October 27, 2011 Shelton Mason County Journal | ![]() |
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Alpine Way is beautiful and they
have a great reputation. I always
thought that it was expensive, but a
friend told me what she is paying. I
can't believe it is so affordable!
Journal photo by Natalie Johnson
Dave O'Connell, general manager of the Mason Transit Authority, said
the MTA was just awarded a $3.28 million dollar grant to turn the
Shelton Armory into a community transit center.
MTA receiVes $3.28 million grant
for downtown transit center
By NATALIE JOHNSON
Dave O'Connell, the Mason Transit Au-
thority's (MTA) general manager for the past
20 years will retire as soon as the authority
hires a new manager.
This week, O'Cormell got the best retire-
ment present anyone could have given him.
After almost six years of trying, the MTA
has been awarded a $3.28 million dollar grant
from the Federal Transportation Administra-
tion to turn the old Shelton armory into a
downtown transit community center.
The grant, along with matching funds pro-
vided by MTA, will fund the project in its en-
tirety.
"The way I looked at it was I couldn't get
this thing funded until I agreed to quit," he
joked. "I love the idea that I can leave the
community better."
The grant came from the federal 2011 Bus
Livability program. This program most often
focuses on funding work on "sustainable tran-
sit centers" in urban areas. MTA's project will
be unique because it is centered in a rural
county, O'Connell said.
The project will completely transform the
old National Guard Armory into a green, sus-
tainable building, he said.
"I think it's going to have great application
for this city," he said. "They've wanted for
years to build something as the focal point of
the downtown area."
MTA has already completed Phase 1'of
the program, which was a feasibility study
and included preliminary design, using state
fimds.
In order to complete the project, MTA will
have to raise $900,000 in matching funds for
the grant. Much of that can come from MTA
reserves, since the authority has long been
sa~ng up for this project, O'Connell said.
The Community Center Association, a
501(c)3 nonprofit, will likely help with fund-
raising efforts, he said.
The transit center sits on Franklin Street.,
which will need to be rebuilt to allow the kind
of traffic that the transit center will create.
The damaged street already gets heavy traffic
from Safeway across the street, and is above
an underground stream.
The City of Shelton has long planned to re-
pair the street in conjunction with the project.
At this point, city officials aren't sure when
that can be accomplished.
"I know in the budget we'll be discussing
Franklin Street, but I don't know what the fi-
nance committee's recommendation will be,"
said Steve Goins, the city's community and
economic development director.
The grant to expand and remodel the tran-
sit center couldn't have come at a better time,
as demand for MTA's services continues to
increase.
'Tee're hit by a tough economy, but so are
the people we serve," O'Connell said. "Rid-
ership increased 30 percent from last year.
We're seeing a lot more people switching from
cars to the bus."
Expanding and remodeling the transit
center is designed to combine transportation
and community services in the same building,
O'Connell said.
Right now the center hosts both youth and
senior programs, sports groups, a community
computer lab and has a commercial quality
kitchen.
O'Counell said existing programs will
stay, but the remodel will provide more room,
through a second floor, that will have office
space for small businesses and nonprofits.
The project to remodel the armory will cost
much less than building a brand new build-
ing. According to O'Connell an architect hired
by MTA said the building had "good bones."
"It was built to withstand a nuclear attack,
I think," he said.
O'Connell hopes construction can get un-
derway by summer 2012 and could be done
by 2013 -- but of course, by then he'll be long
gone, basking in his retirement.
"I've been fortunate to work in a business
like this for 40 plus years," he said. "It was a
lot of work - I think everybody believed in it."
Committee report recommends mental health tax
By NATALIE JOHNSON year. The committee con-using the money to supply
cluded that the tax could cost matching funds for grants
An advisory committee an average family up to $20 and to create new programs.
tasked to consider a proposed per year. Specifically the advisory
one-tenth of 1 percent sales Sixteen counties in Wash- committee suggested ex-
tax for mental health and ington have already ap- panding therapeutic courts,
substance abuse has recom- proved the tax, including addressing the mentally ill
mended that Mason County neighboring Thurston, Grays or substance abusers who fall
adopt that tax. Harbor and Jefferson coun- victim to the "revolving door"
"No one should be living ties. As the report states, of jail and homelessness and
on the streets or in jail due whenever a Mason County increasing availability of li-
to their mental illness," the resident shops in one of those censed mental health profes-
report reads, counties, they pay the tax sionals.
