal. He constructs decks and roofs, garages, does kitchen and bath remodels, flooring, painting, plus a little excavating, tree trimming, and septic work on the side. He has done a bit of everything, and a lot of everything too! While business slows down periodically, he himself rarely does. In fact, I have never known Dad to be without some sort of project in progress — even if it has to do simply with home or vehicle maintenance, or lending a hand to a n...
Turn on the news, open a newspaper or scroll through social media and you are likely to encounter some form of outrage involving Congress. Polarization in Congress feels like it’s at an all-time high, because it is. But beneath all the bickering that generates viewers and clicks, there is a strong desire by most representatives to find consensus and produce results. Most members of Congress want to get things done for the American people. Unfortunately, collaboration is not as exciting as conflict. And for members looking for talk-show i...
More than 10 years ago, the Mason County Board of Commissioners burdened Belfair business owners and all of Mason County with a sewer system nobody could afford. All of Mason County has been subsidizing this burden ever since. Last year alone, Mason County spent $1.2 million of your money just to cover the debt service. Was it wrong 10 years ago? Would it be wrong if the county did it to you again? I sure think so. Your county commission is about to make a big decision, again regarding unnecessary debt. Two commissioners recently wanted to...
What kind of year do you want 2022 to be? That is the question each of us must ask ourselves as we embark on a New Year. The legislature will soon begin the 60-day session, and with it important policy debate. Debate is a normal course of any legislative body, but how we choose to engage in debate is just as important. I personally always strive to create relationships on both sides of the aisle. Doing so makes policy differences not be personal and drives a healthier debate. President Reagan...
