News Briefs

Meet Rhodes, Duenkel

The group Take Back Mason County is hosting a meet-and-greet at 6 p.m. Jan. 19 at The Beginnings Christian Church at 123 W C St. in Shelton with newly elected county clerk Charles Rhodes and county auditor Steve Duenkel slated to be in attendance. Refreshments will be provided. Contact Rebecca Bechtolt at 360-490-3239.

Temporary promotion extended

An extension of the temporary promotion of Corrections Support Officer Brad McQuade to alternative sentencing unit coordinator until March 16 was approved by county commissioners.

According to the commissioners information packet, corrections is experiencing a staffing crisis and does not have enough for deputies to continue coordinating the alternative sentencing unit.

Dog enclosure company selected

County commissioners approved Patriot Fence to install a fenced dog enclosure at Mason County’s Foothills Park in Hoodsport.

According to the commissioners information packet, Treasurer and Secretary of the Friends of the Lake Cushman Dog Park William Long presented to Mason County Parks and Trails for a proposal for an enclosed dog run to be built at Foothills Park.

The group had $9,235 to donate to the project’s cost.

The proposal was brought to Mason County commissioners to cover the remaining cost of the project, estimated at $18,000, which would mean the county would cover $8,765.

The group is partnering with Mason County Parks and Trails to maintain the enclosure.

The county asked for fencing quotes and of the three bids, the lowest bid was Patriot Fence at $15,919.68.

Mason County’s share is $6,684.68 and the money will come from the 2023 REET 2 project.

The commissioners approved an updated Parks and Trails Department’s Friends of Mason County Parks and Trails Department Program.

According to the information program, staff researched, drafted and updated Mason County historical documents to accommodate the proposed partnership and future collaborations.

In the county records, a previous program was found and updated and a draft agreement to accommodate the program was made using the Friends of Lake Cushman Dog Park group as an example.

Tribal Consistency Fund approved

Mason County commissioners approved the Budget and Finance manager to submit an application for funding through the Department of Treasury for Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Funding.

According to the commissioners information packet, The U.S. Department of Treasury has launched the LATCF program for eligible tribal government and eligible revenue-sharing counties.

Through the program, recipients have discretion on uses of the money, similar to ways they use money generated from the county’s revenue sources. Mason County is eligible for $397,884.65.