Notice: Undefined index: HTTP_REFERER in /home/stparch/public_html/headmid_temp_main.php on line 4394
Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
March 17, 2011     Shelton Mason County Journal
PAGE 2     (2 of 20 available)        PREVIOUS     NEXT      Jumbo Image    Save To Scrapbook    Set Notifiers    PDF    JPG
 
PAGE 2     (2 of 20 available)        PREVIOUS     NEXT      Jumbo Image    Save To Scrapbook    Set Notifiers    PDF    JPG
March 17, 2011
 
Newspaper Archive of Shelton Mason County Journal produced by SmallTownPapers, Inc.
Website © 2025. All content copyrighted. Copyright Information
Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Request Content Removal | About / FAQ | Get Acrobat Reader




City approves two ordinances Monday By NATALIE JOHNSON After several weeks of discus- sion and two public hearings, the Shelton City Commission approved two ordinances dur- ing their study session meeting Monday. The first is an ordinance cre- ating a reclaimed water service in the city's sewer utility. The new reclaimed water service allows users within the city's defined service area in the northeast corner of Shelton and the Urban Growth Area near the Department of Corrections and State Patrol Academy. The city's Class A reclaimed water, which is safe for every- thing but drinking, is produced by its new satellite water rec- lamation plant, which will also supply water to the Department of Corrections facility and the State Patrol Academy. Customers will be charged 50 percent of the standard city wa- ter rate. Some Shelton area residents expressed concern during public comment periods, including Deb- orah Soper, who sent the city a letter asking about the safety of the reclaimed water. "I have concerns about the use of reclaimed waste water for washing cars or dogs, sprinklers, watering gardens. Especially for children," she wrote. "How many children drink from hoses in the summer?" Soper was particularly con- cerned about medical waste from patients of local hospitals, including Mason General Hospi- tal. "People who are smarter than us have looked at these issues and determined that if we follow those standards, we won't have a problem," City Administrator Dave O'Leary said. "If medical waste becomes an issue ... we'll deal with it at that time." The city also approved an ordi- nance that vacates a city owned right of way on G Street between Sherwood Lane and 13th Street. The vacation makes room for the upcoming expansion of Ma- son General Hospital. "It would be maintained as an easement for utility and poten- tially for pedestrians, but not for vehicle traffic," Community and Economic Development Director Steve Goins said. The city commission passed both ordinances unanimously. Journal file photo Shelton Mayor John Tarrant, right, and Commissioner Mike Byrne discuss city business at a Shelton City Commission meeting last month. P.O. Box 430. Shelton, Washington 98584.360-426-4412 DEADLINE: 5 P,M, MONDAY Just fill in this easy-t0-use order form and then mail to: Shelt0n-Mas0n County Journal, Box 430, Shelt0n, WA 98584, CLASSIFIED ORDER FORM Name ["1 Cars, Trucks For Rent I-'] For Sale I-1 Garage, Yard Sales I-I Auctions r-1 Flea Markets r] Boats & Motors rl Bazaar Business Properties ___Antiques Business Opportunities [ Childcare Help Wanted  Personals r] Instruction  Farmers  Sporting Goods Lost & Found  Pets  Travel Vehicles r-] Mobile Homes I-'J Pet Services  Wanted r] Motorcycles [-1 Real Estate rl want to Rent rlMusic  Real Estate Wanted t-]Work Wanted ["} Farmers' Markets  Services I'-] Mortgages Date ,20 Address No.Times PHONF City 7ip Card # Expiration: No. Times: ONE WORD EACH SPACE 10 15 20 25 30 35 List your credit card number and expiration date or enclose your check or money order for correct amount. The minimum charge is $10.35 per week for the first 20 words. Additional words are 15 cents apiece. Fourth insertion is FREE, Page A-2 - Shelton-Mason County Journal -Thursday, March 17, 2011 PUD 3 prepares to vote on Bonneville settlement By NATALIE JOHNSON Mason County PUD 3 commissioners have re- ceived the final draft of a possible settlement agree- ment designed to resolve years-old disputes with the Bonneville Power Adminis- tration (BPA). They plan to vote on the settlement by April 15, PUD 3 Power Supply Man- ager Jay Himlie said. The settlement would set power rates for Bonneville's public utility customers for the next 17 years and is designed to resolve the dispute between BPA and public utilities about over- payments through the resi- dential exchange program. Despite numerous revi- sions to the proposed settle- ment over the past several months, Himlie said that it is still heavily slanted in BPA's favor. "They've wordsmithed and changed some things around but no, it hasn't re- ally changed since the last time we've talked about it," he said. The PUD 3 commis- sion has vowed in recent months to vote against the settlement, and Himlie said he couldn't see why they wouldn't vote against the settlement in April. This settlement is the culmination of a decade- long battle between public utilities and BPA over the residential exchange pro- gram, which subsidizes pri- vate utility rates with pub- lic utility ratepayer money. While the residential ex- change program is legal if used pr0perly, the W, asng- ton State 9th Circuit Court of Appeals determined that between 2002 and 2007, PUD 3 was overcharged $3,595,310 for power rates through the residential ex- change program. Since 2000, PUD 3, along with the other public util- ity districts within the Washington Public Agen- cies Group (WPAG), have been filing lawsuits against BPA, fighting against what utilities argue are illegally inflated power rates. Rep- resentatives of PUD 3 say that these subsidies have been disproportionately high. Himlie said that BPA's settlement would give pub- lic utilities certainty in power rates for the next 17 years, but those rates may still be inflated. "What they're proposing to give them for the next 17 years is right up there with the largest amounts we've ever seen in the last 40 years," he said. The PUD needs to vote on the settlement by April 15, and will likely vote dur- ing their April 12 meeting, Himlie said. Do you produce your own quality produce, prepared food, or crafts and live in or near Mason County? Shelton Farmers Market is now accepting new vendors! Please join us at the Timberland Library, March 23rd from 5:30-6:30 pm to learn more. sheltonfarmersmarket.com Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills of South Dakota May 14-22, 2011 9 days/8 nights; from Shelton via deluxe motor coach, includes *$699 * per person based on double 14 meals & hotels. Mason Co. Senior occupancy, plus $15 for non- Activities Center Call 426-7374 members