HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018/10/08 - Briefing BOARD OF MASON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS'BRIEFING MINUTES
Mason County Commission Chambers,411 North 5th Street,Shelton,WA
Week of October 8,2018
9:00 A.M. Support Services-Frank Pinter
Commissioners Neatherlin,Drexler and Shutty were in attendance.
• Rate increase based on CPI for the Mason County Parks baseball field use and the deposit
rate schedule. A hearing was held in January and the resolution was not updated.
• Request to sign the purchase and sale agreement and closing contacts to purchase two
parcels of property in the City of Shelton(former Olsen Furniture property). This
purchase is being made from REET funds.
• HomesFirst request to change the HomesFirst house to veteran family led. The
Commissioners requested a briefing be scheduled.
• Cmmr.Shutty reported he met with the courts,public defense and jail regarding pre-trial
services and looking at the Yakima County model. The issues are still being worked
through.
• Cmmr.Neatherlin will attend the Risk Pool meeting end of November.
9:20 A.M. Fairgrounds Proposal
Commissioners Neatherlin,Drexler and Shutty were in attendance.
• Rahn Redmond presented a partnership proposal for a fairgrounds for Mason County.
The request is for the County to lease 160 acres next to the Mason County Transfer
Station lease for$1 to Walt Austin for 30 years and at the end of the 30 years,the
property will go to the County. The intent is there will be no County money invested.
The proposal would include an area for a rodeo,historical society museum,drag races,
hotel and other amenities. He believes this will attract tourists and revenue to the
County.
Cmmr.Shutty asked what will it cost the county now and in the future. How will the fair
be funded. Rahn explained there would be a$1 parking fee for events and the plan is to
put that funding towards the operation of a fair. The proposal is to use the natural
resources—rock and timber—to build the facility.
Cmmr.Drexler asked if there has there been market research to see the need for this type
of facility. At the previous fairgrounds,it was difficult to attract enough users to run the
facility in the black.
Rahn said they spent$40,000 for a market research way back when. The proposal is to
have a non-profit organization run the facility with no county involvement and attract a
variety of events.
Cmmr.Drexler stated she understood the drag strip would need additional property and
would need an easement from adjoining county property and doesn't know if that could
be done.
Cmmr.Neatherlin stated the County doesn't want to operate the facility at all. He wants
reassurance there is financing available.
A letter of intent was received from Walt Austin,AF Investments,and before moving
forward they want a letter from the County.
Cmmr.Drexler stated there may have to be a rezone and notice to neighboring property
owners.
The Commissioners agreed to meet with Tim Pavolka,Walt's representative,and asked
that legal,Planning and Public Works staff be invited.
9:30 A.M. Sheriff's Office—Chief Dracobly
Commissioners Neatherlin,Drexler and Shutty were in attendance.
• The request was approved to move forward from the Sheriffs Office for the
supplemental appropriation for funding from DNR to reimburse for work committed by
detectives during the summer's series of suspicious fires.
Mason County Commissioners' Briefing Meeting Minutes
October 8,2018
9:45 A.M. WSU Extension-Justin Smith
Commissioners Neatherlin,Drexler and Shutty were in attendance.
• Request to resubmit for CDBG funding to continue funding of micro-enterprise services
in Mason County. The original program has operating successfully over the past 24
months and more than 40 participants have completed the small business training
programs and several businesses are eligible for micro-loans. The request is to reapply
for an additional$200,000 to extend training and increase the size of the available loan
fund.
A loan process is being reviewed by the Audit Committee.The loan underwriting and
servicing will be done by the E4E Board. The County serves as"the bank". The
Commissioners agreed to move this request forward. A public hearing will be
scheduled.
Todd Parker added that it would be helpful if there are opportunities to assist non-profit
organizations be successful.
10:00 A.M. Community Services-Dave Windom
Commissioners Neatherlin,Drexler and Shutty were in attendance.
• Amendment to the Community Lifeline contract to increase the 2163 funding by$16,558
was approved.
• Cmmr.Drexler would like to put funding to the Housing Authority Fairmount Cove
property. $40K towards the$80K bid;$I OK for Pine Garden.
• Additional DBHR funding will be applied for a North Mason school coalition and the
proposal will be to split with the current position that supports the Shelton School
coalition.
• Therapeutic Court RFP—only HomesFirst submitted a proposal. Meeting on 10/18 with
the courts and HomesFirst.
• Received DOH grant with Thurston County for the mobile outreach program.
10:30 A.M. BREAK
10:45 A.M. Public Works—Jerry Hauth
Utilities&Waste Management
Commissioners Neatherlin,Drexler and Shutty were in attendance.
• Extension of the Kitsap County Household Waste Interlocal Agreement to June 30,2019
approved.
