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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
October 18, 2012     Shelton Mason County Journal
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October 18, 2012
 
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• • • • By NATALIE JOHNSON approve a resolution reduc- raises to our staff," Commis- nalalie@masoncou~ty.com ing the salaries of commis- sinner Lynda Ring Erickson ..................................................................... sinners in districts 1 and 2 said. "Commissioners can- to 2008 levels and place a not set what their salary The Mason County Board 3-percent cap on any future will be ... during the term of of Commissioners discussed commissioner raises, their office." at length Tuesday a propos- Currently, all three corn- The commission could not al to decrease commissioner missioners receive aboutvote to amend the commis- salaries, and set other elect- $78,000 per year plus ben- sinner for district 3's salary ed officials' salaries using efits, with a 3 percent raise because the term for that an independent salary corn- annually. In 2008, their sal- commissioner does not ex- mission, ary was closer to $72,000. pire until 2015. According "I'm not going to let this The commissioners' sala-to state law, commissioners lay," Commissioner Steve ries, and annual 3-percent can only vote to amend their Bloomfield said. "This is not raises, have become an in- salaries in election years about politics. This is about creasingly hot issue during when their position is up for equity and bringing things this election season, election. back in line." "It's been an issue these The item also attached The board began Tuesday last few years because times the salaries of the assessor, with an agenda item ask- have been tough and we auditor, clerk, coroner, trea- ing the commissioners to haven't been able to give surer and sheriff to a list of elected officials whose sala- ries Was . itize ommi on on Salaries for Elected Of- ficials. Commissioner Tim Shel- Buy & Sell! Vendor Space Available Open 10:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. 7 Days A Week 831 West Golden Pheasant Rd. * (360) 791-0448 • (360) 915-4637 Newmon Family Chiropractic Sarah Newman, DC • Work Injuries • Car Accidents • Wellness Care Accepting Medicare and most Insurances OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK 2211 Jefferson Street, Shelton WA 98584 .... Come to Hunter Fa s N don asked that the commis- sion agree to table the me- Journal photo by Natalie Johnson tion for 30 days while the Mason County Commissioner Tim Sheldon spoke out against decreasing county's Human Resources county commissioner salaries Tuesday, speaking in favor of those Department does a survey salaries being set by a local or state salary committee. of the salaries of non-judi- cial elected officials in Ma- son County and compare he said. "Local salaries are after the election and, he so long. their pay to elected officials a local issue." said. that would make the "I have reservations in comparable counties. Roslynne Reed. who is decision less political, about waiting 30 days," he County elected officials running against SheldonHowever, if the decision said. "I would be open to ta- and citizens running for for the commission district was made after the general bling this for one week." county commission posi- 2 seat, asked when the me- election in November, the Ring Erickson summed tions in the general election tion was first discussed and change in pay could not take up the issue. spoke out during the meet- how it was brought to the effect untilafter the new "I think there are prob- ing about the motion, and agenda. Denny Hamilton, a commissioner's first term ably two issues in front of Sheldon's request to table it. candidate for the district 1 was up four years later, us," she said. "One issue is Mason County Assessor seat, voiced his support of Sheldon said he didn't the commissioners' salary, Melody Peterson asked that a decrease in commissioner agree with decreasing the which probably needs to be the motion be tabled to give pay. salaries of commissioners addressed before the elec- elected officials in Mason Sheldon said the issue in district 1 and 2 while tion." County a chance to be in- has become political recent- district 3 continues to draw The other issue, she said, volved in the decision, ly. more money, is the need to set up a local Tom Davis, a Mason "I would like to take this "I don't think that's eq= committee to set the sala- County resident, also voiced out of the political realm," uitable." he said. "I don't ries of elected officials and his opinion in favor of de- he said. "I think that the want to make the positions commissioners. creasing commissioner sala- motion that I've made is a pay less money. I think we The commission agreed to ries. However, he spoke out fact finding mission. I be- would have difficulty find- bring up both issues again against a state salary corn- lieve a local salary commis- ing people who would run." at its next regular meeting mission, sion would be a good idea." Bloomfield. who origi- on Oct. 23, after getting a le- "This was not meant to Sheldon said he proposed nally placed the item on the gal opinion on the process of be a benchmark for local tabling the motion for 30 agenda, said he disagreed creating a local salary corn- elected officials' salaries." days because it would occur with tabling the motion for mittee. ............ Op en 9:00 A.M- 6:00 P.M, Every Day! oWa,on,ides,,ayMnze,ComMazeo,nimals , county speak about fairground $2.50 Admission for Adults and ~,~ ~~~ Children over 3 years old Pumokins are sold by the pound ByNATALIE JOHNSON (30¢), or under 7 pounds is $2.00 natcdie@~rmsoncounty.com ~~~~ 1921 E. Hwy 106, Union WA 98592 (360) 898-2222 • (360) 426-2222 www.hunter-farms.com CLEANERS & TAILORS .~ .......... ~.,. ~ Mon-Fri 6:30 a.m.-6:00 o.rn. • Sat 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. chamber 215 South Second • 426-3371 Member Serving She~ton and Mason County for 86 years "BUTCHER" TRUST IN US Locker Packs Available, Locall PRICES EFFECTIVE1O-17to10-23 Top Sirloin Boneless Center-Cut Steak Pork Loin Chops Boneless Center-Cut Jumbo Pork Loin Roast tb. Drumsticks 1729 OLYMPIC HWY. N. SHELTON * 360) 426-165(. www.michaelsmeats net Men-Sat 9-7, Sun 9-E Page A-2 - Shelton,Mason County Journal -Thursday, Oct. 18, On Tuesday, the Mason County and Port of Shelton boards of commission- ers sat down at the same table and discussed the future of a fair in Mason County. After an hour-long discussion, the groups agreed to create a county-wide advisory committee on the topic, and support a ballot measure next spring to ask the public if they would support the county funding construction of a new fairgrounds on county land near the pub- lic works building on U.S. Highway 101. "I appreciate the commission coming together ... to talk about an issue that's very important to our community," Mason County Commissioner Tim Sheldon said. County Commissioner Steve Bloom- field called the meeting out of concern that the port commission had over- stepped its authority in creating a county-wide advisory committee, led by the port, to discuss the possibility of the port leading an effort to move the fair- grounds. He said the port only has au- thority to create an advisory committee made of up residents of the port district. "I was a little taken back by the fact that the port had decided to go to a coun- ty-wide committee," Bloomfield said. '%Ve needed to communicate commis- sion to commission ... and try to get a reasonable, logical vision for the future." In 2001, the Federal Aviation Ad- ministration (FAA) notified the Port of Shelton that because the land is desig- nated as "airport reserve" on the port's 1997 master plan, the port is required to revert the land back to airport use or another FAA-approved use after 2013, the last year of the 50-year county lease. In 2009, the county commission cut the fair from its budget. "It was a choice between I think cut- ting more employees and keeping the fair open," Commissioner Lynda Ring Erickson said. "There were people cer- tainly on both sides of that issue." Since 2010, John and Rachel Hansen with Northwest Event Organizers, and the Mason County Fair Association have teamed up to run the Mason Area Fair. Recently, two schools of thought have emerged on the future of the fair- grounds. ' "There's still two conversations going on," said Ring Erickson. "One is do we preserve the current fairgrounds in its 2012 Journal photo by Natalie Johnson Port of Shelton Commissioners Jay Hupp, left, Dick Taylor and Tom Wallitner attended a meeting with the Mason County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday to discuss the future of the fairgrounds. curren~ spot. or do we move forward on infrastructure, such as a sewer system, a new location?" already exists on the property, it might Port Commissioner Jay Hupp has only cost $8 million to put up a few basic spoken out in favor of ignoring the FAA buildings. decision and continuing m operate the She also suggested that some local fair a~ its current location, companies might be willing to sponsor a Bloomfield has also spoken in favor building. of keeping the fairgrounds at its curren~ "There has to be a decision made," location. Port Commission Chair Dick Taylor "I've been a supportor of the fair and said. "The fair is a bigger entity than of the current facility as it stands and just the port district." the use of it for fairs and other events." Sheldon suggested the creation of a he said. "I think it's an impor~an~ part of committee that both the port and the our heritage. I disagree with knuckling county could appoint citi2ens that could under the FAA. direct the county on the issue. Ring Erickson noted that to move the "It's our role, not your role to pull it fairgrounds, the county would not have together," he said. to come up with a new plan. That committee could advise the corn- In 2007, Mason County completed mission to do a number of things, Ring Er- a plan to relocate the fairgrounds from ickson said, such as creating a new parks Port of Shelton property to 40 acres of and recreation district or selling bonds. county-owned property near the Mason She suggested that the committee County Public Works building on U.S. could come to the county commission with Highway 101. a recommendation on which course to However, in 2008 the global economy pursue by January 2013, then the county took a massive turn for the worse and could put out a ballot in a special election the plan was set aside, in March or May 2013 to get citizen input. Both the plan and the property are "There's no other alternative than to still available, go to the people," Port of Shelton Com- "I don't think you're going to beat a missioner Tom Wallitner said. deal where you already have the plan The county commission plans to vote and already have the property," Ring on the creation of a fairgrounds advisory Erickson said. committee at its next regular meeting at Ring Erickson suggested that since 9 a.m. on Tuesday.