CITY BRIEFS

Tourism grants get preliminary approval

The Shelton City Council on Oct. 17 gave preliminary approval to granting $97,247 in tourism fund grants to seven organizations that draw visitors to the area.

The council can make the grants official with a final vote at its Nov. 7 meeting. The money comes from the collection of lodging taxes from the hotels and motels in the City of Shelton. The grants were recommended by the city's Lodging Tax Advisory Committee.

If approved, Kristmas Town Kiwanis will receive $9,000 for its Bluegrass from the Forest, the Mason County Forest Festival Association will get $10,000, Northwest Event Organizers will get $12,000 for Christmastown marketing and events and $3,000 for a mural installation at Overlook Park, PNW Raised Events gets $2,000 for the Downtown Get Down, the Mason County Disc Golf Association $14,197, the Shelton-Mason County Chamber of Commerce $20,000, the Mason County Historical Society $1,750 for the Cruisin' Through Times Car Show and $25,000 for its museum and visitor's center.

In 2023, the grant awards totaled $68,000.

City surpluses, sells Northcliff land next to park

The Shelton City Council at its Oct. 17 meeting settled a property line conflict by surplussing 2,019 square feet of land and selling it for $6,000 to a resident next to Northcliff Neighborhood Park.

The city report states that staff identified a fence line within the park's boundary and learned it had been in place for 13 years. The neighboring property owner purchased the property with the fence in place and assumed the area to be in their ownership.

The city determined the 2,019 square feet is considered Northcliff Neighborhood Park, which totals 72,461 square feet. After reviewing options to resolve the conflict with the property owner and the Parks and Recreation Citizens Advisory Committee, city staff recommended the surplus and sale of the area in question and stated there is no negative effect on the recreational value of the park.