News Briefs

Assessor’s notice of value mailed

The Mason County Assessor’s annual notice of value has been mailed out to taxpayers to notify them of any change in the true and fair market value of their property.

In a news release, the county states it is saving money by printing notices of value in postcard format. Property owners can sign up to receive their annual property valuation notice via email instead of through the United State Postal Service. People can sign up for the paperless option at http://www.enoticesonline.com.

If you do not agree with the value of your property, contact the office to review your notice of value. People who cannot solve their concerns with the Assessor’s Office can appeal to the Board of Equalization within 30 days of the date of valuation notice.

The Assessor’s Office is open to the public for in-person services 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Mason County PUD 1 asks for water conservation

Mason County PUD 1 is asks customers to conserve water.

General Manager Kristin Masteller told the Journal PUD 1 implements its water conservation program annually from July through September when customers are supposed to limit their outdoor watering to even or odd days of the month.

“Living in a seasonal residential area, the Hood Canal and other areas throughout Mason County see an influx in population when people visit their summer homes and camping properties. It’s important for residents and businesses to conserve water year-round to be good stewards of the resource, but even more important during drier summer months when more people are using the system for outdoor watering,” Masteller said in an email to the Journal. “The instantaneous demand on some of our water systems can overwhelm our well pumps and water storage reservoirs if everyone tries to water at the same time.”

Masteller said PUD 1 approaches the conservation program from an educational standpoint by hoping to build partnerships with water system customers to protect source capacity and not overtax systems. When reserviors and distribution systems lose pressure, they experience back siphonage and introduce contaminates into the water supply. That forces the PUD to put systems on a boil-water notice until the systems are repressurized and water quality samples tested before removing the notice.

“It’s a big, expensive headache for the PUD and a huge inconvenience and potential safety issue for our customers,” Masteller wrote.

Masteller said PUD 1 does not want to have to become rule enforcers where they are forced to disconnect anyone for not complying, especially when there is a warning that a system is overtaxed and outdoor use needs to be curtailed, like what happened with the Union Ridge water system this week. PUD 1 posted on its Facebook page asking Union Ridge customers to conserve water because everyone was using water at once and the well could not keep up to fill the reservior.

“We had customers who didn’t want to comply with our requests to cease their expansive outdoor watering, but luckily changed their position before we were forced to disconnect their water service,” Masteller wrote. “It’s much easier if we work together and communicate when we find that a system is close to being strained. Most of our customers are really good about doing their parts.”

Masteller pointed out that water conservation helps the physical system components and water system planning and it saves homeowners on their monthly bills. PUD 1 has water conservation kits with rain gauges and timers that are handed out over the counter while supplies last.

Water staff is happy to discuss ideas with individual homeowners on how to curtail water use but still maintain lawns or gardens. Smart water use can ensure everyone has enough water for all purposes. The PUD encourages people to water gardens and lawns in the evenings, early morning or overnight when the sun isn’t evaporating water.

For more information about water conservation and tips, visit http://www.mason-pud1.org.

Central, North Mason fire send wildfire aid

North Mason Regional Fire Authority and Central Mason Fire each sent some members to help out with wildfires in Eastern Washington.

According to a NMRFA Facebook post, firefighter and paramedic Travis Wilson was sent Aug. 6 as a fire line paramedic to the Vantage fire east of Ellensburg. Wilson will be responsible for providing advanced life support to any firefighter or people who need medical aid in the fire area. Brush 21 and three crew members were deployed Aug. 5 to Adams County fires in Lind, but returned to Mason County on Sunday.

According to Central Mason Fire’s Facebook page, the district sent a brush truck with two members for wildfire support and assigned to work as initial attack on the Williams Lake fire in Cheney, about 15 miles southwest of Spokane.

Mason County Democrats hosting family picnic

Mason County and Allyn Democrats are hosting a Democratic picnic at Allyn Waterfront Park in Allyn from 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 1.

According to a news release, Sen. Patty Murray, D-WA, Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, and Secretary of State Steve Hobbs will speak at the picnic that will also feature music, speeches and a chance to meet candidates. Legislative candidates Julianne Gale, Sandy Kaiser and James DeHart are also expected to speak and candidates for Mason County offices are also invited. Paddy McGuire, who works closely with Hobbs, will introduce Hobbs and clarify state and county responsibilities to prevent voter fraud.

Commission approves $41 million for Duckabush

The Duckabush Estuary will receiving $41 million to restore habitat in the estuary after the state Department of Fish and Wildlife’s proposed operating and capital budget requests for the 2023-25 biennium were approved.

According to a news release, the requests also includes $47 million to restore the state’s biodiversity, protect habitat, recover species of greatest conservation need and increase

WDFW’s conservation education capacity. There is $9.9 million to expand wildlife conflict response, $102.1 millions to improve hatchery safety, operations and maintenance statewide. There is $7.3 million on climate-related packages and $1.9 million to equip WDFW enforcement officers with body cameras.

Commissioners approved legislative priorities for the 2023 session as well, including improving hatchery maintenance processes, require fishing licenses for certain species that don’t currently require licenses, promote early detection of wildlife diseases and enhance shoreline restoration.

For more information about the commission meetings or view a recording of the meeting, go to http://www.wdfw.wa.gov/about/commission/meetings.

Reimbursement agreement with state signed

Mason County commissioners approved an interagency reimbursement agreement amendment with the state Administrative Office of the Courts.

According to the information packet, the amendment brings the existing interagency agreement in line with the amended budget provisos to continue reimbursements of costs and legal financial obligations payments. The AOC will reimburse the county up to $702,300 for extraordinary judicial, clerk and prosecution-related costs that arise from the county’s role for resentencing or vacating prior convictions for simple drug possession and certifying refund of legal financial obligations and collection costs of defendants shoes convictions or sentences are affected by the State v. Blake decision from February 2021 to June 2023, and up to $644,985 for payments made by the county during the same period.

County sells surplus property

Mason County sold two surplus property parcels after approval at the Aug. 2 commissioners meeting.

According to the information packet, Public Works acquired a right-of-way easement in October 2011 for a road project. A lower-cost solution was implemented instead by the state Department of Transportation and the project was canceled in 2018.

The property was declared surplus and commissioners authorized sale by direct negotiation without public offering. The current assessed value of the parcels was $3.26 per square foot unencumbered, less than the value the property was purchased for at $3.50 per square foot.

The parcels were sold to Sunsea Jack Cloutier and Danielle De Youngue for $3,550.