November 17, 2011 Shelton Mason County Journal | ![]() |
©
Shelton Mason County Journal. All rights reserved. Upgrade to access Premium Tools
PAGE 5 (5 of 24 available) PREVIOUS NEXT Jumbo Image Save To Scrapbook Set Notifiers PDF JPG
November 17, 2011 |
|
Website © 2025. All content copyrighted. Copyright Information Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Request Content Removal | About / FAQ | Get Acrobat Reader ![]() |
Journal photo by Natalie Johnson
Bob Buhl, left, Shelton Mason County Chamber of Commerce Director
Heidi McCutcheon and Scott Barnard addressed the City of Shelton
Commission Monday as representatives from the chamber SAVER
committee. They asked the city to consider easing taxes and
restrictions on new businesses downtown.
slnesses
By NATALIE JOHNSON Occupation (B&O) taxes for "Because people haven't
the first year of operation, a received this in the past is
Representatives of the waiver for traffic impact fees, not a valid argument for not
Shelton Mason County the creation of low rent"incu- doing it now," McCutcheon
Chamber of Commerce asked bator" spaces for small start- said. "It's giving businesses
the City of Shelton on Men- up businesses, and working the opportunity to begin in
day to consider easing some with the chamber to market the first place."
taxes and restrictions to pro- available spaces in downtown SAVER committee mem-
mote new business growth in and providing information to bers particularly focused on
downtown Shelton. people interested in opening traffic impact fees as a hurdle
"I feel like we're in a time businesses downtown, for Shelton businesses.
of recession ... I'd like to see Steve Goins, director of"Traffic impact fees for ex-
anything we can do to en- community and economic de- isting businesses- that's one
courage local businesses. The velopment at the city called of the hardest things to jus-
revenue will come over time," the chamber's suggestions tify," Buhl said.
said chamber member Scott "tangible things that could im- City commissioners also
Barnard. prove the economic climate." commented on concerns
Earlier this year the Goins said the idea to focus about how the city, particu-
chamber's Government Af-on downtown was his, and is larly the building and plan-
fairs Committee created a intended to test the ideas on ning departments, works
subcommittee called the a small portion of the city's with business owners.
Shelton Alliance for Viable business community. Tarrant described the
Economic Revitalization "The number of empty problems as resulting from
(SAVER). Their first project storefronts in this vicinity is poor communication between
was to partner with the city also why we're at this area as staff and business owners
to redesign the landscaped a nexus or beginning for this looking for information.
area on First Street and Rail- project," said chamber direc- "I need [information] de-
road Avenue. tor Heidi McCutcheon. livered to me in a way I don't
Now the SAVER com- The city commissioners drown," Tarrant said. "Any-
mittee is asking the city to had some questions about the one with a stack of books this
consider easing strains on practicality and feasibility of high.., it's easy for them to
new businesses in downtown some of the suggestions,forget the little guy."
Shelton to promote growth. "The goal, obviously first Pannell also commented
"Our subcommittee iden- and foremost is to provide on conflicts between city staff
tiffed what we thought were places for people to work. and Shelton business Owners.
hurdle-ablebarriers," said I look at it and say what's "You're not going to make
committee member Bob temporary? What's tax re-everyone happy," she said.
Buhl. lief? What's equitable?" said "Keeping in mind ... people
Buhl said members of theMayor John Tarrant. "There who come in with a chip
committee looked at issues are nuts and bolts here." on their shoulder and their
that either they personally, Commissioner Dawn plans on the back of a nap-
or other business owners,Pannell was particularlykin."
had encountered in Shelton concerned about whether Overall, the committee
that had hindered their busi- business owners would find would like to improve the feel
nesses growth, the suggested practices eq- of downtown, they said.
The committee has identi-uitable, especially since they "Our first thought was
fled five recommendations for focus on new businesses, and we'd target an area that is in
the city to encourage business would leave out some busi- desperate need of help," Buhl
growth downtown including: nesses that had not received said. "The feel downtown
A temporary moratorium assistance in the past, or did isn't what it was a few years
for signage requirements, a not qualify because of its lo- ago ... for some people it can
waiver of all Business and cation, be a scary place to be."
Open Mon-Thur 6am-12am. Fri-Sat 6am-2am • Sun 6am-llpm
Ddve.thru open Sun-Thur 7am-9pm o Fri-Sat 7am-lOpm
360-426-5254
Located at the intersection of Highway 101 and 108,
I
1
RECEIVE PER GALLON [
GAS DISCOUNT
Present this coupon for your FREE KTP Club Card. Good for [
ALL FUTURE GAS PURCHASES at F.arailclle Trading Post.
