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Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
November 29, 2007     Shelton Mason County Journal
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November 29, 2007
 
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Shelton may ban digging of well By JEFF GREEN It's another unfunded state man- date and it's going to cost the City of Shelton money. The Municipal Water Law, as the 2003 state legislation is commonly known, calls for Shelton to submit goals for the city's Water Use Effi- ciency Program to the Washington Department of Health by January 22. Under the law, the Department of Health adopted a rule establishing water use efficiency requirements for all municipal water suppliers. The rule is designed to help conserve wa- ter for the environment and future generations, as well as to enhance public health by improving water sys- tem efficiency and reliability. "The spirit of this is to use less water," said Tracy Farrell, the city's recycling coordinator. "We do have conservation measures we need to fOCUS on." THERE ARE funding elements tied to the water use efficiency rule, but no funds are available from the state's Department of Health or De- partment of Ecology now, Farrell not- ed. "It is a mandate," she said, "lack- ing funding." "The range of costs will vary, de- pending on system size and other factors, such as installing service meters on existing connections, costs involved in water system planning and costs of implementing a Water Loss Control Action Plan," according to a publication by the Department of Health. "Although the new rule requires municipal water suppliers to pay more attention to conservation and rate structures, it is the responsibil- ity of each water system to determine which conservation measures best apply to their system and whether rates need to change," the publica- tion noted. A public hearing for setting goals for the city's water use efficiency is scheduled fir January 10. Mean- while, commissioners will discuss goal setting at their meeting on Mon- day, December 10. IN ANOTHER water-related matter, commissioners set a public Hospital is feeling the pinch (Continued from page 1.) the hospital and three associated fa- cilities: North Mason Medical Clinic, Oakland Bay Pediatrics and Mason County Eye Clinic. The budget projects revenue of about $62.1 million next year and spending of about $58.6 but must address the challenges of "overall de- clining volume" after votes to shrink Hospital District 1 and create a new Hospital District 2 for an area that has been served by the medical clinic in Belfair. "I feel that we've got some wonder- ful leadership within our hospital that has the time and the expertise to stay on top of that," said Nancy Truck- sess, chair of the hospital board. JOINING HER in voting to ap- prove the budget on November 13 were her fellow commissioners, Don Wilson and Scott Hilburn. Their plans call for the North Mason Medi- cal Clinic to be handed over to the new hospital district and managed iff cooperation with the staff of Harrison Hospital in Bremerton. The District 1 budget accounts for this "transi- tion in services" by projecting 9,000 fewer visits and the loss of $512,054 in projected revenue. Also subtracted from the revenue side of things is an unknown amount of tax revenue that might have been collected on proper- ties that are now in District 2. That amount is a fraction of the $1.64 rail- tion District 1 would expect to collect from the entire county. With surgeries down and the num- ber of patient days in the hospital expected to be flat, District 1 is chal- lenged to make ends meet in a climate of rising costs. The per-day operating expense for next year is estimated at $145,708, an increase of 8.3 percent over a per-day cost of $134,538 this year. "The ongoing pressure will be in- creasing salaries and benefits against a low growth volume scenario," the executive summary states. Surgeries are expected to drop by 5.8 percent to 1,303 "due to decreases in laparoscopic and orthopedic servic- es," these being procedures for people who are morbidly obese or have prob- lems with their bones. The number of babies delivered at the hospital is projected to grow by 10 percent to 288 as a result of "planned stabilization" in obstetrics and gynecology. HOSPITAL OFFICIALS are keeping their ears to the ground and their fingers to the wind as they look for signals from the federal govern- ment. Mason General has been desig- nated as a critical-care facility, which allows for the billing of patients at a somewhat higher rate than other small hospitals. Trucksess makes the point that without this designa- tion Mason General would be losing money by providing services to pa- tients supported by federal prograins. Larger hospitals in urban settings can offset losses in federal-pay cases by performing complex surgeries and other treatments that generate a lot of revenue, but smaller institutions don't have that luxury. "We have nothing that can com- pare to that, and so the government started this program as an aid to small hospitals, and it's been a tre- mendous help to us," Trucksess said. Medicare and Medicaid, the two major federal health programs, are expected to generate about $36.8 mil- lion for Mason General this year, an amount that accounts for 68 percent of the patient revenue. The 2008 bud- get projects Medicare and Medicaid revenue of about $40 million and ex- pects this to account for an even larg- er share of the total: 74 percent. Of concern to Trucksess are rumblings that the federal authorities might be redesigning the system that supports critical-care facilities like Mason General. "You never know what they're go- ing to do, so we just hang in there," she said. "We want to stay within their parameters. We're always sort of watching and trying to figure out what's ahread." MASON GENERAL will work to recruit two primary-care physicians, one orthopedic surgeon and an OB/ GYN, this being doc talk for a phy- Criminal court has run of mistrials (Continued from page 3.) were identified after fingerprint tech. nicians from the King County Sher- iffs Office took prints at the Seattle