[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6312949,"mediaKeyId","2390134-f7d342300e200c93bc61d45b8f3f09bb","parentId",2390134,"title","Mason County to accept Puget Sound Partnership grant to fund septic inspections and small repairs","audioSeconds",223,"startMs",10607000,"endMs",10830000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2390134-f7d342300e200c93bc61d45b8f3f09bb&start=10607&end=10830","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2390134-f7d342300e200c93bc61d45b8f3f09bb/thumbnail_10607000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6312949/Mason-County/Washington/Mason-County-to-accept-Puget-Sound-Partnership-grant-to-fund-septic-inspections-and-small-repairs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6312949-406eb1cddfdc792f897841e299f89dc5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140330&Signature=U6V692jaq7VG7I9259lnKw2BdDblhgsGXsSxLzfQtWFPglFtz4KHhj69sFiGSwN5G4t3Nl-0qiWg-wIvddA-o84u7Utdxh7Xf3zAkA-2kxA9dvSQKK27YOmZ0uI0DsW~jvINt0SP-4dN~jmY7-~UIsZwFAOBPwezW8ORy1Hn5pPL1IyUfBUABihqshaLH4rvzb38kMIe3AZeNXS8nJvB9FF5llMbb44gRQrxC~KVCCktHdNpju5foDkgGZ1upJHXoPX8TcIukxnAOF8SfQNVTo0Haq4VNAEnYSGo5AobZH3O83Sbwnbe0ckMkl2zZ33dHExdHmnRR3fdrARvG3JZwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Mason County, WA","date","2025-02-26T00:07:37.39Z","article","Mason County staff told commissioners the county will receive a $214,000 grant from the Puget Sound Partnership to support septic-system inspections, pumpings and limited repairs in Hood Canal and the South Sound.

The grant requires the county to adopt a policy for distributing funds; staff proposed a model that would allow smaller award amounts to assist repairs (staff cited a possible $1,500 repair contribution as a reference point used by other jurisdictions) and noted that a portion of the grant must be used for property inspections. The grant carries a firm spend-down date of June 30, 2027, and staff said they will submit a draft policy to the board for approval after clarifying allowable uses with the grantor.

Commissioners indicated support for accepting the award and for staff to finalize a disbursement policy. The board authorized county staff to sign the Puget Sound Partnership contract and to return with a policy for how funds will be allocated.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Mason County Commission Briefings Feb. 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","County staff said Mason County will receive $214,000 from the Puget Sound Partnership to support septic-system inspections, pumpings and limited repairs; staff will draft a policy for applicant awards and Mark was authorized to sign the contract.","taxTitle","Mason County, Washington","taxId",56702,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6312952,"County staff propose hearing-examiner budget and abatement fund to tackle long-running nuisance properties",572,11700000,12272000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2390134-f7d342300e200c93bc61d45b8f3f09bb&start=11700&end=12272","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2390134-f7d342300e200c93bc61d45b8f3f09bb/thumbnail_11700000.jpg","/articles/6312952/Mason-County/Washington/County-staff-propose-hearing-examiner-budget-and-abatement-fund-to-tackle-long-running-nuisance-properties","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6312952-2cd6f4b8407348e1ff574f610b3e2e7a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140330&Signature=LHMRMz~7TEw1E~MWt-YjF~x3t5j60tRbfiVmnAxY8frqJHO9s-ywJ9IXvYsXxTN5jBjboGmDDzSCIMB073uLsPkOKiGeelSGZ7B8MVEfmUn3CbH~pZbCvA~l~bT3gMHz6qgv2gpYPqepU4z3NprHVzEzXe4JpQ0J1VNNJukpfM76Jcrt~Phkjxy3qTpriwxLaS~npIkgB-ovUFLJaFVe0ubyZ05BwldxV5JAjXBmcBaFZmwtL69qDOkF-mCGytZ490DxbB0pDpWwD9R7Ub-AUdIfWSpSxNNEoCVGBBUNx~iKZ3IYU2jA6gc~UF3EgE07odmUPr9IxnguGsv87cyoMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mason County staff used the Feb. 24 briefing to describe a persistent backlog of solid-waste, sewage and nuisance properties and to propose two fiscal tools intended to accelerate enforcement and cleanup.

Staff said environmental-health and community-development casework includes many multi‑year matters — dozens of open files older than five years — and presented examples of heavily contaminated lots, vehicle yards and encampment properties that have resisted voluntary cleanup. Existing enforcement paths include administrative fines, district-court (class C) infraction processes, hearings-examiner adjudication and county abatement. Staff said administrative fines rarely resolve the worst cases, hearings-examiner proceedings require substantial preparation and expense, and county abatement has no dedicated fund.

