HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025/07/28 - BriefingBoard of Mason County Commissioners' Briefing Minutes
Mason County Commission Chambers, 411 N 5th Street, Shelton, WA 98584
Week of July 28, 2025
Monday, July 28, 2025
9:00 A.M. Closed Session — RCW 42.30.140(4) Labor Discussion
Commissioners Neatherlin, Tarzwell, and Trask met in closed session for labor negotiation from 9:00
a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Travis Adams, Chris Pinkston, Kayla Brinckmeyer, Cabot Dow, and Lindsey Smith
were also in attendance.
10:00 A.M. Public Health — David Windom
Commissioners Neatherlin, Tarzwell, and Trask were in attendance.
• Melissa Casey provided an update on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-2027 Homeless Response System
funding awards. Subcontracts are being finalized and will be effective July 1, 2025, once formally
approved.
• Dave will discuss open positions on the Board of Health next week.
10:05 A.M.
10:10 A.M.
Public Works — Loretta Swanson
Utilities & Waste Management
Commissioners Neatherlin, Tarzwell, and Trask were in attendance.
• Commissioners discussed the letter from Mason County Garbage & Recycling regarding the notice of
rates for the proposed new contract related to hauling of transfer station solid waste and recycling
containers and renewing the current contract for a five-year term.
Central Services — Travis Adams
Commissioners Neatherlin, Tarzwell, and Trask were in attendance.
• Jeff Slakey, CTE Academy Navigator for the Shelton School District, shared a Career Connected
Learning and CTE Academy Partnership Opportunity presentation. Information included the Shelton
Success Strategic Plan for 2022-2027 and priorities and initiatives summary as well as the "From
Classroom to Career" newsletter. This would allow the school district to partner with Mason County
for internship opportunities.
• Kim Monroe discussed the Chief Public Defender position. Angela Avery Law offered to contract from
August 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025, to assist Mason County. Approved to move forward.
• Kim requested to reclass Maggie Huston from Legal Assistant to Administrative Services Manager
after reviewing and updating that job position to fit with the Public Defenders office.
• Travis shared the letter of support request from Public Utility District (PUD) No. 1 for their application
to the United States (U.S.) Economic Development Association (EDA) 2025 Disaster Supplemental
Grant Program fund the rest of their grid resiliency project for Jorstad Creek in Lilliwaup. Approved to
move forward.
• Travis shared the letter of support request from PUD No. 3 for their application to the U.S. EDA 2025
Disaster Supplemental Grant Program to fund Phase 3 of their Olympic Ridge Substation. Approved to
move forward.
• Travis discussed listing parcel no. 22005-53-00012, 1581 E Phillips Lake Loop Road. This parcel was
not sold at the Tax Title foreclosure auction. Per RCW 36.35.150(d), the County can sell the parcel via
direct negotiation. Cmmr. Neatherlin requested to work with Richard Beckman on finding parcels for
Habitat for Humanity. Approved to move forward.
• Jennifer Beierle shared that the Mason Conservation District Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP)
has an amendment for $40,000 for guidelines for capital. Approved to move forward.
• Travis provided an update regarding the Island Lake, Lake Management District (LMD) ballot return
process. The Auditor's Election Office has offered to manage the return and verification of the ballots.
• Travis shared that Joint Animal Services (JAS) met with Sheriff's Office to discuss animal control
services and will brief their discussion at the August 11 briefing.
• Travis discussed a request for the batting cages to be open through the winter months. Park's staff do
maintenance and repair during this time but are willing to rent the batting cages during that time.
• Travis had Chris try to reach out to the Farm Bureau to talk about the Agriculture Committee but has
not received a response yet.
July 28, 2025 ( Page 1 of 2
Board of Mason County Commissioners' Briefing Minutes
Mason County Commission Chambers, 411 N 5`1' Street, Shelton, WA 98584
• Travis discussed raising the hourly rate from $100 an hour to $150 an hour for contracted misdemeanor
Criminal Defense Attorneys. Approved to move forward.
• Travis shared that the Washington State Recreation Conservation Office did an inspection of Oakland
Bay Park and received a clean report.
• Cmmr. Neatherlin discussed comprehensive plan and shared what is required by law. Commissioners
recommended paring down the comprehensive plan.
• Cmmr. Tarzwell shared a request to have a convention of counties in Washington to give counties the
ability to stand up against the state on things such as unfunded mandates. One suggestion was that each
County would have a senator.
Respectfully submitted,
McKenzie Smith,
Clerk of the Board
BOARD OF MASON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Sharon Trask, Pat Tarzwell,
Chair Vice -Chair
Randy Neatherlin,
Commissioner
July 28, 2025 I Page 2 of 2