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Page A—2 — Shelton-Mason County — Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020
Skok Valley residents urge BOCC for more action
County’s response to
in volley ire
By Michael Heinbach
michae/@masoncounty.‘com
Longtime residents of the Skokomish River Val—
ley, many of whom said Tuesday they’ve lived there
more than years, packed commission chambers
in downtown Shelton for the weekly Board of Ma-
son County Commissioners’ business meeting. Most
attended to request more help from the commission
when valley flooding each winter closes major arter-
ies and strands residents. ' '
“I lost three 'days of work because I couldn’t leave
my property,” Skokomish River Valley resident
Patricia Bailey told the commissioners during. the
meeting’ 5 open forum for public comment. “I couldn’t
get more than a few feet down the road to visit neigh-
bors. We have children who have to go to school.”
Loretta Swanson, Mason County Public Works
director, said that major improvements to reduce
flooding along the Skokomish River via federal grant
funding can’t begin until .
Karl Black, who owns Olympic Mountain Ice
Cream 'with family members in the valley, said he’s
a 47 —year resident of the area and has lost hope that
future improvements are coming.
“We’ve been told everything forever, and nothing’ s
see page A—i
An abandoned Toyota 4Runner sits in about feet of water last month on
Skokomish Valley Road.
Residents from the area shared concerns about flooding Tuesday during the
Board of Mason
County Commissioners meeting in Shelton. Photo courtesy of Bob Bottman ‘
McKerntakes interim chief role in Quilcene
By Michael Heinbach
michae/@mason¢ounty. com
It didn’t take long for the recently 'V
retired former Central Mason Fire-
EMS fire chief to land a new gig.
On Monday, Tim McKern, the
40—plus-year veteran of emergency’
service and 18-year ex-Central Mason
employee, began his first day as in-
terim fire chief at Quilcene Fire Res-
cue —— Jefferson County Fire District
According to a story Monday in the
Peninsula Daily News, the Quilcene
Fire Rescue board of commissioners
unanimously voted to offer McKern
the job through April 1 during a Jan.
30 special meeting.
“I’m super excited to help the com-
munity of Quilcene,” McKern said
Tuesday. “If I can bring some of my
knowledge to them, I’m happy to help.
Really, I’m just a day-to—day guy here
and want to help the district move for-
ward in a positive manner.”
McKern takes over for Fire Chief
. Frank Montone, who submitted a res-
ignation letter Jan. and worked his
last day on the job Jan. 14.
The 60-year—old McKern will com- '
We deliver .
or U-huul
mute to Quilcene
from his Shelton
home, and work four
days a week.
“I like '(McKern),”
Montone told the
Peninsula Daily
guy. (It’s) wonder-
McKern
got someone in there
, quick.”
McKern accepted a retirement
package offered by CMFE on Jan.
and the move became Official the
following, afternoon during Central
Mason’s commission meeting. In a
statement sent Jan. 14 to the Shelton-
Mason County Journal from Norma
Brock, CMFE executive secretary, bill-
ing manager and public information
officer, Central Mason’s rapid growth
since its 2018 acquisition of Mason
County Medic One ambulance service
commissioners to seek new leadership.
“over the past months, Central
Mason has doubled in size with sigs
nificant increases in call volume,” the
statement read. “Although these in-
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News. “He’s a great'
ful. I’m glad they .
Tim McKern, retired tanner Central Mason Fire-EMS fire chief, on his new
creases have brought positive changes
to Central Mason, the Board of Com-
missioners want to take Central Ma-
' son in a new direction.”
The Central Mason board offered
McKern a retirement package during
its regular Jan. ‘8 meeting. At that
meeting, McKern asked to be placed
on two-weeks’ administrative leave
to consider his Options, and the board
granted that request. The Central
Mason board promoted Shelton Fire
Marshal and assistant CMFE Fire
’ spurred the Central Mason board of Chief Mike Patti to serve as Central
Mason fire chief for the immediate fu—
ture until a plan for moving forward is
devised.
When Central Mason commis—
' sioners signed paperwork Jan. 22 to
position with the Quilcene Fire Rescue — Jefferson County Fire District 2
make McKern’s retirement official,
they noted that though the retired fire
chief wouldn’t retain an active role in
CMFE, he will still be paid by the de-
partment through April 30.
McKern. told the Peninsula Daily
Newshe plans to bring Quilcene Fire
Rescue “a little help, a little stability
and see what the commissioners want
in the short— and long-term.”
McKern added that he would con-
sider staying with Quilcene Fire Res—
cue past April 1 if asked by the fire
district. '
According to the Quilcene Fire Res-
cue website, the J effersori County Fire
District 2 covers square miles and
has more than 2,500 residents in its
response area.
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