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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
January 30, 2014     Shelton Mason County Journal
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January 30, 2014
 
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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 ;'    I