City Briefs

Agencies receive tourism tax money

The Shelton City Council on Tuesday followed the recommendation of its Lodging Tax Advisory Committee and awarded $65,758 to agencies that help bring tourists to town.

The money comes from the collection of lodging taxes from hotels and motels in the city. The council gave preliminary approval at its Oct. 5 meeting.

In the committee’s recommendation, “Borders,” a celebration of Mason County’s arts legacy, received $5,010. The Kristmas Town Kiwanis received $7,000 for its annual Bluegrass from the Forest Festival. The Mason County Forest Festival Association gets $12,000, the Mason County Historical Museum Visitor Center $15,000, the Northwest Event organizers $2,300 for Outlook Park murals, and the Shelton-Mason County Chamber of Commerce Visitor’s Center $24,458.

City moves forward on street projects

The City of Shelton is moving forward on the overlaying of new pavement on Brockdale Road and the addition of flashing beacon lights and other safety improvements at three busy intersections near schools.

Since both projects are receiving government funds, the city is required to sign an Olympic Region Programs Project Administration Agreement on both. The council gave preliminary approval at its Nov. 2 meeting.

In July, the city received a $770,103 state grant for pedestrian improvements on the Shelton Springs Road crossing from Shelton High School to the Huff’N’Puff Trail; at Seventh and Franklin streets, frequented by Evergreen Elementary School and CHOICE High School students; and at West Railroad Avenue and North Ninth Street, connecting students and parents to Evergreen Elementary.

In April, Mason County notified the city it qualified for $278,000 in federal funding for a hot mix asphalt overlay of Brockdale Road from Wallace Kneeland Boulevard to Batstone Cutoff Road.

The city is required to contribute 13.5% in matching funds.

City OKS new gallery exhibit

The Shelton City Council on Tuesday approved a new art exhibit for display from Nov. 30 through Feb. 28 at the Rotating Art Gallery in the Shelton Civic Center.

The council followed the recommendation of its Shelton Arts Commission to exhibit wood creations by Steve Charles, acrylics on canvas by Fen Hsu, works in acrylic dustman pour by Heather Rosborough, and photography by Deborah Chava Singer.