HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024/04/09 - Elected Official/Department Head ask , Mason County Elected Official/Director Meeting
Minutes
Commission Chambers
411 N 5A St, Shelton, WA 98584
�s April 9, 2024
10:00 a.m.
1. Call to Order—The Chairperson called the Elected Official/Director meeting to order at 10:00 a.m.
2. County Administrator—Mark Neary
2.1 Building 10 Status
Work is being completed on the new District Court building to move District Court staff out of the
Courthouse.
2.2 North Mason Services
The Sheriff's Office moved into the new North Mason precinct building which has room for other
County departments to operate out of as well.
2.3 Mason County Citizens' Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials (Salary Commission)
The Salary Commission has been meeting every Monday evening to set the salaries for Elected Officials
which has a deadline of May 1,2024. Questions for Elected Officials from the Salary Commission were
emailed this morning.
3. 2024 Budget Process—Mark Neary
An overview of the 2024 preliminary Budget with Policy Level Requests(PLRs)will be done in
September. The Chart of Accounts(COA)is in the process of being revised.
4. Elected Official and Director Updates
4.1 Assessor—Patti McLean
The new field device tablets allow for faster inspections and provide a date stamp on the parcel. There
was an unprecedented 610+number of Board appeals. Site inspections, which are done once every six
years,are being done in Area One—Matlock,Lake Limerick,and Lynch Road. There is an increase in
agitated taxpayers when Appraisers are doing site inspections. There has also been an influx of the
Senior Exemption Disability Program. The income level increased to$55,000 from$40,000. Audits are
being done on senior exemption income qualifications and the Designated Forest Land/Current Use
Program. 21 applications were received for Designated Forest Land and 9 for Open Space.
4.2 Auditor—Steve Duenkel
Financial Services:Leo Kim,Chief Financial Officer,is leading the OA revision and conversion and
aiding in enhancing internal controls. The Accounts Payable(AP)office is continuing to go paperless.
Recording/Licensing:Passport services are being transferred from the Clerk's Office and position
descriptions are being updated to include those services. The fraud notification service is live. Other
features on the website include searching documents and printing certified copies of recorded
documents. Protecting property against land,title,and deed fraud is also being looked into.
Elections:About thirty(30)constituents used the temporary Voting Center that was set up at the new
North Mason Sheriffs Office. That space will be utilized again for the August Primary and November
General Elections. Ways to protect the voting system machines and election system are continuously
being looked into. Devices are used to detect wireless signals in the area of the ballot processing room
to discern threats. Video surveillance will be put up for the ballot drop boxes at the YMCA and Fire
District 4. The Elections website will be migrated back to the County in preparation for the website
redesign. About one-third of the Auditor's time is spent on registration database maintenance and is a
top priority to get ready for 2024 Elections. Starting in July,automatic voter registration laws will come
into effect and will be a significant statement of work. Additional staff may be needed.
4.3 Clerk—Charles Rhodes
The Clerk's Office is back up to full staff and the acting Chief is Bonnie Pope. Staff are in the process
of being crossed trained to handle all case types. All Odyssey invoices should be billed out on May 1.
The Administrative Office of the Courts(AOC)will be coming to provide training for the Clerk and
Clerk's Office staff. Involuntary Treatment Act(ITA)billing is up to date.
4.4 Coroner—Jaime Taylor
The Coroner's Office has been very busy and has already surpassed its numbers this year from this time
last year. Five deaths were investigated in less than 24 hours just this past weekend. The new storage
and racks are being utilized. There is no longer a backlog for death certificates and the new Randox
machine has been matching results from the Washington State Patrol(WSP). Toxicology is being done
for Grays Harbor.
4.5 District Court—Judge Steele
There court and criminal justice community are facing challenges around the change of standards for
Public Defenders.Court calendars have changed to help mitigate damage. The ability to assign Public
Defenders is as critical as the ability to assign Prosecutors. District Court is looking forward to moving
into Building 10. A grant opportunity was forwarded to the Commissioners for restoring historic
buildings. District Court is fully staffed.
4.6 Prosecutor—Michael Dorcy
The Prosecutor's Office is down three attorneys and is trying to prioritize and triage. Keeping up with
the normal workload has been incredibly difficult.
4.7 Sheriff—Ryan Spurling
The Sheriff's Office has been busy with a gang-involved shooting at the Casino and accident on the
highway. The new drones and FERA scanner give the Sheriff s Office the capacity to be primary lead
on the high liability collision. There are 53 commissioned Officers,27 of which have less than five-
years' with Mason County. Beginning June 6,Officers will be able to pursue vehicles again. The
Sheriff's Office partners with Washington State Patrol to teach their domestic violence classes and
pursuit dog classes in exchange to use their driving course and vehicles. This will allow the Sheriff's
Office to train in immobilization techniques. An 80-hour leadership course will be available through
West Point—Behavioral Sciences and Leadership Sciences. Concerns around border patrol and border
safety were shared.
4.8 Superior Court—Judge Cobb,Judge Goodell,Judge Stevens
This is Judge Cobb's first year as presiding Judge. The Court has been busy and has continued to adapt
to legislature changes. For example,modifications of protection orders and guardianship processes.
The Court is also having the same issues as District Court with Prosecutor and Public Defender staffing
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and the need for Public Defenders. The level of cooperation between the Courts,Prosecutor's Office,
and Public Defense is the best he has seen. Judge Cobb also had the chance to speak at the Shelton
Police Citizen's Academy and in North Mason doing presentations at the school. The five-year Federal
grant for Therapeutic Courts is ending,but another grant is in place to prevent any reduction of service.
4.9 Treasurer—Lisa Frazier
Taxes are due April 30. The Treasurer's Office is short-staffed and is busy with taxes. The Assessor's
Office provided information early which allowed for tax statements to be sent out two weeks early.
