Commission Briefs

Free dump vouchers

The United Way of Mason County and Youth Connections of Belfair is handing out vouchers for the 2023 Days of Caring.

According to a news release, vouchers became available Wednesday at the United Way of Mason County 790 E. Johns Prairie Road in Shelton and at the Youth Connection of Belfair on state Route 3. There are 300 vouchers available in Shelton and 150 available at Youth Connection of Belfair.

To receive a voucher, you must fill out the required paperwork, have a valid identification and proof of a Mason County address. Vouchers will only cover 1,000 pounds of household garbage and are redeemable at the Mason County Landfill on Eells Hill Road in Shelton. Vouchers must be used by June 30.

Notification of final costs approved

The County Force Construction Projects were approved to execute a “notification of final cost” of construction projects performed by county forces over $10,000 before projects begin and after they are completed.

According to the information packet, the annual costs of projects performed in-house are limited by statute. The projects that were completed last year include the North Shore Road at Cady Creek for $242,117, North Shore Road at Great Bend Culvert Replacement for $250,008, Sunnyside Road resurfacing from gravel to chip seal for $77,599 and California Road resurfacing from gravel to chip seal for $82,870. The total county forces expenditure was $652,594.

Rock Creek Bridge replacement approved

The Rock Creek Bridge on Cloquallum Road will be replaced following approval from Mason County commissioners.

According to the information packet, a recent inspection of the bridge revealed a failing superstructure. The bridge was estimated to have been built in the early 1960s, but there are no plans on file to confirm when it was built. The superstructure is a laminated slab timber deck with an 18-foot span. The timber slab sets on concrete spread footings. Some years ago, a marine plywood layer was lag-bolted to the deck surface and asphalt was placed over top. The layer of plywood has rotted, allowing water to intrude into the top of the timber slab. It is recommended that the timber superstructure be replaced.

Public Works staff solicited five companies they found that could build the type of structure needed and three quotes were procured. Public Works recommended the award of the bid to the low bidder of TrueNorth Steel Bridge.

The project was adopted to the Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program for construction in 2024. Due to the long lead time for manufacturing and delivery, the budget request for 2023 is for $220,000 and money will be moved from the beginning fund balance.

Grinder pumps purchased

Mason County Public Works was approved to purchase Grinder Pumps from Correct Equipment by county commissioners.

According to the information packet, Public Works has a service maintenance agreement with Correct Equipment to provide service for the grinder pumps for the North Bay and Belfair Sewer Systems. The agreement includes a price list for pumps and parts and due to the age of the equipment, many of the service problems result in the purchase and installation of a new pumping unit.

Correct Equipment is offering to provide a discount on the pumps with a minimum purchase of 50 at one time because the pump company gives Correct Equipment discounts for large orders. Without discount pricing, the grinder pumps would cost $3,486 each. With the discount, the grinder pumps cost $2,606. The savings is $880 per pump.

In the last three years, an average of 72 dry well and eight wet well grinder pumps have been replaced yearly in North Bay and Belfair. Public Works is ordering 65 dry well and 10 wet well grinder pumps.

The money is available in the current budget and would be paid for primarily out of the North Bay Fund No. 403, with 5% out of Belfair Fund No. 413. The North Bay system is older and almost all of the pump replacements are in that system.

Commissioners back bid for trade zone status

A letter of support was signed by Mason County commissioners for the Port Angeles’ application for a Foreign-Trade Zone in the proposed service area of Clallam County and the North Olympic Peninsula.

According to the information packet, the Port of Port Angeles applied to the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones Board for authority to use a new procedure called the “Alternative Site Framework” for quick and simple access to FTZ service for companies in the region. The Port Angeles port is the grantee of the FTZ Clallam County and North Olympic Peninsula and sponsors a limited number of FTZ sites. This authority will allow the Port Angeles port to bring FTZ designation to any company within the proposed service area of Clallam, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, Kitsap, Mason, San Juan, Skagit and Snohomish counties.