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WATER
Continued from page A-3
Clark said that with
all three options, rate
increases are forecast
to be the same: about 3
percent to 5 percent an-
nually beginning in 2016.
He estimates the water
bill increase to the aver-
age residential customer
would be $9 to $15 a year,
or 75 cents to $1.25 a
month beginning in 2016
-- with or without the im-
provements.
City stafTwill probably
draf agreements next
week, and then officially
offer the proposals to the
commission for action in
about two weeks, Michael
said.
Moore, who joined the
commission this month,
said she favors the
$9-million plan because
the city has a responsi-
bility to make the best
long-term choice, and to
facilitate growth. The city
should also take advan-
tage of low interest rates,
she said.
Olsen said he re-
searched cities that ex-
perienced major growth
spurts and hadn't im-
proved their water sys-
tems, including Lyn-
nwood. Those cities have
been forced to dramati-
cally raise water rates,
because "you have to do
it and you don't have a
choice, like our sewer sys-
tem," he said.
Olsen said he doesn't
want the city to borrow
more money, but it needs
to "find the best possible
deal." Spending upfront
to improve the water sys-
tem will pay off down the
road, he said.
Cronce pointed out the
city is already $56 mil-
lion in debt due to im-
provements to its sewer
system. The mayor said
that while he's "probably
the biggest risk-taker in
Shelton ... this is not my
money, it's the citizen's
money."
Cronce said the fig-
ures are based on many
assumptions, and the
projected rate increases
sound low.
"Is it really just a buck
a month?" he asked.
During public com-
ments Monday, Heidi
McCutcheon, executive
director of the Shelton
Mason County Cham-
ber of Commerce, said it
would be costly for the
city to "overplan for the
future."
"We encourage you to
be fiscally conservative,"
she said.
Kathy McDowell, who
in November was nar-
rowly defeated by Moore
for a commission seat,
said she favors the $4.2
million option.
"We can't afford to
borrow seven million dol-
lars," she said.
Shelton resident
Marilyn Vogler encour-
aged the commission to
seek the $9-million plan.
That package gets the
jobs done at low interest
rates, before an emergen-
( wen to receive" national mentoring award
STAFF REPORT
news@masoncounty.com
Washington state Lt. Gov.
Brad Owen, a Shelton resident,
left for Washington, D.C., on
Tuesday to accept the 2014 Ex-
cellence in Mentoring Award in
the Public Sector Leadership
category from the National Men-
toring Partnership.
Owen was slated to receive
the award, which honors "a gov-
ernment agency, government
employee or elected officials who
champions funding, promotion,
legislative or policy change to ad-
vance the mentoring movement,"
during a dinner at the Library of
Congress on Wednesday.
The lieutenant governor has
made working with youths and
youth programs a hallmark of
his administration since taking
office in 1997, according to a re-
lease. He has served as the un-
paid chair of Washington State
Mentors (WSM) since 2003.
The Issaquah-based WSM
serves as a resource to the es-
timated 200
youth mentor-
ing programs
organizations
that mentor
34,000 youth
and young
adults state-
wide. It oper-
Owen ates in part-
nership with
the state Department of Social
and Health Services, several
private corporations, includes
Costco and Bank of America, and
through grants such as the Bill
and Melinda Gates Foundation.
One of the primary focuses of
WSM is to help close the gap be-
tween the number of youths who
could benefit by a mentor and
the number of available mentor
adults, a gap estimated as high
as one adult per seven youths.
Over the years, the lieutenant
governor has advocated to keep
state funding for the organiza-
tion intact. He received WSM's
"Champion of Mentoring" award
in 2007. In 2013, he was behind
legislation authorizing a Seattle
"This is a great
honor, but the
most important
thing is that we
continue to find
mentors for all
kids who need
one:'
Brad Owen, Shelton resident
and state lieutenant governor
Sounders specialty license plate,
with the bulk of the revenue from
plate sales to go to WSM.
"This is a great honor, but the
most important thing is that we
continue to find mentors for all
kids who need one," Owen said.
Workshop on nonprofit organization finance Feb. 5
STAFF REPORT
news@masoncounty.com
Representatives
from community and
nonprofit groups are
invited to attend a
workshop on the es-
sentials of nonprofit
finances from 10 a.m.
to 1 p.m. Feb. 5 at the
Theler Center, 22871
state Route 3, Bel-
fair.
North Mason Re-
sources has invited
Jones & Associates,
LLC, to conduct the
training, which is
underwritten by
Shelton State Farm
Insurance agent Mela- click on "upcoming
nie Bakala. There is events."
a requested, but not All organizations
required, fee of $10. are invited, including
Register with Cat Ross churches, social service
of North Mason Re- groups, homeowners
sources at 552-2303 associations, frater-
or online at Washing- nal organizations and
tonnonprofits.org and youth sports groups.
.C_r_ysta]s, Girts, & Nature Center
Stop in
for a FREE
Crystal!
510 SE Old Arcadia Road
Shelton, WA 98584 www.covecrystals.com 360-426-8111
Opefl 10:30AM-6:00PM Tuesday-Saturday • 11:00AU-5:00 Sunday
Tues-Fd ! !-5 Sat 12-3
Appointments welcome after hours
Don't Forget
Your Sweeties!
Mason County Journal - Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014 - Page A-11
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