• Sludge Hauling agreement extension with a price increase from 12 cents/gallon to 13
cents/gallon. Cmmr.Neatherlin believes since there is a price increase,it is not a contract
extension but would need to request proposals.Bart stated they will issue a RFP.
• Request to place the USGS joint funding agreement on the October 9 meeting.
• Jerry asked for direction on the budget workshop. The Commissioners want to hear the
detail on any funding increases and the impacts if the traffic diversion amount changes.
• Solid Waste hauling RFP—Cowlitz County has not held their hearing.
• Cmmr.Drexler brought up the proposal for the fairgrounds next to the Transfer Station
and if there is a drag strip,there would need to be an easement onto the Transfer Station
property. There has been discussion of an additional entrance for commercial and/or
recycling to the Transfer Station but there is no formal plan. Jerry suggested a feasibility
study.
11:15 A.M. Tideland Lease
Commissioners Neatherlin,Drexler and Shutty were in attendance.
• Steve Bloomfield reported on geoducks and the lease of Mason County tidelands. The
newly placed tariffs have greatly reduced the sales of geoducks. There are seven acres of
county-leased tidelands planted and burrowing shrimp have damaged some of the
Mason County Commissioners'Briefing Meeting Minutes
October 8,2018
plantings. No oysters have been planted although they have permission from the Corps
of Army Engineers.
11:30 A.M. Audit Committee—Leo Kim
Commissioners Neatherlin,Drexler and Shutty were in attendance.
• Leo reported on the State Auditor audit items for the financial/single audit. There are
three findings—Belfair&Rustlewood Sewer Systems—need a written financial plan and
Public Works is working on that;Public Works Davis Bacon finding and financial
reporting finding relating to fiduciary funds.
• Support Services did an inventory reconciliation for 2017.
• Trackable assets needs a little more work.
• Substantiating grant revenue from the Clerk's office has been an issue and is part of the
accountability audit.
Commissioner Discussion
• Cmmr.Neatherlin stated the Audit Committee has requested the Commissioners reach
out to the Clerk's office and stress the importance of compliance. Based on the audit
finding,the Clerk's office will probably need assistance coming into compliance. More
information is needed on the specific details and Frank will bring back information to the
Commissioners.
• There was discussion of the Belfair Sewer audit finding and the financial plan. The
original financial plan is not feasible and there have never been any Code changes.
Additional customers are needed and there is potential of Port of Bremerton property
hooking up. This issue involves Public Works,Community Development and Support
Services. After discussion,Frank will bring back information.
• Capital assets tracking—Frank said there will be a discussion with the Audit Committee.
It is in the Chief Financial Officer's job description.
2:00 P.M. Support Services
Commissioners Neatherlin,Drexler and Shutty were in attendance.
• A public hearing held on September 25 and continued to October 16 to consider
amending the Motorboat regulations allowing property owner latitude on the placement
of buoys. Cmmr.Drexler spoke to Timberlake and stated the HOA places the buoys and
that serves as the pattern for water skiing. She asked where there is restricted lake access,
would that be an opportunity for the HOA to set speed limits and placement of buoys and
distance from shore. Cmmr.Neatherlin stated that with the Code at 150'from shore,it
makes it difficult for some lakes to be in compliance and still water ski. He supports
adding"up to" 150' from shore. He has an issue with allowing another entity set their
rules and is concerned with safety. Cmmr. Shutty agreed enforcement becomes
problematic if individual lakes are set at different distances. Cmmr. Shutty asked if "up
to 150 feet"is enforceable. Chief Spurling stated the Sheriff's office will enforce
whatever is placed in Code.
Commissioners agreed to consider the following language—"up to" 150 feet... and add
Cmmr.Drexler's language to MCC Chpt.9.04.235."Homeowners organizations with the
authority to restrict access to freshwater bodies may place buoys up to 150 feet from the
shoreline in the pattern and amount necessary for regulation safety".
The question of allowing HOA's to set speed limit on private lakes. Commissioners
Neatherlin and Shutty agreed to change Chpt.9.04.235 only.
2:30 P.M. 2019 Budget Workshop
Commissioners Neatherlin,Drexler and Shutty were in attendance.
Jennifer Beierle reviewed the following 2019 Budget requests:
Commissioners'Budget—ok as submitted.
Current Expense Non-Departmental Budgets—added$I OK to litter tipping fees for a
total of$30,000;$161,756 total increase to Non-Departmental. 2019 operational
Mason County Commissioners'Briefing Meeting Minutes
October 8,2018
increases over the 2018 adopted budget level include:Increase to legal notices for the
budget of$1,000,decrease to WACO dues of$5,270,increase to WSAC dues of
$13,500,increase to ORCAA of$1,926,outside CPA auditing services of$16,000 due to
this being moved out of the Auditor's budget in 2018, and increase to risk management
insurance of$115,000.NACO dues will be brought back and info on the WACO dues.
