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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
November 10, 2016     Shelton Mason County Journal
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November 10, 2016
 
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,' Page A-20 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016 By BRIANNA LOPER brianna @masoncounty. com With no public comment, Port of Allyn commissioners approved a hike in water rates for a water utility the port has owned for more than a decade. During a meeting Monday night, commissioners voted to accept a new base residential rate of $22.95 per month and $29.95 for a com- mercial monthly rate. The new rates are expected to generate $8,880 in revenue for the port in 2017, compared with $5,700 this year. "Right now, we're not even meet- ing operating costs," said port com- missioner Jean Farmer during the meeting. Despite hosting public hearings Monday on the port's 2017 budget and the increase in water rates, two residents attended the meet- ing, and neither spoke about the budget nor water rates. The port is expected to pay $22,201.21 in expenses this year for its water utility, according to a water utility budget presented to commissioners by po~ executive di- rector Lary Coppola. That number includes repaying a $12,350 bond, which will be paid offthis year. The port budgeted $9,857.06 in expens- es for 2017, which includes pay- ments to the water system man- ager, paying back an international development district loan and well- house electricity. Previously, the residential rate was $19.48 per month and $25.48 for commercial rates. Coppola said he researched wa- ter rates in both Mason and Kitsap counties, and found the port's util- ity was the lowest rate. After the increase, Coppola said, "We're no longer the lowest, but may be the second- or third-lowest." He added the port has not raised rates while operating the water utility, which it has owned since about 2003. The water utility provides 13 hook-ups in the port district, but "has water rights for about 1,000 hook-ups Coppola told the Herald. He added lack of new construction in the service area has hindered the port receiving new hook-ups. see WATER, page A-22 Herald photo by Shawna Whelan The North Mason Dance Team performs during halftime of the North Mason varsity football game Nov. 4 against Tenino High School. For more about the game, see page B-1. Warming center closes to make way for early childhood learning center By BRIANNA LOPER brianna@masoncounty.com John Campbell remembers pulling a donated mattress out of the closet, flopping a sleeping bag on top and lay- ing down to sleep in the same room as a complete stranger -- olden several. Campbell volunteered at a warm- ing center, hosted in the Mary E. The- ler Community Center, for the past two years. During nights when tem- peratures were expected to dip below freezing, the center opened its doors to give anybody who needed a place to sleep. Volunteers helped hand out food and toiletries, and ensures safety of those inside the shelter throughout the night. "I go back and forth," Campbell said, recalling his time volunteering at the warming center. "Were we do- ing so much (for them) or too little?" More people in Belfair may thatbe withoUtshelter "| go back and forth, this winter; the community cen- Were we doing so much District plans a new future for the community center. The school district hopes to turn the building into an early childhood learning center, which could in- clude a preschool or classes. However, be- cause the time- ter will lock its doors at night from now on, a change from the past two winters when the center could {fmr them) or too JittJe?" line for the proj- ect is unclear, Moore said The- John Campbell, volunteer ler center era- for the warming center in the ployees decided Mary E. Theler Community Centerto nix the warm- ing center pro- stay open as North Mason's only overnight shelter. "It's not going to happen this year," said Joan Moore, coordinator at the community center. "The Theler Center is going to have a new life, and with the possible construction, it's a safety thing." The warming center program ended this year as the North Mason School gram. "It's too bad, because we have a community that needs it," Moore said, adding that she didn't know any other place in the North Mason area that of- fered similar programs. North Mason does not have a home- less shelter. The closest facility in the see THELER, page A-23 by keynote speaker Dan Weedin, "Unleashed: Living a Better Life Outside the Fence." This month's Shop Local media sponsor is iFIBER One ! ii