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County tourism dollars are still up
By NATALIE JOHNSON
During a Monday morn-
ing briefing, the Mason
County Board of Commis-
sioners reviewed a recom-
mendation from the county's
Lodging Tax Advisory Com-
mittee (LTAC) for tourism
management funding.
During the LTAC board's
Dec. 12 meeting, the group
made a decision that left
some members of the com-
munity confused.
The board voted to not
renew a $95,000 grant for
tourism management for
the Shelton Mason County
Chamber of Commerce,
while approving a request
from Olympic Broadcast-
ing, which owns KMAS, for
$36,000, for what the com-
mission may have thought
was the same work, Mason
County Commissioner Steve
Bloomfield said.
"It was the will of the
group to suspend the
$95,000 and in place of that
go with Olympic Broadcast-
ing for $36,000," Bloomfield,
who is a non-voting member
of the LTAC board, said.
"The will was quite clear
that that is what they want-
ed to do ... the outcome was
unanimous."
The chamber received the
$95,000 grant in 2011.
Only tourism-related or-
ganizations or non-profit
organizations can receive
lodging tax money.
According to RCW
67.28.1816. "Lodging tax
revenues under this chap-
ter may be used, directly by
local jurisdictions or indi-
rectly through a convention
and visitors bureau or des-
tination marketing organi-
ing printing maps, visitors
guides and producing Ma-
son County tourism videos
for $36,000 instead.
"We couldn't begin to do
zation, for
~the mar-
keting and
operations
of special
events
and festi-
vals and
to support
the opera-
Dale tions and
Hubbard capital ex-
penditures
of tourism-
in the air
~hought Olympic Broadcast-
[ng was taking over the du-
ties the chamber was pro-
tiding."
Members of the public
that for $36,000," Hubbard
said.
The chamber of com-
merce's $95,000 request in-
cludes $10,000 for adminis-
tration, said Shelton-Mason
County Chamber of Com-
merce Executive Director
Heidi McCutcheon.
In effect, she said, Olym-
pic Broadcasting is asking
for $3,000 a month to do
what the chamber already
does for $400 per month.
related facilities owned by
nonprofit organizations de-
scribed under section 501(c)
(3) and section 501(c)(6) of
the internal revenue code of
1986, as amended."
The LTAC board may
have been confused with the
Olympic Broadcasting pro-
posal, said Dale Hubbard,
co-owner and president of
Olympic Broadcasting on
Monday.
"Perhaps there's a mis-
conception as to what was
proposed and what you're
looking at," Hubbard said.
"The $36,000 is to man-
age tourism's budget ... the
whole business of tourism
would be handled by our
company for $36,000."
Hubbard said Olympic
Broadcasting's proposal
was actually to manage the
existing $95,000 tourism
budget the chamber used to
get, not provide the services
the chamber does, includ-
"We're going to do what
the chambers were sup-
posed to do," Hubbard said.
The Shelton Mason
County and North Mason
Chambers of Commerce
used to share the $95,000.
This year, the Shelton Ma-
son County Chamber of
Commerce applied for the
funding alone.
Jerry Eckenrode, co-own-
er and business manager of
Olympic Broadcasting, said
their proposal also includes
maintenance of the KMAS
and Explore Hood Canal
websites and "free" adver-
tising for Mason County
tourism on those sites and
the KMAS radio stations.
Bloomfield said this in-
formation came as a sur-
prise to him.
"I don't believe the com-
mittee was understand-
ing your proposal as you
just presented it," he said
to Hubbard. "I believe they
Ln attendance at Monday's
meeting also expressed sur-
prise at Hubbard's explana-
tion.
"It's just changed right
apside down," Tom Davis
mid.
County Commissioner
rim Sheldon suggested that
;he LTAC committee should
:ake another look at the
;ourism grant proposals in
Light of Hubbard's explana-
:ion.
City moves forward on Shoreline Mast,
By NATALIE JOHNSON
The City of Shelton Commission re-
viewed a proposal to accept a $75,000
Department of Ecology grant to move
forward on its Shoreline Master Pro-
gram update.
City Planner Jason Dose told the
That money will go back to Ecology, advisory b
he said.
The city commission plans to vote
on the next phase of the grant, $75,000
covering the next two years, during
their next meeting at 6 p.m. on Tues-
day, Jan. 17.
The city's next step, Dose said, is to
The ted
meet agait
Commissioner Lynda
Ring Erickson agreed, add-
ing that the money needs
;o be distributed in time to
,rive either group the time to
,~et tourism efforts up and
.,~ning before people start
~aking spring and summer
~lans.
I "We're behind on that al-
eady," she said.
The county commission-
.~rs agreed to ask the LTAC
:ommissioners to take
~nother look at the tour-
sm management funding
~roposals before the com-
aission votes on the LTAC
3oard's recommendation.
On Tuesday, the county
~ommission sent out a press
:elease asking for more ap-
31ications for the general
iourism management dol-
ars. The LTAC board will
~ccept and review any new
~roposals for tourism man-
~gement submitted before
I~nursday, Jan. 19.
Program
)ard by Februar,y.
If this I
in under 1
over will
state, Dos(
"I have]
city commission that the city was lucky create a draft master plan. While the believe we
to get a grant that completely~covers
the cost of the update.
"The city received a grant from the
Washington State Department of Ecol-
ogy that fully funds this, which is a rar-
ity," Dose said.
