Commission Briefs

Proposals sought for homeless grants

Mason County Public Health and Human Services announced the request for proposal application for homeless response grants is open for the 2023-2025 grant term.

According to a news release, the homeless response grant program includes money from the consolidated homeless grant and the local document recording fees administered by Mason County. Public Health and Human Services is responsible for contracting and compliance activities related to these homeless response money. The money provides resources to agencies that respond to the immediacy and urgency of homelessness and ensure that everyone has a safe place to live.

RFP application materials can be found on the Mason County website under request for proposals at http://www.tinyurl.com/55tvtkbj.

Administrator’s authority amended

Mason County commissioners approved an amendment to the county administrator’s level of authority at the Tuesday meeting.

According to the information packet, the recommendation is to further improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the commissioner’s office, staff recommended the level of authority to carry out policies and projects. Commissioners hope providing this authority to the county administrator will create a more efficient process. Alos, the administrator will provide progress reports in public briefings.

The authority for the administrator is for contracts and contract extensions that are $50,000 and under if expenditure authority exists within the adopted budget.

Journal selected as official newspaper

Mason County commissioners selected the Shelton-Mason County Journal as the official county newspaper at the Tuesday meeting.

According to the information packet, RCW 36.72.075 states at the first April meeting, the county legislative authority will select a legal newspaper as the official county newspaper for a term of one year. The Journal is the only newspaper published in Mason County that qualifies as a legal newspaper.

Emergency contract approved

An emergency management performance grant contract was approved to sign at the Tuesday commissioner meeting.

According to the information packet, the grant originates from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to the state military department to the state Emergency Management Department and then to state county governments. The grant is a yearly reimbursable grant we have been receiving since 2007 and the purpose of the grant is to assist with the enhancement, sustainment and improvement of state, local and tribal emergency management programs. The grant will assist with establishing a North Mason Emergency Operations and Training Center to mirror the current emergency operations center, along with mobile communications upgrades for the two centers and the mobile communications vehicle.

The 2022 amount is $3,274 more than 2021, and the county will be receiving $39,012 for the 2022 grant. There is a 50% match to the grant, which comes from the 2022 DEM salaries and supplies budget lines.

Solid waste grant contract amended

Mason County commissioners approved a contract amendment with the state Department of Ecology for a solid waste grant.

According to the information packet, Mason County is under contract to perform solid waste code enforcement work. Ecology provides $130,000 over two years and Mason County provides 25% matching money for a total of $174,000.

Other counties were unable to spend their money by June 30 and Mason County submitted a request for additional money. The amendment adds $40,000, including $30,000 from the state Department of Ecology with $10,000 in matching money from the county.

There is no budget impact yet, but it could affect the budget when the contract could be renewed in July.

Commission makes housing board pick

Mason County resident Becky Cronquist was appointed to the Mason County Housing Authority Board of Commissioners for a five-year term.

According to the information packet, the housing authority of Mason County, doing business as the Mason County Housing Authority, was organized in 1972 and serves citizens with low income in Mason County. It operates the Goldsborough Cove and Fairmont Cove apartments, Pine Gardens and Kneeland Park apartments.

Commissioners redo Homes First deal

Memorandum of understanding between Mason County and Homes First was revised by county commissioner approval.

According to the information packet, Homes First manages a county-owned property for therapeutic courts under terms of the contract and has notified the county it will raise the management fee by $100 a month from $1,000 to $1,100 effective Feb. 1. It is the first increase since the contract was signed in February 2020.