_J
just minutes away from Olympia and Shelton
' ' ' * KTP #1 - Intersection of Hwy 101 & 108
(" Clg ette Pnces Sta ingat
[ ° KTP #2- 6233 Steamboat Island Road |
/d ~ Od
° KTP Express - 3850 Old Olympia Hwy J
@ppli" .............. 'ii e sis [ ts0rted12PaCkSpepsl ............. MONSTERBuy one16 oz. canforENERGY"]
I Customer Shopping Spree! II
| 6 Winners I1 1 ( Red Baron Singles I
l 5- $50 Gas Certificate I I
I/ 1- $250 Grand Prize I / l I ...... F ........I I
Enter every time you visit the Reg. $5.99
/ store during contest dates. / .--,,,, 2 for$,4591
/ See in-store for details I / 1 t -'JI; I
~ Check Us Out on FACEBOOK -- Prices subject to change without notice -- * Made Fresh at Skeokum Creek Tobacco Factory: Shelton
II ~a ~ 10 .~. ... ... ... ~s~ Meaim 16 oz ................ $7~9 Manila Clams Zlb. b~ ........ $8s9 [I
IIs~a Small 16 oz ........ ~arge 10 oz .................... $4~9 Oysters 1 dozenbag ............. $7TM
IISmall 1Ooz ......... ~592 Large 16 oz ............... ~7-'9 Smoked Oysters 8 oz....s1229 ~l
||Small 16 oz~&~ StewMeat 16 oz ............ '5~9 (Ofi~al*Tefiyaki,Cajun) | I
[ ~x Medium 10 oz~°9 Stew Meat 64 oz .......... sIT9 ,JJ
Craftsman®
Multi-Purpose Tool
Includes attachments for cutting,
sanding, scraping, tiling, grout
removal, and more.
2302636
Craftsman® 190 Pc. SAE &
Metric Mechanic's Tool Set
Includes 36, 1/4" drive sockets; 58,
3/8" drive sockets; 12, 1/2" drive sockets;
16 combination wrenches; 7 drive tools;
61 specialty tools; case. 2297661
County extends pot moratorium through May
By NATALIE JOHNSON counties have been doing right now."
Adkins said some reference material is
The Mason County Board of Commission-available for city governments adopting
ers voted Tuesday to extend a moratorium zoning regulations for collective medical
on collective medical marijuana gardens in marijuana gardens, but that the work need-
Mason County until May 16, 2012. ed to enact and enforce such regulations is
The moratorium was originally approved very labor intensive.
in July to allow the county enough time to "I'm not sure how to tackle it. It's new
draft zoning regulations for the gardens, territory and there's not a lot of guidance
The commission voted to continue the mora- out there," she said.
torium through the middle of November in Commissioner Lynda Ring Erickson said
September. part of the problem is a shortage of county
"The moratorium expires tomorrow staff to deal with the problem.
(Wednesday, Nov. 16) and the regulations "We don't have many long-term planners
have not been drafted and brought forward left ... For long-term planning it's kind of
to the Planning Advisory Commission or a one-person job," she said. "Public policy
the Board of County Commissioners," said changes take time and they take time to be
Barbara Adkins, director of planning and done right."
community development, to the commis-Governor Christine Gregiore vetoed
sioners Tuesday. much of the bill when it was first accepted
Collective medical marijuana gardens in April, making it difficult to understand,
were recently made legal in Washington Adkins said.
State Legislature in the Engrossed Second "It is confusing," she said.
Substitute Senate Bill (E2SSB)5073, which The county can only renew the morato-
made amendments to state medical mari- rium six months at a time, but some county
juana law. residents are concerned that it could go on
Under that law, up to ten medical mari- indefinitely.
juana patients can work together to grow "You could go on and on and on every six
up to 45 cannabis plants for medical use months ... in my opinion three months is
and possess up to 72 ounces of usable mari- more than adequate to resolve any issues,"
juana, said Tom Davis.
The county, followed by the city of Shel- Others praised the county's standpoint.
ton weeks later, enacted the moratorium to "I want to applaud Barbara Adkins. It's a
allow up to six months for the county to cre- really, really complicated issue," said Todd
ate regulations for the gardens. Nelson, owner of Hood Canal Patient2Pa-
However, the November deadline came tient, a medical marijuana cooperative. "As
too soon, Adkins said. we move forward as a community and a so-
"I've done some research, I've looked into ciety, there should be regulation."
our municipal research website at other Adkins said there will likely be draft zon-
communities," she said. "There's not a lot ingrequirements for the county to review by
out there, I have not found anything that the end of the current moratorium in May.
Stanley~ Sawhorse 2/Pk.
500 Ib capacily per p~ic
Ir~tegrated V-groove for pipe or
wood 2331056
Color Me Playhouse
99
geWalt® 50 Pc. Drilling
...... a Screwdriving Bit Set
Bl~ck oxide Includes
nutseaers compact driw
guide and ~o~ewdriving bits
! 50
First & Mill • Shelton
Monday-Saturday 8:00-6:00
Sunday 9-5
426-4373 or426-2411 •
Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, November 17, 2011 - Page A-5