Ecology has granted the city
$125,000 total to complete the entire
program. In July 2010, the city ac-
cepted the first $50,000 to complete the
planning phase of the project.
Because the city and Mason County
worked together to complete the initial
phase of the project, the city came in
more than $2,000 under budget, Dose
said.
city won't be "recreating the wheel,"
:he said, the new draft will be different
mical committee will likely
L in March, Dose said.
,base of the program comes
he budget, any money left
dso have to go back to the
, said.
t't been given any reason to
from the old master program.
Dose said the current program can
be very difficult to use.
"In my opinion, it needs a good re-
organization ... it's a little scattered,"
he said.
Throughout the planning process,
the city and county worked with both
a technical advisory committee, com-
prised of professionals in fields related
to shoreline planning, and a citizen's
advisory committee.
Dose plans on presenting a draft
shoreline master plan to the citizen's
won't spend what's been al-
located," h e said. "Our intent is to stay
within our budget."
The city voted to accept another
grant on ~onday, the STOP Violence
Against women Formula Grant, for
$31,510 w
from the
Office of
Communii
vision.
The S]
plans to ta
the next t~
Every t'
Departme
Sheriffs d
Public records, state funding dominate talks at
By NATALIE JOHNSON
Representatives from
the City of Shelton, Ma-
son County and the Port
of Shelton met with legis-
lative and congressional
representatives Thursday,
Jan. 5, to voice their con-
cerns for the upcoming
year.
"We've done this for the
past couple years and it's
been really useful to get
everyone in the room," said
Sara Crumb, deputy dis-
trict director for U.S. Rep.
Norm Dicks, a Democrat. "I
wish we had good news to
give you."
Representatives from the
city and county put forward
what Mason County Com-
missioner Steve Bloomfield
called "wish lists for fund-
ing."
Bloomfield represented
the county commission,
while Commissioners Tim
Sheldon and Lynda Ring
Erickson attended an-
other meeting. All three
Shelton City Commission-
ers, including Mayor Gary
Cronce, Dawn Pannell and
Mike Olsen, attended the
meeting, with Cronce run-
ning the meeting.
Commissioners Jay
Hupp and Dick Taylor from
the Port of Shelton Com-
mission also attended the
meeting.
Page A-2 - Shelton-Mason County Journal -Thursday, January 12, 2012
th a local match of $15,755
~}epartment of Commerce's
Crime Victims Advocacy,
y Services and Housing Di-
telton Police Department
ke over the STOP grant for
ro years.
vo years, the Shelton Police
at and the Mason County
~partment trade the grant.
oint meeting
State Rep. Kathy Haigh,
a Democat, was the only
Washington legislator who
showed up to the meet-
ing, but representatives
from Dicks' office, as well
as from the offices of Gov.
Chris Gregoire, U.S. Sen,
Patty Murray and state
Rep. Fred Finn came to give
congressional or legislative
perspectives.
Haigh spoke of her de-
termination to work for
funding for school districts
and city and county govern-
ments.
"Somebody ... is going to
have to talk about taxes,"
she said.
Several department
heads from Mason County
spoke at the meeting, in-
cluding Public Works Di-
rector Charlie Butros.
Butros began by telling
the legislators' representa-
tives how important state
funding for highways is for
the county. The funding
makes up one-third to half
of the county's budget for
roads, he said.
"Our transportation net-
work not only is county
roads but includes state
highways," he said. "The
funding that we get from
state and federal agencies
is critical for us."
Butros also began a
trend in the conversation
that continued throughout
the meeting - state public
records law.
"We would like and en-
courage this session that
the rules of public records
be clarified," he said. "I
think other agencies will
share that concern."
Butros said the Public
Works Department has re-
ceived requests that it be-
lieves go beyond the scope
of the law.
Mason County Sheriff
Casey Salisbury also com-
mented on public records,
adding that the cost of
records requests make a
significant impact on the
Sheriffs Office budget.
"The cost that we have
with open public records ...
it's overwhelming," he said.
City of Shelton adminis-
trator Dave O'Leary com-
mented on public records
as well.
"Just about every local
government I've talked to
says state law just has to
change on public records,"
he said.
Steve Goins, community
and economic development
director for the City of
Shelton, briefed the con-
gressional and legislative
staffers on upcoming proj-
ects, like one to redirect
Canyon Creek.
"We've had issues with
Canyon Creek periodically
flooding portions of the
owntown area," he said.
'We're forecasting that
rcork to move forward as
tuickly as we can fund it."
City officials also briefed
;he legislative and con-
,,Tessional representatives
m plans to restore Goose
bake, which suffers from
:ontamination from several
:ancer-causing agents, into
"public amenity." Goins
~lso spoke about the city's
)attle to rezone the 160-
~cre Shelton Hills property
- located a half mile from
;he Port of Shelton's Sand-
.~rson Field runway -- to
~llow for a large residential
tevelopment.
"This could be a big game
:hanger for us," Goins said.
Many of the speakers
~sked for more funding for
nfrastructure.
"From (Dicks') perspec-
;ive, he's always wished
;here were bigger pots of
honey for infrastructure,"
3rumb said,
The city is also looking
br help funding indigent
tefense. The city's indigent
tefense attorney is current-
• y handling more that twice
;he accepted standard of
:ases at 840 per year.
"I know that the legis-
ature is challenged - we
~re too," O'Leary said.
'We need reliable funding
~ources to go forward but
roe can't plan."