To address that, staff proposed two county investments for commission consideration: (1) approximately $180,000 to cover hearings-examiner costs and related case preparation (the staff estimate modeled one contested hearing-examiner matter per month handled by five code-enforcement staff), and (2) a $250,000 abatement fund to pay the immediate cleanup/contractor costs when the county must remove hazardous materials or perform a court-ordered abatement. Staff emphasized that using liens and tax-foreclosure powers can transfer responsibility to the county and trigger expensive remediation, so an abatement fund would allow the county to resolve selected properties while preserving options for recovery.

Commissioners asked staff to wait until the state legislative session concludes before bringing a formal funding request, and asked staff to investigate the county’s current contractual relationship with the hearings examiner and whether any restricted DCD or abatement funds could be repurposed. Staff will return with a written proposal after the session and with an inventory of long-running cases and their fiscal implications.","After reviewing a large backlog of longstanding solid-waste and nuisance cases, county staff proposed that commissioners consider dedicated funding to cover hearing-examiner costs and an abatement fund; commissioners asked staff to wait until the legislative session ends and to return with a formal proposal.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6312953,"Commissioners back limited contract with regional animal services; staff to negotiate emergency weekend coverage",1560,9000000,10560000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2390134-f7d342300e200c93bc61d45b8f3f09bb&start=9000&end=10560","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2390134-f7d342300e200c93bc61d45b8f3f09bb/thumbnail_9000000.jpg","/articles/6312953/Mason-County/Washington/Commissioners-back-limited-contract-with-regional-animal-services-staff-to-negotiate-emergency-weekend-coverage","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6312953-840902950172504401c1c7458480e752/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140330&Signature=SeQ1zGgkGb0nuUjvyGpDIK0V~LppInKMpMu5Lk~5e8RJgpXIpoL8xzfTZkAkL8KJUm4OuMPA-jJKi-RSOGQ0xtzn9y-Sx41D2XwgMy7UIZtXZ~plgLFZmLdo7zK47KjGlflDSmRHVM1TbzU7UTkgBnP~LwoQ1vpcyYEzlrKNb86rzGOuHkZuH0FGs0rfCWHdDKN0X4vYcseaTJkWLz2rzYKRhyiJPIQnd1IaG4OA~PXgKIm4XJPPuKhqrnk8SbWX91wLbkWDWRJ2ba1qqDx5hRbsZD3kbhTlFi9Fq1iibsqaIP1eFPkQG8mvca24lwGKy69u~73kKgop8DCTf~oDEg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mason County commissioners on Feb. 24 discussed options to restore and strengthen animal-control services after a multi-year gap in dedicated animal-control staffing.

Staff described three vendor-proposed options from a regional provider: a $50,000 \"housing only\" option that would provide a place to hold animals; a mid-level option (about $175,000) that would provide weekday field response and use the provider’s facilities; and a full seven-day option that would add weekend coverage at a higher cost. Staff recommended the middle option as a balance between service and cost while noting the county would still free up roughly 1.5 deputy positions from animal-control tasks under any of the vendor options.

Commissioners expressed support for the mid-level option but asked staff to negotiate a modest emergency-response supplement so the sheriff’s office would have a path to ask for weekend emergency assistance on a limited number of calls. The board authorized staff to continue negotiations with the regional provider and the sheriff’s office and asked staff to return with the final contract language; commissioners said they hoped for implementation in April if negotiations and union conversations proceed.

The sheriff (unnamed) told the board that restoring animal-control to a non-sheriff office would free deputies to pursue other public-safety priorities while providing more consistent animal-control documentation and sheltering. Commissioners and staff also discussed possible city cost-sharing to expand coverage and the option of partnering with Humane Society facilities in future phases.","After a multi-week review, commissioners supported a middle-tier contract with a regional joint animal-services provider to restore consistent animal-control services, asked staff to negotiate a small emergency-weekend add-on with the sheriff’s office, and set a target of implementing the service by April if negotiations succeed.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6312955,"Commissioners defer decision on Mason County Housing Authority $85,000 annual request",270,6000000,6270000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2390134-f7d342300e200c93bc61d45b8f3f09bb&start=6000&end=6270","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2390134-f7d342300e200c93bc61d45b8f3f09bb/thumbnail_6000000.jpg","/articles/6312955/Mason-County/Washington/Commissioners-defer-decision-on-Mason-County-Housing-Authority-85000-annual-request","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6312955-8f899c1a3082dce80d54d96ad3337e6c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140330&Signature=L5W30axHB7NccjJq2dvs0qJsV~UF~7~JLLewaXmndZdZUftQP4~ED1jX-~gSxvDxae3sZaY-e3FrsZTRC2op43kHIvRb-sxkSklqcHdNq0MMxuH5BO5F3aPlmi5rU-NDBFj8CecH-YLDpFpxx4kgPhvs-1psj3BJ-wUYhHiTn9JjlycBmJdRimviOpSNFSWSa9Y2Bj~R9fxX11Cggo1p94LaOcgGzLWZ2OWsrzBgj2AxYd5fCed6jMgDA~jF6HyZs2HwfkDE-TFzAZ3WRJV7WbvEqD1s42Mdg59T5AwV-bDoKtrEjr4Pi2GeCVz463fNpA21ikP3o2d8yEFNtGsm5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mason County staff presented a funding request from the Mason County Housing Authority (MCHA) during the Feb. 24 briefing: the authority asked the county to fund $85,000 per year toward an executive-director-level position, with cost-of-living increases, under a multi-year agreement.

