HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021/11/29 - Briefing BOARD OF MASON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS'BRIEFING MINUTES
Mason County Commission Chambers,411 North 5th Street,Shelton,WA
Week of November 29,2021
Monday,November 29,2021
9:00 A.M. Support Services—Mark Neary
Commissioners Neatherlin,Shutty,and Trask were in attendance via Zoom.
• Mark Neary shared the 2022 Budget Hearing is set for Monday,December 6,2021 at
9:00 a.m.
• Diane Zoren shared the final 2021 Briefing meeting is set for December 20,2021
and the final 2021 Commission meeting is set for December 21,2021. Briefings will
continue to be held weekly and Commission meetings will be held every other week.
• Diane requested to replace the temporary position with a permanent position in
Emergency Management and to retain the temporary position until the permanent
position is filled. This position has been budgeted in the past. Approved to move
forward.
• Diane shared the FY21 Emergency Management Performance Grant(EMPG)#E22-
136 for$35,738. 50%match for the grant which comes from the 2021 DEM salaries
and supplies budget lines. Approved to move forward.
• Mark discussed an offer received from the Shelton YMCA. The YMCA is offering
County employees a complementary pass that will grant the employee and their
family a free visit and will waive the joining fee if they sign up for membership.
Approved to move forward.
• Mark discussed hiring an interim Human Resources Director and establish a salary.
Six labor contracts are in negotiation and Frank Pinter has extensive knowledge in
Union contracts and negotiation. This would be effective December 1,2021 at the
Non-Union Salary Range 47 Step 5 plus 5%special pay for a total monthly salary of
$13,869.45. Approved to move forward.
• Cmmr. Shutty shared that Mike Oblizalo from Hood Canal Communications is
actively pursuing significant State broadband office grants and is seeking a letter of
support for their application. Approved to move forward.
10:30 A.M. State Auditor Exit Conference
Commissioners Neatherlin, Shutty,and Trask were in attendance via Zoom.
• Amy Strzalka,Cheryl Friesen,and Tammy Lane gave a presentation on the Exit
Conference for Mason County. Audits increase trust in government,provide
transparent examinations of the operations of local government,and help improve
the efficiency and effectiveness of government. A financial statement audit was
conducted for the period of January 1,2020 through December 31,2020. This issues
an opinion on whether the information included in the financial statements can be
relied upon to make decisions. An unmodified/clean opinion was issued on the
County's financial statements. No deficiencies were found and no uncorrected
misstatements were identified. A finding was issued for the declining financial
condition of the Belfair Sewer Fund and Rustlewood Water and Sewer Fund. It is
recommended that the County strengthen internal controls to ensure that BARS
manual changes are implemented and financial statements and notes are accurate and
complete. These errors were corrected by the County during the audit. The single
audit also covers from January 1,2020 to December 31,2020. This determines if the
County complies with federal grants. No material weaknesses or significant
deficiencies were identified in internal controls. For the Schools and Roads grant,
the County did not have adequate internal controls to ensure compliance with federal
reporting requirements,this issue has since been fully resolved. The major program
selected for audit was the COVID-19 Coronavirus Relief Fund. The County
improperly charged the fund for$121,598 of expenditures incurred outside of the
period of performance. The accountability audit is to ensure the County complied
with State laws,regulations,grants,contracts,its own policies and procedures,and if
the County has adequate controls to safeguard public funds. The County complied
with all applicable laws,regulations,and policies ensuring the safeguarding of public
resources. The following areas were examined for this audit: accounts payable—
general disbursements;payroll—gross wages,overtime,extra pay,retroactive pay,
and accreditation pay;procurement—professional services and public works;
compliance with public works projects—prevailing wages and change orders;jail—
cash receipting;use of restricted funds—hotel/motel taxes;and compliance with
housing and lodging tax contracts. The next audit will be in the summer of 2022 for
accountability for public resources,financial statement,and federal programs.
Respectfully submitted,
McKenzie Smith,Clerk of the Board
BOARD OF MASON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
R y Neather in Sharon�Trk Kevin Shutty
Chair Commissioner Commissioner