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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
August 11, 2011     Shelton Mason County Journal
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August 11, 2011
 
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County closes swimming at Twanoh State Park By ARLA SHEPHARD Visitors to Twanoh State Park in Union are urged to stay out of the waters, following a state recommen- dation that the county close the park to all swimmers. The Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Ecology (DOE) Beach Program issued the clo- sure recommendation last Friday, af- ter weekly water quality monitoring results came in indicating high levels of fecal pollution at the park. "The reason the beach was closed is because of the results of what we use for fecal contamination, [the bac- terial enterococcus," said Julie Lowe, Beach Program manager with DOH and DOE. ~I~ne results came back above our standards, which is an in- dicator for fecal pollution." Volunteers with the Washington Sea Grant program collect water samples weekly at Twanoh State Park for the state, and the entero- coccus results from Monday, Aug. 1, came in at 109 coliform forming units (cfu) per 100 milliliters. Per protocol, waters are re-sam- pled when enterococcus results come in between 103 and 276 ol~M100 mL, Lowe said, the latter of which is the highest EPA threshold for enterococ- CUR. The waters were re-sampled on Wednesday, Aug. 10, and lab results came in at 287 cfu/lOO mL on Thurs- Journal photo by Aria Shephard Mason County closed Twanoh State Park from swimmers last week after tests from the Department of Health and Ecology showed high levels of fecal pollution indicators in the area. day night. The DOH Shellfish Program moni- Lowe contacted Mason County tors fecal coliform contamination and Public Health• Friday morning and has not issued a shellfish ban for recommended closure. Twanoh State Park, but cautions all =They recommended closure, but it harvesters to thoroughly cook shell- was our call," said Vicki Kirkpatrick, fish. the county's Public Health director. For more information on swim- ~Ve as always choose to err on the ming closures, visit www.ecy.wa.gov/ side of caution to close it for swim- programs/cap/beach or www.face- ming." book.com/WABEACH Registration Aug 22"d Sign-up 5 p.m. at SHS Track Camp begins 5:30 - 7 p.m. Aug 22 - 25th $60 for 1 child $40each for 2 or more kids Questions? E-MAIL - Sheltonkingscheer@gmail.com FACEBOOK - Shelton Kings Cheerleading Pres. Delilah (360) 790-5580 This Lovely Lady's turning 80 and that Little Pixie turned 60. Happy Birthday Dorothy & Vicki! -- Love, Your Family Tax Continued from page A-1 h01d back one percent of the collected revenue. Mayor John Tarrant has long been a proponent of the public safety sales tax in- crease. "For me it's pretty clear, I think our public deserves the option to choose yea or nay," he said. When the city commis- sion and staff first began discussing his proposal, they intended to partner with M~on County for a higher increase, of three tenths of one percent, and more funding for cops. While Mason County commissioner J~ .~e has expressed ~for the public safety sales tax, the County Commission as a whole has not taken any action to support a tax in- crease themselves. The city can only ask a maximum of a one tenth of one percent increase, and by law, a third of it must be used for public safety. City manager Dave O'Leary said that the city would use all of the expected $177,000 to fund public safety, and most of it would replace grants currently funding police of- ricer positions. "I've been up at the county three times with a presentation,~ he said. "We have a looming deadline." The city had until next Tuesday, Aug. 16, to ap- prove the ballot measure. "I realize it's tough.., the bottom line is a lot of people come through Shelton and Mason County and use ser- vices, they can help us pay for this," Tarrant said. Commissioner Dawn Pannell, who is running for Mtyor of helt#n in August 16 primary election, voted against putting the tax increase on the Novem- ber ballot. "I agree people deserve a time to choose - I don't think this is the right time," she said. Pannell •aid she believed a sales tax increase in Shel- ton would encourage people to shop elsewhere. Thurston County's sales I h il--------- I Journal photo by Natalie Johnson John lnd C6mmi t6n P Jmell dkm ,c d on whether to place a one tenth of one percent sales tax increase on the November ballot. tax rate is 8.9 percent and spoke in support of the tax. agreed that without stable, Kitsap County's rate is 8.6 "I might preface this bylong-term funding for pub- percent. Shelton and Mason saying none of us want to lic safety, they would have County's current sales tax impose a tax on these tough to make "tough decisions" rate is 8.4 percent, times," he said. "We are all about cutting funding to Mike Byrne, who is run- going to have to make some public safety to balance the ning for Shelton City Com- sacrifices in very toughbudget. missioner of Finance in the times." "There really is no an- November general election, All three commissioners swer," Byrne said. Lawsuit Continued from page A-1 two rotating drum screens installed by general contractor Pease and Sons, Inc. at the city's Satellite Water Recla- mation Plant. Early this summer, the City of Shelton announced that faulty screens installed at the plant had caused al- most $1 million of estimated damage throughout the plant. Since then, the city has been look- ing for a way to recoup its apparent losses and pay for repairs to get the plant up and running at i00 percent again. Initially, the city planned to use $250,000 retained from the contrac- tor's payment to replace one batch of damaged fine membrane screens in the plant, then bill Pease and Son's for the rest, since it was that company's subcontractor that supplied the faulty screens that caused, the damage. That plan didn't work out, accord- ing to the Steve Coins, the city's com- munity and economic development director. In June the city voted to Plus installation labor (most models) | El | Advance Glass Shelton 23i6 Olympic Hwy N =Next to Super Kleen Car Wash" 2011 Dodge 1500 Crew Cab 5.7 Ltr, Auto, Laramie PS, Sunroof, more 1DTRV1CTSBSS92254 MSRP 147.755. Gillis Discount $3.500 Sale Price $44.255, Rebate $3,250 Ally Bonus Cash S1,000, ~ Price ~3~,llOS Shelton WA (360) 426-55115 www.gll llsautocenter.com buy the first shipment of replacement membranes, amounting to $269,000, using the sewer utility reserves. After the purchase, the city began a mediation process with Pease and Sons. City staff advised the commission to approve the resolution in a writ- ten briefing, but the resolution never reached the public meeting. The content of executive sessions are not a part of public record, and city officials did not comment on the decision to remove the resolution from the meeting's agenda. I'll with I!! Shelton-Mason County mUSlim Call 426-4412 to subscribe today! Out of County $51/yr. Out of State $61/yr. Shelton-Mason County Journal -Thursday, August 11,2011 - Page A-7