Commission Briefs

Four appointed to MTA board

Mason County commissioners appointed four new Mason Transit Authority Board members at the Feb. 1 commissioners meeting.

According to the information packet, John Sheridan, Sandy Tarzwell, Wes Martin and John Campbell were appointed to the MTA board. Sheridan lives in Belfair and is on the Port of Allyn commission. Tarzwell lives in Shelton and is on the Shelton School Board. Martin lives in Grapeview and is on the Grapeview School Board. John Campbell is on the North Mason School Board.

The commissioners received seven applications for four vacant positions. All the candidates were interviewed Monday. Each member will serve a four-year term from 2022 to 2025. The MTA board meets the third Tuesday of each month; the next scheduled meeting is Feb. 15.

Commissioner Randy Neatherlin said he was impressed with the candidates the commissioners interviewed.

“They were from all over, very highly respected candidates that came through and very competent,” Neatherlin said. “I always love when we see competent ones that are applying. It tickles my heart a little bit. Yesterday’s interviews showed we have some incredible people here so a special thank you to those who were not selected but understand that the ones that were picked were just pretty fantastic and it would have been hard to unseat some of them because they’ve done a lot of hard work in that committee already.”

Commissioner Sharon Trask echoed the comments of Neatherlin and added it was cool to see people stepping forward.

“A lot of talented people in Mason County,” Trask said.

Commissioner Kevin Shutty said the candidates were wonderful and it was great to see people who have served the public in other capacities.

“Everybody that stepped up to the interview and applied, credit to them and look forward to working with our slate of appointees when they make it on to the Mason Transit Board,” Shutty said.

Taylor appointed county coroner

County commissioners appointed Jaime Taylor as Mason County coroner at the Feb. 1 commissioners meeting.

According to the information packet, Taylor has been acting coroner since Wes Stockwell resigned from the position Jan. 1. The authority to fill the vacancy required commissioners to appoint a replacement from a list of three candidates nominated by the county party to which the former official belonged. Stockwell is a Democrat.

The Democrats nominated Taylor, Ross Gallagher and John Piety for the position and the commissioners unanimously approved Taylor to be the coroner.

“I am super-excited to see Jaime, or shall I say, coroner. She is awesome and I’m super-excited to have her as part of our team,” commissioner Sharon Trask said during the meeting.

Shutty echoed those comments and said Taylor is committed to this community and public service.

“I’m looking forward to serving with you Jaime in this new role,” Shutty said. “(I’m) excited to support your appointment to this position.”

Parks and Recreation comprehensive plan public hearing set

Mason County commissioners approved a public hearing for Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 9:15 a.m. to take comments on the Mason County Parks and Recreation comprehensive plan for 2022 to 2026.

According to the information, the county entered into a services contract with Robert W. Droll of RWD Landscape Architects. Droll’s plan will be a five-year plan to be integrated with the county’s comprehensive plan and make the county eligible for state Recreation and Conservation Office grant funding. The information will be used to update the county capital facilities plan.

RWD Landscape Architects conducted a parks survey and interactive virtual workshop to gather comments on community priorities for parks and recreation. To view survey results, visit https://masoncountywa.gov/forms/parks/parks-survey-results-12132021.pdf. The county capital facilities plan can be found at

masoncountywa.gov.

Refunds, uncollectible property taxes

Mason County commissioners approved the 2021 Treasurer’s Refund Report.

According to the information packet, the revised code of Washington requires the county treasurer to make all refunds determined by this section by the first Monday in February each year to report a list of all refunds to the county legislative authority. The number of refunds is 251 for a total of $395,740. The most amount of refunds was 130 for senior exemption, 34 for manifest error, 21 for disabled persons exemption, 19 for destroyed property and 13 for posting errors.

The treasurer also approved the cancellation of $6,888.31 in uncollectable personal property taxes.

To view the full list of refunds, check out pages 128 to 134 of the Feb. 1 information packet at https://dms.masoncountywa.gov/Commissioners/DocView.aspx?id=485880.

Addendums approved for Rescue Plan Act money

County commissioners directed county Administrator Mark Neary to sign addendums related to American Rescue Plan Act money.

According to the information packet, the U.S. Treasury continues to update guidelines and compliance requirements. Addendums are required for each of the subrecipient agreements in place to address updated guidelines for enforcement of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. According to the addendum wording, recipients of federal financial assistance from the Treasury must meet legal requirements relating to nondiscrimination and nondiscriminatory use of federal funds, including ensuring entities receiving federal assistance from the treasury do not deny benefits of services, or otherwise discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age or sex.

