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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
March 10, 2011     Shelton Mason County Journal
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March 10, 2011
 
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Mason Conservation has election, looks for board member By NATALIE JOHNSON The Mason Conserva- tion District (MCD) held a successful election/native plant sale on February 26, said district manager John Bolender. But today, the district is still looking for applications for an open appointed board member position. The conservation dis- trict board contains three elected members and two members appointed by the Washington State Conser- vation Commission, Bo- lender said. All of the members serve three-year terms, and ev- ery year the district holds an election to fill the open positions. This year, board mem- ber Adam James, with the Hama Hama Oyster Com- pany, was up for reelec- tion, and won the election, retaining his seat for an- other three years. "Any other party can ap- ply to be appointed, it gives the commission an array of options to consider who they think is the most fit," Bolender said. The two appointed posi- tions also become open ev- ery three years, Bolender said. The district is look- ing for applicants to one of those positions this spring, he said. "The process for becom- ing an appointed member is to fill out and submit an application to the Wash- ington Conservation Com- mission," he said. "Those applications are available here or they can be secured directly from the conserva- tion commission." The open position is cur- rently filled by Michelle McCallum, Bolender said. McCallum is eligible to "Any r party pply to be , it gives the commission an array of options to who they k is th most fit." reapply, but others are en- er turnout than he would couraged to apply as well, have liked. he said. "It was light," he said. "The conservation corn- "We have a polling place mission goes through a here in conjunction with process of interviewing our native plant sale ... so those candidates and at people generally come, pick their May meeting every up their native plants and year they make a decision come over and cast their on an appointment," Bo- ballot." lender said. The district could hold Qualifications to serve their election in conjunc- as a board member could tion with the county elec- be anything from expe- tion every year, which rience with governmen- would give it more expo- tal entities to knowledge sure and presumably a about natural resources or higher voter turnout, but legal experience, Bolender the cost is prohibitive, Bo- said. lender explained. "We're always interest- "It's unfortunate be- ed in people who have good cause we really do want to organizational perspec- see the public turnout," he tives, strategic thinkers, said. "State law allows us people ... who understand to hold our own election, how small governmental or we can participate with entities function or how the county's general elec- you might bring skill sets tion cycle, but to be on a from private industry," he countywide ballot in the said. "We've got forestry county election cycle would representation, we've got cost us somewhere on the shellfish representation, order of about $20,000 and we've got agriculture rep- we really don't have those resentation, then we've got discretionary dollars." a couple of at large citizens Applications for the who help us see outside the open MCD board position fishbowl." are available at the con- Trusted, Comfortable & Afforc[able Dental Care Bolender said this year's servation district's office at MCD election had less vot- Sanderson Field. Convenient Appointments Available Before & After Work or ;chool! An Evening of Resources, Support and Connection Cancer can take a toll physically. It can also shake up your emotions, relationships, Cobie Whitten, PhD spiritual beliefs, finances and more. Providence Regional Cancer System and Mason General Hospital invite you to a free information session to help you cope with the many aspects of cancer. Cobie Whitten, PhD, has extensive experience working with cancer patients. As the session leader, she'll provide information, resources and support for people at all points along the cancer journey. Patients, family members and friends are all welcome. • , , p.m. Mason General Hospital, Ellinor Room Call 360.493.7768 to register for this free event. son =ll= PROVIDENCE 71- Regional Cancer System Mason Conservation board reviews five-year plan By NATALIE JOHNSON sustainable use," he said. Another important theme in the draft The Mason Conservation District is the identification, of "trends impact- (MCD) has gotten one step closer to ap- ing conservation in the district," like the proving its five-year plan. growth of Mason County's population and Last Thursday, the MCD board of su- changing demographics and economic pervisors reviewed a draft of the five-year conditions, Bolender said. plan and suggesting numerous changes"We clearly recognize that this demo- and clarifications, District Manager John graphic has changed a lot in the last, not Bolender said. only five years, but really stark in the last "What you'll see very much has their10 to 20," he said. "We're getting involved fingerprints and thumbprints all over it," in more low impact development strategy he said. and more stormwater management and MCD sent out the draft by e-mail to lo- mitigation and helping landowners re- cal citizens, businesses and organizations spond to those types of challenges." who had expressed an interest in the draft One of the challenges for the district is on Friday. how to both serve the conservation needs Some people were concerned about theof the Puget Sound, but also of the Cheha- brevity of the two-page document, a de- lis Watershed, which includes areas like parture from the lengthy 10-page plan it Dayton and Matlock, Bolender said. replaces, Bolender said. "There are local needs that may or may "The purpose in our view of the long- not be captured in the bigger regional range plan is to identify our guiding prin- pictures," he said. "The folks that live in cipals and philosophies for the district," those areas have needs that may be dif- he said. ferent than the folks in the Puget Sound Specific strategies for conservation will basin." be addressed in MCD's annual work plan, Although MCD is required to approve a which will be approved in May and go into long-range plan every five years, Bolender effect July 1, Bolender said. said, the name "Five-Year Plan" is some- "The most salient points are really what what of a misnomer. we think are the most important priorities "This board is not of the opinion that for natural resources and any trends and this is a five year plan that will be static what we think we can do about them ...... they will review the plan annually and that's really the meat of it," he said. possibly make revisions to it as things The meat of the document, Bolende change, so that it is a fluid, living, breath- said, was how the district would be focus- ing document," he said. ing on balancing the need to use natural The MCD board will review and poten- resources, like timber, with the need to tially approve the five-year plan during conserve Mason County's environment, their meeting on March 17. "A lot of folks think of conservationFor more information, or to comment districts in terms of preserving and con- on the draft of the five-year plan, contact serving the environment but if you notice John Bolender at MCD@masoncd.org or our mission is pretty specific to promoting jbolender@masoncd.org. Little or No ©ut-ofLPocket Costs fbr Insured Padetlts! Preve r t: {_.7r co m [brt:abl.e c: Cos tly l[)cn ta [ Proble m s r - FREE Whitening ' I for LIFE* I for Active & New Patients I ", ayoo, be