Commissioners' Special Fund Budgets
.09 Fund#103—adding SAO$1576;EDC needs to submit a request for 2019 funding.
Technology Fund#119 includes a purchase of county-wide Outlook software.
National Forest Safety#134 is ok as budgeted.
Lodging Tax Fund has an uncommitted expenditure line and there's an ending fund
balance.Some of that can be moved into uncommitted. LTAC is meeting end of month.
Veterans#190; Mason Lake LMD#194 and Island Lake LMD#199;Unemployment
Fund were reviewed and ok as budgeted.
Tuesday,October 9,2018
10:00 A.M. 2019 Budget Workshop
Commissioners Neatherlin,Shutty and Drexler were in attendance.
Road Budget
• Jerry Hauth presented the 2019 Road Budget following the budget guidelines. Requests
are to add three Truck Drivers to allow Public Works to maximize doing the projects in-
house which results in a cost savings. Many of the projects are grant funded. Discussion
of how the additional Truck Driver positions would be funded. Also requested is the salt
storage facility,purchase of a new mini excavator,a grinder,and a patch paver to
streamline road maintenance operations,and a GIS Tech III. The Truck Drivers and
GIS Tech positions were previously filled positions. The two additional Engineering
positions were approved on October 2,2018.
• If the Traffic Diversion was decreased by$600K, TIP CAP recommends the following
road projects be added to the construction program- Trails Road Alternate Route(Rasor
Road);Mason-Benson Intersection Safety and Allyn Access,Circulation and ROW.
• Discussion of how new positions would be created and filled. Cmmr.Neatherlin stated
he doesn't want to create new positions through the budget adoption process. He would
like the request to be made by the department outside of the budget process. Cmmr.
Neatherlin doesn't support adding four new positions to Public Works at this time.
Cmmr. Shutty believes the budget adoption process is the correct time to discuss
additional staff,not that he supports adding the new staff requested. Cmmr. Shutty asked
if the Road crew can do the projects with less than three additional truck drivers and
which is the priority—Truck Drivers or GIS Tech. No decision on staffing was made.
• GIS Tech position request is to address a backlog in the Assessor's office which would
be Current Expense work. Jerry stated Public Works staff will do this work so the GIS
information is current which benefits the Road Fund. Loretta added that they currently
have only one GIS Tech and there is a lot of GIS work that needs to be kept current.
• The Construction Program was reviewed.
Utilities
• Bart Stepp reviewed the 2019 Utilities Budget.No new staff requests. Operating
increases correlate to anticipated increased revenues.
• North Bay Sewer anticipates treatment plant expansion in the future.
• Rustlewood is budgeting$400K from REET 2 for the I&I project.
• Beards Cove has regular O&M,no capital projects. The water meter project is starting
this year and will be finished early 2019 which is partially funded(2/3)with USDA loan.
• Belfair Sewer budget was reviewed. No additional staff requests.
Equipment Rental&Revolving
• Cyndi Ticknor presented the 2019 ER&R budget. Reducing the ending fund balance by
$540,750.Anticipating seven new vehicles for the Sheriff's office,if approved by the
Commissioners. Cyndi reviews vehicle requests with departments and budgets
Mason County Commissioners' Briefing Meeting Minutes
October 8,2018
accordingly. Cyndi reported that the Sheriffs office purchased two vehicles that were
leased vehicles. Cmmr.Neatherlin expressed concern that the vehicles are registered in
the Mason County Sheriffs name.
Commissioner Discussion
Cmmr.Drexler noted the Engineering Tech position has been approved;GIS Tech—
concern if the work can be justified to be funded by the Road Fund. Cmmr. Shutty wants
further discussion of the priority of staffing. Cmmr.Drexler understands there is work to
be done but it's CE work. Cmmr.Drexler noted the new truck driver positions were laid
out with the 6 year TIP. Cmmr.Neatherlin stated the Sheriff will want funding for
vehicles and expand Diversion;he has a problem with hiring additional staff in PW but
can't in other departments. GIS—concerned with using Road dollars. Cmmr. Shutty
stated that in the spirit of status quo budgeting,it is difficult to add all these positions. He
supports budgeting for future roads in Belfair. Cmmr.Neatherlin brought up the
potential for a road project with the City of Shelton.
Discussion of road projects and the need to start purchasing road right of way. May need
to amend the Construction Program to purchase the ROW.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane Zoren,Administrative Services Manager
BOARD OF MASON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
KandiNeatherlin Terri Drexler Kevinsguto
Chair Commissioner Commissi er