Ins and Outs: Jane Roush - July

Written by Jane Roush | 21 July 2009

The proposed Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Shelton and Mason County regarding the Processing Development Application within the Shelton Urban Growth Area (UGAO) has stirred up a lot of controversy. The agreement relates to changes in the growth management act in the Shelton city limits and surrounding areas. A public hearing was held on June 1st and continued by the city commissioners until June 15th.

At that time, the commissioners again continued the hearing, allowing written comments until July 13th. The public hearing is continued until August 3rd. A number of residents at the June 15th hearing addressed areas of contention: annexation, definitions, less regulation, and the requirements, fees and timing of sewer hookups. Mason County Commissioners are also having a problem with residents complaining about this new agreement. A lot of money can be tied up for local builders/ developers/residents trying to comply with new changes/regulations regarding development of property.

At the June 15th meeting, the commissioners were informed the Washington State Department of Ecology approved the funding for the Kneeland Park Pump Station/Goldsborough Creek Sanitary Sewer Project. At the June 22nd meeting, the commissioners were presented with a contract where the figures only amounted to $2,039,163 and the contract page for signature was for $2,067,574. The new station will be at Kneeland Park right on the main street. The new pump station is scheduled for completion except for finishing touches before the rainy season. The Department of Ecology is providing a 20-year loan for the project.

The commissioners announced an emergency moratorium on filing applications on land development at the June 15th meeting following several executive meetings (closed to the public). The city has a permit called the National Pollution Elimination Discharge permit (NPDES) issued by the Washington State Department of Ecology. The city has been in violation of this permit by dumping biological solids into Oakland Bay. The Department of Ecology has given the city a timeline to build a new sewage treatment plant and stop the overflows in order to avoid further monetary fines. The city said it had capacity for 40 new sewer hookups, and 18 of those were filled. A public hearing is scheduled for July 20th on the moratorium.

The Shelton City Police Chief, Terry Davenport, gave the city commissioners an update on the parking problems for Evergreen Square at the June 22nd meeting. Parking space Nos. 1-37 will be reserved and will have yellow paint on them. The remainder of the parking spaces will be available for the public. Signs are being repainted and repositioned for easier viewing by the drivers. Cars parking illegally will be towed. The changes will take place on Monday August 3rd. Flyers will be given to local businesses to hand out to customers. The city bought this parking lot saying it needed the lot for parking for customers and clients of local businesses. It now is reserving the majority of the parking spaces for people who can afford to rent the spaces. If you want to reserve a space, call city hall.

The city and Fire District 5 entered into an agreement to consolidate fire services. Mason County FD 5 was supposed to purchase Mason County Medic One as part of their commitment to the agreement. However, it now appears there are problems with the purchase and it is unknown when and if Mason County FD5 will ever purchase the company. The benefits of the agreement to the city were cost savings while maintaining existing levels of service. The city has no control over the fixed costs related to this agreement. At the June 22nd meeting the city commissioners agreed to send a letter to Mason County FD 5 giving formal notice to cancel the contract on December 31, 2010, unless problems are resolved in the next 1-_ years. If the commissioners waited until July 1 or later to send notice they would have had to give 2 _ years notice.

The last issue I want to discuss is the old City Hall. This is the old “Art Deco” building on Franklin Street that housed the jail for a number of years. I recall the bottom floor flooded every time it rained and one year they nearly lost a jailee in the rising water. The city commissioners on June 22nd placed the building on the historical list. I have very mixed feelings about the issue of cleaning up the building and keeping it. The proposal is to remodel the building removing all the additions and filling in the ground floor with dirt. The building is full of mold and that is a pricey fix. The city is looking for a grant. The city is currently having financial problems and is talking about further cuts to current programs in the fall. It is hard to even consider the old city hall building as a keeper when the library and shelter programs are not being funded.

The city commissioners meeting is held at the Shelton Civic Center on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month at 6:00pm. On the 2nd and 4th Mondays, the commissioners meet at 2:00pm for business meetings. If there is a 5th Monday, that meeting is also held at 2:00pm.