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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
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also shake up your emotions, relationships, Cobie Whitten, PhD
spiritual beliefs, finances and more.
Providence Regional Cancer System and Mason General
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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
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• , , p.m.
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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.
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