Taxes have been collected since mid-February. A drop box at the new North Mason building to provide
services would be helpful, but transporting payments while short-staffed is difficult. Two staff would be
required for transportation. The increase in appeals and senior exemptions requires the Treasurer's
Office to correct tax rolls and send out new statements,which creates an additional workload. Real
Estate Excise Tax(REET)is increasing and is becoming more complicated. The Treasurer's Office is
working with the State Auditor,FBI,and Sheriff's Office regarding Fire District No. 12.
4.10 Central Services—Mark Neary
Parks and Trails:Playground equipment is being installed at Sandhill Park.
Facilities:Courthouse elevator is fixed,but the Jail elevator is now broken.
IT:Fiber project is getting completed for new fiber to help with connectivity and movement of
electronic files and the new server room at the back of the new District Court building.
Emergency Management:ICS 300 training is this week to share how the County responds to
emergencies and natural disasters. All County employees are essential employees and have a role in
responding and protecting the citizens of Mason County. ICS 300 will provide an overview of how the
County would operate in an emergency,what role individuals would have,and how to fulfil that role.
There will be another course offered in the fall.
Support Services: Mark will be attending a County Administrator conference at the end of this week to
discuss issues facing Counties and how to deal with those. A new switchboard operator was hired. A
Request for Proposals(RFP)was sent out for a new County website. Diane Zoren will be retiring at the
end of this year.
4.11 Community Development—Kell Rowen
Gotham Greens,a multi-million-dollar project for microgreens,will be coming to Mason County on
State Route 102,west of Public Works. This was a group effort with the Economic Development
Council and the Department of Commerce. Inspectors for Community Development will also be
utilizing tablets in the field to be more efficient.
4.12 Human Resources—Mary Ransier
Labor:Contracts with Teamster's Appraisers,Teamster's Prosecutors Clerical,and Corrections will be
expiring in 2024 and the goal is to have new contracts in place before then. The non-represented class
and comp study will be done this year. The deadline for employee position review is April 12,
Supervisors and Managers will need to review by April 19,and final changes must be submitted by
April 26. This will be done every two years. In NEOGOV,it is important to review applications as
quickly as possible. For new positions in 2025,make sure to include Human Resources and Financial
Services as soon as possible. A learning management system has been created in SharePoint and teams
for upcoming training. A new Admin Assistant has been hired.
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4.13 Public Health and Human Services—Dave Windom
COVID is no longer a primary focus,but created many gaps in the community that are being filled. The
WIC Clinic is now open thanks to a unique partnership with the YMCA and Mason General Hospital.
Work is being done around Hepatitis C treatment. A new Health Officer has been hired. Public
Health's budget is good and will have no changes in 2025. Staffmg is good. The goal is to expand
services and be more involved with the community. A clinical mobile van will allow for services to be
provided in more rural areas. A communications and epidemiologist have been hired. Funding was
received for the Randox machine.
4.14 Public Works&Utilities and Waste—Loretta Swanson
The Finance Manager position has been filled. There is a shortage of Engineers and Certified Water
System and Sewer Wastewater Operators. A new long-haul transport and disposal contract was
executed. Transfer Stations are seeing record highs. Utility rates and rate setting are being discussed.
Public Works has been able to leverage grants to help stabilize and keep rates affordable. There is a$12
million construction program for 2024 with a$2.5 million match. Smaller projects include reflector
posts on stop signs,widening shoulders,and extending clear zones. Munis will be utilized. Improving
efficiencies throughout the Department will be a focus as well. There are 300+fish barriers in Mason
County that will need addressed and funded.
4.15 WSU Extension—Lisa DeWall
A new Noxious Weed Coordinator was hired in March. Noxious weed focus is spurge laurel,shiny
geranium, lesser celandine,poison hemlock,knapweed,giant hogweed,and perennial pepperweed. The
Seasonal Noxious Weed Specialist position has been posted and will hopefully be filled by May 15 for
the Master Gardner Small Farms program. Washington State Department of Health will be offering free
soil screening for lead and arsenic at the Master Gardener Plant Sale on May 4. Master Gardener's will
also be offering monthly informational sessions and plant clinics at the Hoodsport Library every fourth
Wednesday through August. A new Mason County Farm Fresh Guide will be released in May. 4-H has
Summer Camp at Panhandle Lake July 13-18. This year had a 61%increase in volunteer enrollment.
The 4-H Tech Changemakers will provide technology support and education to adults in the community
at the Shelton Timberland Regional Library. The Snap Ed Program is incorporating nutrition with the
school garden for 3rd grade at Pioneer School and providing nutrition education and food access resource
to Saint's Pantry,the Food Bank,and the Shelton Farmer's Market.
4.16 Public Defense—Peter Jones
Washington State Bar Association(WSBA)recently passed an amendment to the standards for Indigent
Defense that compresses the ability of any given attorney to handle cases which will change criminal
justice. Public Defense will need four times the attorneys to handle cases. The more significant the
case,the higher the credits. The Chief Justice will be attending the Washington Defender Association
(WDA)Retreat at the end of April and Peter will get more answers then. Two Public Defense staff have
won the Presidential Award at Mason County. Law school enrollment is down,and the alternate
pathways program will not have a significant impact.
5. Adjournment—The meeting adjourned at 11:40 a.m.
4JApril 9 , 2024 Elected Official / Director Minutes
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ATTEST: MASON COUNTY, WASHINGTON
McKenzie Smifi, Clerk of the Board Randy Neath n, Chair
Kevin Shutty,Vice- hair
,2,1 2Z'/
Sharon Trask, Commissioner
51April 9 , 2024 Elected Official / Director Minutes