Officials celebrate new Belfair pump statoin

County and state officials celebrated the Belfair pump station in a ribbon cutting ceremony last week.

The Washington State Department of Commerce commended Mason County on the completion and cited the project as an example for others.

"I'm super excited," Mason County Commissioner Sharon Trask said at the Nov. 4 commission briefings. "This is the way we should do things."

The Public Works Board, through the state Department of Commerce, provided a 0.54% interest loan to fund a portion of the construction.

The project used approximately $2.8 million of allotted $8 million loan funds.

"This freed up $5.2 million to be used for critical infrastructure projects elsewhere in Washington State," Mason County Public Works Director Loretta Swanson told the Journal in an email.

Other funding for the project came from a Public Works Board construction loan, a PWB grant, county ARPA funds and a state DOC grant, Swanson said.

Approximately $1.1 million in sewer improvement design and construction came from private companies.

"I am pleased this project has been completed. It will help with the continued need for utilities in our Belfair area as we work with our partners including Belfair Water, PUDs and others. I am honored to be a member of the WA State Public Works Board and to be a Mason County Commissioner," Trask told the Journal in an email.

Trask, Swanson, Rep. Dan Griffey, R-Allyn, state DOC Managing Director Boards Unit Chris McCord, County Administrator Mark Neary and commissioners Randy Neatherlin and Kevin Shutty also attended the event.