Staff reported outreach to potential grantors and said those grant sources could not be used to pay for the requested administrative support. Commissioners recalled earlier discussions in which county support was expected to be short-term while MCHA pursued grant funding; some commissioners recalled a two-year expectation, others recalled one year. Commissioners said the housing authority is an independent entity and noted the county’s limited legal responsibility for the authority’s operations.

After discussion about precedence (other local nonprofits might seek similar support) and budgetary constraints, commissioners directed staff to calendar the item for follow-up in a couple of weeks so staff and the commissioner who raised the issue could prepare additional options and grant-sourcing details. No appropriation or contract was approved at the briefing.","The board discussed a housing authority request for $85,000 per year to fund administrative support; staff said grant funds investigated were unavailable and commissioners asked staff to return within weeks with additional options and clarifications.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6312956,"Mason County staff warn of January cash decline; commissioners to monitor monthly reports",420,5400000,5820000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2390134-f7d342300e200c93bc61d45b8f3f09bb&start=5400&end=5820","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2390134-f7d342300e200c93bc61d45b8f3f09bb/thumbnail_5400000.jpg","/articles/6312956/Mason-County/Washington/Mason-County-staff-warn-of-January-cash-decline-commissioners-to-monitor-monthly-reports","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6312956-0ffc8a9d1ee0bed4a5428fa10523f684/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140330&Signature=XgLBCgOB9Oy-mwso4hCS1yH8MCfNw1Zr3IOQ77m~0VDFD0~42V41jplUm4oDDV4Puc~nLPTU5wNSzUZ7hDzMODSLBq5EHdEMUw5KDjaWDb3I7T4jWQuyNHEscXst~dON6wqz2PjlSp~9KHxvntsiyB32JOJeyjbopIxtLxkVWdMibeqSHJGtDmwaT2xg~cxNu4l1TNV~zxQXrWZguabgXzXj8nfsr727DKYSx6ggLEKjglHvzEGf5CDGOl-HVYGfxYAr5VO7kfKDIzMLfKueHt13JLaFemWYNWWqVNA6mAO-J~9i9SzKn6rnL6mbfCDOSv~xxhAUjUQUxPN7fbjdSA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County finance staff told the Mason County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 24 that January 2025 results showed early signs of strain on county cash balances but said one month does not establish a trend.

The presentation covered revenue and expenditure benchmarks through January. Staff reported general-fund receipts near the same proportion of budget as last year (about 6 percent) but said county cash on hand declined by roughly $1.1 million in the six-year recap — the first backward movement in several years. Sales-tax receipts for January were slightly stronger year over year and real-estate excise tax showed some improvement compared with two years ago; the county’s ARPA balance was reported at $632,000 with less than $100,000 of eligible spending remaining.

Finance staff and commissioners stressed the limits of drawing conclusions from a single month while also emphasizing the need to watch subsequent months closely. Commissioners asked staff to bring the March results back to the board for review and to surface any evidence that the January decline is persisting. Staff also noted the county’s operating reserve and other special-fund balances remain substantial, but cautioned that continued month-to-month declines could force policy changes such as reserve adjustments or revenue actions if repeated.

The discussion included operational detail and next steps: staff will return with updated revenue-forecast timing in April and will present March financials at the next briefing. Commissioners did not adopt any new revenue or expenditure policy at the meeting; the board directed staff to monitor monthly cash flows and report back if the pattern continues.","County finance staff presented January 2025 results showing a roughly $1.1 million drop in cash-on-hand versus the prior five-year trend and flagged the need for continued monthly monitoring; commissioners asked staff to return with March data and to watch revenue timing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Mason County to accept Puget Sound Partnership grant to fund septic inspections and small repairs

County staff propose hearing-examiner budget and abatement fund to tackle long-running nuisance properties

Commissioners back limited contract with regional animal services; staff to negotiate emergency weekend coverage

Commissioners defer decision on Mason County Housing Authority $85,000 annual request

Mason County staff warn of January cash decline; commissioners to monitor monthly reports