Commission Briefs

Outstanding warrants canceled

Mason County commissioners approved the cancellation of outstanding warrants at the Tuesday meeting.

According to the information packet, RCW 39.56.040 states “warrants not presented within one year of their issue shall be canceled by passage of a resolution of the governing body of the municipal corporation.” The Treasurer’s Office reviews the county financial records to determine outstanding warrants that have not been presented for payment and creates a list, which is sent to the auditor’s financial services for due diligence before presenting to the commission for cancellation approval.

The budget will be adjusted back $4,026.80 to the cash balances for money the warrants were originally drawn for.

Contract renewed with MasonWebTV

Commissioners approved a contract renewal with MasonWebTV for live video streaming and video recording services for commissioner meetings.

According to the information packet, MasonWebTV has provided live video streaming and recording services since 2017. The proposed rate for 2023 contract for briefings, regular commission meetings and special commission meetings in Belfair is $100 for the first hour and special meetings in other locations is $125 for the first hour and each additional hour is $50. The contract is for two years with an option for a two-year extension. The budget will need $8,000 for 2023 and the budget could increase to $12,500.

MUNICODE agreement amended

Mason County’s contract with MUNICODE for county code services was approved for amendments by county commissioners.

According to the information packet, the current billing is $20.50 per page. The billing is changing to an annual flat rate in 2023 and the county will receive a 20% discount from 2022. The flat rate for 2023 is $6,475 plus a $950 hosting fee. The annual supplement flat fee is based on historical costs for code updates and certain services are not included in the flat fee.

The 2022 budget for codification is $8,000 and the county has spent $11,403 so far this year. The 2023 preliminary budget is $20,000 for codification.

Peterson appointed to lodging tax committee

Shelton-Mason County Chamber of Commerce President Deidre Peterson will fill the vacant position on the Mason County Lodging Tax Advisory Committee.

According to the information packet, the lodging tax advisory committee will consist of at least five members appointed by county commissioners. The committee will include at least two representatives of businesses who are required to collect lodging tax, two members who are involved in activities that are authorized to be funded by lodging tax revenue and one county commissioner to serve as the chair of the committee.

With the resignation of Heidi McCutcheon from the Shelton-Mason County Chamber of Commerce, Peterson was appointed as the new president and applied to serve on the committee.

Community Services Department reorganized

Mason County commissioners took action to reorganize the Community Services Department into the Department of Public Health and Human Services and Department of Community Development. It will rearrange the employee hierarchy to include the position conversions of community services administrator to director of community development and the director of community services to director of public health and human services.

According to the information packet, the scope and body of work have changed in the department of community services. After completing position analysis and desk audits, it was determined necessary to reorganize and split the department into two departments, the department of public health and human services and the department of community development. The Community Development administrator will become the director of community development and the director of community services will become the director of health and human services.

ARPA housing contract amended, money reallocated

The Mason County Housing Authority contract regarding American Rescue Plan Act money was amended.

According to the information packet, county commissioners approved a contract for ARPA money to be allocated to the housing authority for rental arrearages on June 7. The amendment is to add verbiage to the score of work and that a signed attestation is a form of proof of lost income or increased household expense due to COVID-19.

Another commissioner action was reallocating $90,000 of ARPA money from Public Works Pump Station No. 3 project to Mason County Utility Arrearages.

According to the information packet, there are about 44 parcels of real estate with water or sewer liens filed that might be subject to the foreclosure process for nonpayment of such liens. The move would provide financial assistance to households on primary residences or business property that owe delinquent water and sewer utility payments prior to March 31, 2021.