News Briefs

Commissioners approve WSU agreement

Mason County commissioners approved a memorandum of agreement with the Washington State University Extension for 2023.

According to the information packet, the MOA provides money for the extension to provide programs in Mason County based on the 2023 budget. The amount approved for the agreement is $90,072 and is in the 2023 budget.

Suppressor purchase approved

County commissioners approved the sole-source purchase of a R556I Integral Suppressed Upper through Federal Eastern International to upgrade the current rifle system.

According to the information packet, the project was requested in the 2022 request for the American Rescue Plan Act money. The project is already funded through the Sheriff’s Office Budget and general fund for 2023.

Contracts approved for indigent defense

Mason County commissioners agreed to the 2023 indigent defense contracts with Taschner Law Office during the Jan. 17 meeting.

According to the information packet, the contracts are the same as 2021 and 2022, except for the new pricing. The pricing is accounted for in the 2023 budget.

Taschner Law will provide criminal defense representation to all appointed clients in a professional, skilled manner, consistent with the state Bar Association Standards. The county will pay a base compensation of $6,000 per month, which includes funding from the state Office of Public Defense. In addition to the base pay, the contractor will be paid $350 for the first day of trial and $125 for each one-half day of trial after. The contractor will be paid a flat fee of $150 in addition to the base compensation for each case on which a 3.5 or 3.6 motion is argued on assigned cases. Trial preparation time and time researching and writing legal motions are considered part of the base compensation and shall not receive additional compensation.

Policy change for county Veterans Advisory Board

Mason County commissioners approved a resolution to amend the Mason County Veterans’ Advisory Board operating policy and procedures to reflect changes.

According to the information packet, RCW 73.08.010 authorizes counties to establish a veterans’ assistance program to address the needs of local indigent veterans and their families. The program is funded by the Veterans’ Assistance Fund and the Veterans’ Advisory Board was established by Mason County.

The board recommended the policy be amended to reflect recent changes. The financial policy was changed to increase the annual cap from $1,200 to $1,800 and the one time catastrophic payment from $1,000 to $2,000. The referral to other services was changed to increase burial or cremation costs from $1,000 to $1,600. The total 2022 budget authority was $215,133, with actuals at $68,264.08 and $146,868.92, and 31.7% of the budget was used in 2022. The cash balance is $221,866.

Letter of support for Allyn Pier

A letter of support for replacing the Allyn Pier for the Port of Allyn was approved by Mason County commissioners at the Jan. 17 meeting.

According to the information packet, Port of Allyn Executive Director Lary Coppola requested county commissioners sign a letter of support for the replacement of the pier. The port is going to the Legislature to request grant money for the planning and design of the replacement project. The pier has been around for nearly a century and is deteriorating to the point it needs to be replaced.

“Together we support the Port of Allyn in its effort to replace the Allyn Pier,” the letter of support states. “The current structure was built in 1983 and is supported by creosote treated wood pilings; a marine wood preservative that has been used for over a century to help prevent the decay of pilings underneath the pier are rotting to the point of deterioration. The toxicity of the creosote treated wood is extremely harmful to marine life and other organisms that are essential to the health of the salmon, birds and other wildlife. To remove the pilings before any further breakage disperses into the Sound and onto beaches, the port is requesting $500,000 within the 2023-25 capital budget to support the cleanup and design of a new, environmentally responsible and sustainable pier.”

Robinson reappointed to parks board

Jeanne Robinson was reappointed to the Parks Advisory Board at the Jan. 17 commissioners meeting.

According to the information packet, Robinson will be reappointed for her second term to expire Dec. 31, 2026.

County hiring epidemiologist

Mason County is hiring a full-time epidemiologist to assist with a position funded by the Foundational Public Health Service.

According to the information packet, epidemiologists are public health workers who investigate patterns and causes of disease and injury. Epidemiologists work in offices and laboratories at health departments and state for state and local governments.

The median annual wage was $78,830 in May 2021.

Detour agreement with WSDOT

The state Department of Transportation agreed to a local agency haul road and detour agreement with Mason County for road work at U.S. Highway 101 and state Route 108.

According to the information packet, the state Department of Transportation has a fish barrier removal project at U.S. 101 and Route 108 in the county that will require both roads to be closed to accomplish the work. WSDOT requested Mason County enter into an agreement with them to use Olympic Highway and Kamilche Lane as detour routes during the closure.

The project is expected to occur in 2024 and take a week or less to complete. WSDOT will notify Mason County Public Works with the exact road closure dates and have a programmable message board placed at least two weeks in advance to advise traffic of the closure and detour route.

Downtown water outage Sunday

City of Shelton crews will be replacing water valves this upcoming weekend as part of ongoing infrastructure improvements to better serve the community. This work requires a water outage while the valves are being replaced.

Impacted customers are located along West Railroad Avenue between 1st and 8th streets and on 1st Street between Railroad and Cedar Street.

This work is scheduled from 8 p.m. Sunday to 6 a.m. Monday.

For more information, contact the city’s Water Department Supervisor at 360-490-8684.

Hospital foundation welcomes Welander

The Mason General Hospital Foundation announced the election of Lisa Welander to the board of directors.

According to a news release, Welander has been in banking for 38 years and works for Heritage Bank as senior vice president and data governance officer, where she has been employed since 1999. She switched to part time recently with Heritage and works in the administration offices.

“Since going part time, I’ve been able to give back to my community and contribute skills from my administration experience as well as my own personal business experience,” Welander said in a news release. “This is where I live. My kids live here, I was born and raised here. I want to be involved in my community and make a difference. This is a key thing – that small-town feel, where you are a part of what is happening. I want to make a difference.”

Central Mason Fire & EMS offers CPR class

Central Mason Fire and EMS is offering CPR first aid classes in 2023, with the first class Jan. 24.

According to a Central Mason Fire Facebook post, the class is $35 per person.

The class is from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at CMFE Station 58 at 122 W Franklin St. in Shelton.

For more information or to sign up for a class, contact Eunice Randall at 360-507-2282.