The county signed addendums with the Belfair Water District 1, Crossroads Housing, Economic Development Council of Mason County, Hood Canal Communications and Mason County PUD 1.

County approves vehicle purchase

County commissioners approved the purchase, transfer and surplus of vehicles during the Feb. 1 commissioners meeting.

According to the information packet, the WSU Extension Office has been renting a 2001 Ford F150 on a per-mile basis from ER&R for several years. Motor pool purchased the truck at fair market value, which Kelley Blue Book instant cash trade-in value for the truck was $3,922.

Vehicle No. 102, paid for by health department grant money, is listed in ER&R’s inventory and motor pool requested a nonmonetary transaction to move the vehicle from ER&R’s inventory to current expense motor pool’s inventory.

Sheriff vehicles No. 32 and No. 48 were involved in accidents with uninsured individuals and are totaled. Motor pool surplussed the totaled vehicles.

Contract with Mason Matters approved

The annual contract with Mason Matters was approved by Mason County commissioners.

According to the information packet, the contract is for $25,000 for community health improvement work. The contract’s scope of services include reviewing community health assessments, collaborating on health priorities and the Community Health Improvement Plan, reviewing community health coalition and community agency project proposals that target CHIP priorities, fund community proposals and projects that meet CHIP criteria and the annual report demonstrating funding use.

Transportation program approved

Mason County commissioners approved a Behavioral Health and Recovery Support Transportation Program at the Feb. 1 meeting.

According to the information packet, the transportation program will transport people to services including inpatient, detox, medical appointments, bus stations, jail re-entry, court dates and all other needed recovery support services necessary for recovery and wellness in and out of Mason County. The program will be assessed after a year and multiple resources will be considered to support the program. The county is subcontracting with Gethsemane Ministries and the Patty Wagon for the program. Treatment sales tax will be used to pay for program, with Gethsemane Ministries contracted for $70,000 and the Patty Wagon contracted for $80,000.

Commissioners OK Sheriff’s Office hiring

Mason County commissioners authorized filling positions at the Mason County Sheriff’s Office.

According to the information packet, eight deputies have expressed interest in retiring from the Sheriff’s Office in 2022, which is an entire shift of patrol and traffic deputies. It takes six to 18 months to train a patrol deputy from start date to the day they are able to be out on their own. The Sheriff’s Office has a difficult time finding and hiring qualified candidates to fill its open positions but sometimes, some candidates willing to transfer.

The solution that was reviewed and approved by the county Civil Service Coordinator and approved by the Civil Service Board on Jan. 20 is to fill a position where there is documentation that a deputy is planning to retire.

County increases contract amendment for LEAD program

County commissioners approved a subcontract amendment for the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program.

According to the information packet, there was a need to increase the original contracted amount with Olympia Health and Recovery Services to provide Mason County Public Health the ability to complete billing for the work done in December.

The amendment was for $16,986.72.

Equalization board seeks applicants

Mason County commissioners are looking for applicants to fill a member position and an alternate position on the Mason County Board of Equalization.

According to a news release, three-year terms end May 31 and applicants must reside in Mason County. The Board of Equalization is a three-member board appointed by the commissioners and two alternate members may be selected. The board’s responsibility is to ensure that property valuations are at 100% of market value so equitable tax assessment is established.

Taxpayers may appeal their assessments and a hearing will be scheduled to present their appeal of their assessment for timely petitions.

Board members are paid $100 per day when in session. First review of applications was Feb. 1 and interested residents can request an application at the commissioners’ office, 411 North 5th Street, Shelton, or by calling 360-427-9670, ext. 380.

Road vacated

Mason County Commissioners approved road vacation No. 410 regarding a request from Mary Leighton.

According to the information packet, Public Works received a request from Leighton, property owner at 121 West Walnut Street, petitioning for the vacation of two county easements at West Walnut Street and Fourth Street, both adjacent to her property. A road vacation is a process in which property owners can have the public’s interest in road rights of way removed and it can result in the vacated road right of way becoming part of the abutting owners’ property, according to RCW 36.87.

Road Vacation 410 was approved with provisions, including the easements classified as a Class A which requires payment of 50% of the appraised value and the petitioner is required to pay $9,581.96. The second provision is the petitioner is required to relocate the existing board fence to match the right of way line along Third Street.