County Briefs

Sheriff purchases pistol upgrades

County commissioners approved the Mason County Sheriff’s Office purchase of new pistol systems from Oregon Rifleworks, LLC.

According to the information packet, money was requested for the upgrades in 2022 with American Rescue Plan Act money, but it was declined. County commissioners approved the project in the Sheriff’s Office 2023 budget.

The amount funded was $90,928, and Oregon Rifleworks provided the best quote at $96,321.96 with tax. The budget effect to the county is $5,394. A budget transfer from the wage and benefit side of the budget will be transferred to the operational side.

The Sheriff’s Office was also approved for a training grant from the Washington Association of Sheriffs & Police Chiefs.

According to the information packet, training funding was identified by a state agency as part of the police reform laws. MCSO was awarded $24,616.78.

Public Works purchases plow

Mason County Public Works was approved to purchase a Ford F-550 with a plow and salt spreader by county commissioners at the Feb. 7 meeting.

According to the information packet, Public Works budgeted for four new F550 Crew Cab four-wheel-drive cars with plows and salt spreaders, but they were unavailable last year. The county was notified that one was reserved for the county to purchase off the state contract this year.

The cost is $122,050.83. The car comes with a snow plow, back up camera and can handle bulk salting jobs with the SaltDogg PRO2500 electric poly hopper spreader. The vehicle comes with a two-year warranty.

DeLeva appointed to Lodging committee

John DeLeva was appointed as a generator to the Mason County Lodging Tax Advisory Committee by Mason County commissioners.

According to the information packet, the lodging tax advisory committee shall consist of at least five members appointed by commissioners. Two will represent businesses and collect lodging tax money, two are people involved in activities authorized to be funded by lodging tax revenue, one county commissioner.

Easement between county, U.S. Navy

County commissioners approved the chair to sign an easement agreement with the U.S. Navy to allow the installation, operation, maintenance, repair and replacement of a section of sewer main.

According to the information packet, the county is extending a sewer trunk line to the Belfair urban growth area north of the Shelton-Bremerton-Bangor Naval Railroad. This extension requires crossing under the U.S. Navy Railroad right of way. The application has been filed, plans submitted and approved, survey recoded, an environmental condition assessment and appraisal completed and payment made for use of the easement for 50 years. The final step was the execution of easement.

Two appointed to agency on aging

Becky Cronquist and Cynthia Stang were appointed to the Lewis-Mason-Thurston Area Agency on Aging.

According to the information packet, the agency on aging provides home and community services for seniors and adults with disabilities to help them remain in their homes. Cronquist and Stang were appointed for terms ending Dec. 31, 2025.

Treasurer refunds more than $300,000

Mason County commissioners approved county treasurer refunds of more than $300,000 at the Feb. 7 meeting.

According to the information packet, the Revised Code of Washington states the county treasurer shall make all refunds by the first Monday of February each year, report it to the county legislative authority and provide a list of refunds made.

According to the report, there were 221 refunds that totaled $319,780.83. Senior exemptions were the most common refund with 141. There were 23 refunds due to manifest error, 22 refunds due to destroyed property and 10 refunds due to segregation.

The treasurer also had uncollectable personal property taxes canceled at the meeting, which is also required by the first day of February.

According to the information packet, a total of $3,472.17 were canceled.

Public hearing for Shelton UGA

A public hearing has been scheduled for Feb. 28 to consider amendments to Title 17 relating to the Shelton urban growth area and Title 15 relating to the hearing examiner authority. 

According to the information packet, the proposed amendments are related to the use of the City of Shelton’s Planned Unit Development code when a proposal requires city services such as sewer or water within the Shelton UGA.

The amendment will allow greater residential densities and encourage the development of housing. The planning advisory commissioner recommended the amendments move forward at the Jan. 23 meeting by a 4-1 vote. 

Public hearing for correcting map

The public hearing for consideration to correct the future land use map and development areas for six parcels of land is set for Feb. 28. 

According to the information packet, the community development department discovered parcels of land that are incorrectly mapped on the county GIS layers. The parcels are listed on spreadsheets and proofing logs from the early 2000s with the correct designation or zoning. Resource lands and rural area designations in Mason County were approved in 1995 and mapped in June 2000. 

To provide the most accurate information, DCD has has brought the map corrections to the planning advisory commission and the county commissioners for approval. 

Pandemic recovery money shared

Mason County commissioners approved the interlocal agreement with the City of Shelton to share money for pandemic recovery and community rehabilitation purposes.

According to the information packet, the agreement document the assistance the city and county will provide to Community Lifeline in the amount of $54,789.84. Of the amount to Community Lifeline, the City of Shelton is donating $20,000 and the county is donating $34,789.84 of American Rescue Plan Act money to open a 24/7 cold weather shelter housing for up to 35 people.

The agreement documents the City of Shelton making a one-time donation of Opioid Settlement money of $19,852.84 to the Mason County Department of Health and Human Services for exclusive use of opiate addiction and recovery services in Mason County and Shelton.