City Briefs

Council OKs new laws on graffiti, signs

The Shelton City Council on Tuesday approved new ordinances on graffiti and signs.

The council gave preliminary approval at its April 5 meeting. In both cases, the city states it is seeking to make the rules more concise. The new ordinances go into effect Sunday.

Under the vandalism ordinances, the owner of the vandalized property is responsible for the cleanup, but the city will provide paint or the labor for the task.

The ordinance defines graffiti as “any unauthorized inscription, letter, words, numbers, figures, pictures, designs, regardless of content, which is drawn or painted on any surface on public or property that is visible from any public right of way.”

Under the ordinance, violators could be charged with malicious mischief. Second-degree malicious mischief would be for damages of $750 or less, third degree $750 or more, Niten said.

The city’s current sign ordinances were created in 1995, with some updates in 2002.

The ordinances include establishing the maximum sign sizes, where they can be erected or hung, maintenance rules and when the signs have to be removed.

Shelton declares house as surplus

The Shelton City Council on Tuesday declared a decrepit house it owns next to the Civic Center as surplus and made way for its demolition.

The city owns the house at 218 S. Fifth Street. For about the past 20 years, the city has used it as a storage facility. The council gave preliminary approval to the declaration at its April 5 meeting.

In its report, the city’s community development department declared the house is “unfit habitation, is unsightly and nearing a nuisance structure.” The city’s police department can practice techniques on entering buildings, and Central Mason Fire and Emergency Services can conduct practices attacking a burning building.

The 1,082-square-foot house is valued at $37,235.

The city has contacted the Mason County Historical Society, Mason County Habitat for Humanity and the salvage companies Second Use and Earthwise to see whether they want to salvage any of the materials.

Historic Preservation Board needs to fill multiple vacancies

The City of Shelton’s Historic Preservation Board is accepting applications to fill multiple vacancies.

The Shelton City Council appoints the board’s seven members. Board members have a three-year term, and at least five members must be Shelton residents.

The board is responsible for identifying and encouraging the conservation of Shelton’s historic resources by initiating and maintaining a register of historic places; reviewing proposed changes to register properties; raising community awareness of the city’s history and historic resources; and serving as the city’s primary resource in the matters of history, historic planning and preservation.

Applicants must have a demonstrated interest in historic preservation and have experience in identifying, evaluating and protecting historic resources.

Applicants can submit a letter of interest to Jason Dose, city planner by email at [email protected], or by mail to the Shelton Civic Center, 525 West Cota St. April 26 is the deadline to apply.