The committee released without reaping the benefits. The committee also rec-
its final report on Tuesday, The advisory commit- ommended creating a citi-
Oct. 18, which outlines in de- tee also recommended that zen's advisory board to con-
tail why it believes the court- the commission approve the tinue to monitor the use of
ty should vote to approve the tax by "councilmanic vote," any revenue generated by
tax. Committee members meaning that the three Ma- the tax.
plan to urge the county com- son County CommissionersOne member of the com-
mission to adopt the tax fol- would alone vote on the tax: mittee, community volunteer
lowing a public hearing on Under this option there will John Smith, did not agree
Nov. 1. be no public vote. with the recommendation to
"I think they did a great "Putting it to a vote will adopt the tax at all, or by a
job, I think they heard from delay the beginning of rev- councilmanic vote.
a lot of experts who talked enue collection and therefore "The person that partici-
about what is happening in delay getting much needed pated had some pretty strong
Mason County," said Vicki services to people in Mason feelings about the first two
Kirkpatrick, director of Ma- County," the report states, recommendations," Kirkpat-
son County Public Health. The committee also gave rick said. "He didn't agree
"They were very thoughtful the commission recommen-that the tax should be ap-
in their discussion." dations on how to implement proved."
In 2005, the Washington the tax. The dissenting committee
State Legislature passed a "Fund programs or servic- member also disagreed that
bill allowing counties to en- es where there is a document- the tax should be approved
act a one-tenth of 1 percent ed need and where there are by a councilmanic, rather
sales tax increase to fund evidence-based or promising than with a vote of the citi-
mental health and substance practices that can be imple- zens of the county.
abuse programs, mented in Mason County ... The advisory committee
The tax would produce Assure that all programs or members will present their
dedicated funding for mental services funded by sales tax findings to the Mason Coun-
health and substance abuse revenue have specific goals, ty Board of County Commis-
issues in Mason County. expected outcomes and mea- sioners during a public hear-
It is estimated to gener- surable performance indica- ing at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday,
ate between $450,000 and tors,"the report states.Nov. 1 at the commission
$600,000 of revenue per The report also suggestschambers.
It's true! For less than
the cost at the nursing home,
an apartment at Alpine
Way is an excellent value
and includes wonderful
amenities. Chef-prepared
meals, your own bathroom,
privacy, parking, plentyof Assisted living apartments now renting!
activities, housekeeping, security, personal laundry service,
and licensed nurses on duty 24 hours a day make Alpine an
excellent value. You can even bring your own furniture.
If you're ready to investigate our services and rates, come and
tour Alpine Way. We'd love to treat you to lunch, show you our
lovely apartments, and answer all your questions.
Call Kathy Burbidge at
(360) 426-2600
for a free lunch and tour
900 West Alpine Way
Shelton, WA 98584
RETIREMENT APARTMENTS,
ASSISTED LIVING AND
ALZHEIMER'S SPECIAL CARE
www.encorecommunities.com
i
Dr. Stephen Ou
Microsoft'
i HealthVault i
50 to
MyMasonHealth.com
for medical histories
Meet Stephen Ou, D.O., board-eligible orthopedic surgeon, to
the medical staffat MGH and MGH Shelton Orthopedics. He
joins Fred Davis, M.D., board certified in orthopedics. Dr. Ou's
specialties are shoulders, fractures, and hip/knee replacement,
and he has a fellowship in sports medicine.
Dr. Ou received his medical degree from Nova Southeastern
University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Fort Lauderdale,
Florida in 2004. He completed his internship and residency
at Maimondes Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY; and has a
Fellowship in Sports Medicine from University of Arizona Health
Sciences Center. For an appointment with Dr. Ou, call MGH
Shelton Orthopedics at (360) 427-0663.
Mason General Hospital
Shelton Orthopedics
(360) 427-0663 I
939 Mtn. View Dr., Ste. 100, Shelton, WA
www.MasonGeneral.com.
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Shelton-Mason County Journal -Thursday, October 27,2011 - Page A-3