City Briefs

Submissions sought for traffic box art

The City of Shelton is accepting submissions of artwork for consideration of the next round of Shelton Arts Commission's traffic boxes.

All Mason County residents are invited to submit artwork. Applications are due by 5 p.m. April 4. Applicants can email one image of their artwork to Parks and Recreation Supervisor Jordanne Krumpols at jordanne.krumpols@sheltonwa.gov, with the subject line "Traffic Box Project."

The submitted artwork must be 1,000 pixels wide by 550 pixels tall; less than one megabyte file size; submitted as a JPEG; and must be a horizontal image.

Each person can submit one image. Eligibility criteria and more information can be found at http://www.sheltonwa.gov/TrafficBoxes.

The public can vote on submitted artwork from April 10-18. The Shelton Arts Commission will review the submitted artwork and vote results. The artwork will be installed on selected traffic boxes this summer.

This is the fourth round of traffic boxes in the city. To view the current traffic boxes and their locations, go to http://www.sheltonwa.gov/PublicArt.

Capitol Hill annexation formally approved

The Shelton City Council on Tuesday gave final approval to initiating a development company's request to annex 2.5 acres on Capitol Hill into the city limits.

The council gave preliminary approval at its March 6 meeting.

The wooded area is bordered by Chestnut Street on the south, Fogarty Street on the west, and Walnut Street on the north.

The report from the city's community development department states that last month, the city received a notice of intent to petition for annexation of a vacant 2.5-acre parcel in the Shelton Urban Growth Area, contiguous with the city limits. The parcel is owned by HNM Development of Graham.

The land is prezoned neighborhood residential, as recognized in the city's Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use Map. The property has the same zoning designation on the city's zooming map.

HNM Development is now required to formally submit a petition for annexation into the city. The Mason County assessor will then determine the sufficiency and authenticity of the 60% petition, where the property owners are authorized to circulate and submit an annexation petition bearing signatures of the owners of at least 60% of the assessed value of the annexation area.

Formal public notice will then be issued and a public hearing posted regarding the annexation. The City Council will then consider the annexation ordinance for approval or denial. The annexation will be effective on the date of the ordinance.

Towing contract receives initial approval

The Shelton City Council on Tuesday evening gave preliminary approval to contracting Summit Towing for towing services.

The council can make the move final with a vote at its meeting at 6 p.m. April 1 at the Shelton Civic Center.

The city report states that the city's police department uses Summit Towing services for impounds, evidence seizure tows, and if needed, evidence storage of vehicles. Impound fees are the responsibility of the registered owner of the vehicle being towed, if it does not need to be seized as evidence for an investigation.

"However, in the event a vehicle needs to be seized as evidence and is subsequently towed, the Shelton Police Department is responsible for the towing service and potential storage fees for the vehicle," the report states. "The fees that the Shelton Police Department realizes for towing the vehicle can range from $300- $500 per vehicle."

In the proposed contact, Summit Towing will receive $125 for the first 25 miles of towing and $5 per mile beyond that.