COMMISSION BRIEFS

Jail cameras replaced

Mason County commissioners approved replacement of the Mason County jail camera system at the Tuesday meeting.

According to the information packet, information technology was informed by the camera system vendor, Corrections Technology Group, that replacement parts for the existing system are no longer in production or available. If another hardware failure occurred, there would be no way to fix it.

The county asked the vendor, CTG, to provide a quote for a full system replacement, which includes a non-proprietary server-based system, new wiring, and new IP based cameras. It will allow for more flexibility with replacement parts, expansion in the future and improved video quality.

The quote also showed multiple blind spots with the current camera layout, which includes the hallways around the line cells and booking, holding cells and some additional exterior areas. The hallways are where use of force and high-liability situations occur.

CTG quoted the video management system at $229,295 and the addition of 19 new cameras in new locations to help with better recording coverage of the facility at $57,132 for a total of $286,427.

Lewis County man joins library board

Mason County commissioners approved the appointment of Lewis County’s Brian Mittge to the Timberland Regional Library Board of Trustees.

According to the information packet, Brian Zylstra stepped down from the board and created a vacancy in October. In June, the Lewis County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution to appoint Mittge to fill the remainder of Zylstra’s unexpired seven-year term, expiring Dec. 31, 2029.

Blake decision reimbursement

Mason County and the state Administrative Office of the Courts signed a Blake reimbursement agreement.

According to the information packet, the Administrative Office of the Courts drafted agreements with all counties for the purpose of reimbursing counties for extrodinary costs of resentencing and vacating sentences under the Blake decision and for the cost of refunding legal financial obligations under the Blake decision in 2021, in which the state Supreme Court ruled the state’s felony drug posession law was unconstitutional. The Administrative Office of the Courts updated the agreements for the next year.

Under the agreement, the Administrative Office of the Courts will reimburse each jurisdiction up to a maximum of $591,739.

Letter of support offered for grants

Mason County commissioners approved two letters of support for Public Utility District No. 1.

According to the information packet, the first letter of support is for PUD 1’s wildfire defense grant application. PUD 1 is proposing a comprehensive vegetation management project to clear vegetation within their easement land and to procure the highline truck and equipment needed to maintain cleared easements moving forward.

Most outages are caused by treefalls and this will allow PUD 1 to remove danger trees and will mitigate future wildfire risk within heavily forested lands of Mason County. The fuels mitigation project will trim the entire system in one event and will allow for PUD 1 to maintain.

The second letter of support for PUD 1 is for the office of clean energy demonstrations funding application. PUD 1 is requesting money for the 106 distribution line rebuild and intertie project. Due to a lack of rural broadband and redundant power infrastructure in areas such as state Route 106, the county has challenges related to business and workforce development, education, telehealth and economic development.

Under the proposed project, PUD 1 will join with local telecommunications providers to facilitate rural broadband deployment. The project is dependent on office of clean energy demonstrations funding and if awarded, the PUD will be able to complete the project without raising rates on electric customers to support the project.

Homeless grant approved

The fiscal year 2024-25 consolidated homeless grant from the state department of Commerce contract and agency subcontracts.

According to the information packet, the agreement includes $4,779,087, which will be redistributed to local organizations. Mason County agreed to give $250,000 to Community Lifeline, $1,726,998 to Crossroads Housing, $148,364 for Turning Pointe Survivor Advocacy Center, $418,288 to Shelton Youth Connection and $166,980 for Quixote Communities.

Solid Waste public hearing Monday

A public hearing is set for 9 a.m. Monday to review and consider of submitted responses to the request for solid waste long-haul transport and disposal services.

Public Works and Utilities and Waste Management Division advertised for proposals, and two proposals were received. Interviews were held by Republic Services and Mason County Garbage. Republic Services provides hauling, with sub-contracted services with Mason County Garbage, and disposal at the Roosevelt Landfill in Goldendale. The contract expires Aug. 23.

The budget effects are unknown, but the county spent $3.1 million last year to haul and dispose of solid waste.