medical center. Stokley allegedly was under the influence of" alcohol when he drove his pickup truck north on Highway 101 after he and Smith followed a friend to her residence. He said he had not consumed alcohol since around 10:30 a.m. but Smith testified he had been drinking with her and her friend. Investigating officers said his vehicle left the roadway about two miles north of Lilliwaup and struck a series of power poles, shearing off one pole and downing another pole, cans- ing some transformers to fall on the vehicle. He and Smith were trapped inside the vehicle by live power wires and had to be extracted. A blood sample was taken from Stokely when he was at Mason Gen- eral Hospital about two hours after the crash, according to testimony at the trial, and a forensic scientist for the Washington State Patrol Labora- tory testified it was analyzed and the blood alcohol level was 0.11. The le. gal level is 0.08. JUDGE SHELDON declared the mistrial saying "one juror had ad- ditional information on the law that had not been provided by the court to the jury." Sheldon's instructions to jurors warned them not to seek out information on their own and looking up information on the Internet is one of the specific examples she gave of what not to do. Jurors began their deliberations around 1 p.m on November 15 and re- turned at 9 a.m. November 16. That's when one of the jurors reported go- ing "on-line" to review the Revised Code of Washington statutes regard- ing driving under the influence and blood alcohol levels. Members of the jury were Kimberly Metcalf, Terri Butler, Melissa Bergland Cosin, Tim Kingery, Marian Nordland, Charles King, Dorotea Pineda, Dennie Bow- ers, Lorraine Coots, Sharon Chan- dler, Cheryl Allen and Barbara Pe- terson. Kerry Fraser was excused as the alternate juror. This is the second time in less than a month that a mistrial has been de- clared in a felony case involving seri- ous or fatal injuries suffered on the roads of Mason County. Shelton Floor Covering is proud co introduce JIM BARR 1:O our Mason County cust.omecs • Jim brings 35 years of experience in heavy commercial, schools, hospitals, new and multi-story construction • Knowledgeable in specialty floors You're invited to stop by or call today! (360) 427-2822 on Hillcrest 1306 Olympic Hwy. S. Shelton,WA 985B4 Cont. #SHELTFC968QP Page 8 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, November 29, 2007 A mistrial was declared October 18 as a jury began deliberations in the vehicular-homicide trial of David Jensen, 49, of Port Hadlock. He was accused of driving under the influence and causing the death of 57-year-old Paul C. Parker of Seattle on June 30, 2006 in a head-on collision on State Route 3 near the intersection with Judy Lane in Belfair. Parker died at the scene and Jensen was airlifted to Harborview. As jurors began their deliberations an evidence box was given to them. The items in the box included all the evidence from the trial, not just evi- dence which had been admitted. An order signed by Judge James Saw- yer, who presided at the Jensen trial, states this was declared a mistrial "based upon inadvertent submission of excluded exhibits to the jury dur- ing deliberations." We have fishing supplies! Skokomish Indian Tribal Enterprises (S.I.T.E.) Premis Carton + tax Bud & Bud Lit00 6949 12 12 oz. cans u 3 Chicken Strips & 8,1Io Jo sician who specializes in the health- care needs of babies and their moms - obstetrics and gynecology. The budget allows for pay hikes of up to 6 percent for non-union work- ers, with the cost of providing medi- cal benefits to about 500 employees rising 10.9 percent to $5.3 million. Officials envision the spending of $267,977 to pay the holders of about five new jobs and $125,000 tbr a med- ical director who will work on "qual- ity improvement initiatives focused on implementation of clinical best practices based on evidence-based medicine." Mason General expects to provide about $1.9 million in charity care this year and a little more than that in 2008. Dollars generated by its criti- cal-care status are instrumental in this care and maintaining that status is a consideration when it comes to staffing the hospital. "We add people to stay in compli- ance so that we can stay on top of ev- erything," Trucksess said. "It's very, very important. It is important that we serve the community to the great- est extent that is possible." hearing for 6 p.m. on cember 3, about a to prohibit new wells within limits. Public Works Director 3a' said there currently is Shelton Municipal Code wells within the city. There between 20 and 30 wells in most of them used for irri "Staff is suggesting that to promote public health, potential revenue in the way ter system connection monthly water consum and to help reduce the risk fer depletion, that all city tamers be required to connect water," Ebbeson wrote in a memo to the commission. private wells in the city "grandfathered" under the and allowed to continue until they fail, he added. Free home buyers class this Saturday, 3 p.m., Shelton. Loads of free information on the Ma- son County home and current o for home loans. No and no obligation. For those who request it, on-site confidential Ioa0! assessment. Limited call to reserve: Exit Boardwalk, and A+ Mortgage. Still C0me to the Cove. relax, touch and eni.og in all her beauqr Bug ifg0u lille, or FREE Amethgsts FREE Nature center tours FREE Educational material Complete Flooring Showroom Full Lapidarg Shoppe • Zen gardens • New expanded gift selection • Artist onsite. Aroma therap!l • Books & tapes • P,0ck mineral & driftwood galler!l Open 10:30AM-6:OOI'M Tuesda!i-Saturdatl. II:OOAM-5:OOrM 510 $E 01d Arcadia load • 426-8111 2.3 miles out Arcadia Road, Shelton, WA 98584 wwtu.covecrgstals.com • Linda Glendenning & Elson Baugh 19390 North U.S. Hwy. I01 Skokomish Nation, WA 98584 At the intersection of Hwy. 101 & Hwy. 106 minutes north of Shelton on the Skokomish Indian Reservation Located next to the Casino • 427-9099 Camel Carton Winston s300? .......... 2-pack .................. ":' ":",' }illNlOll varieti Basic Marlboro $1.59/BAG SURGEON Cigarette Smoke Contains Carbon Monoxide. Shelton may ban digging of well By JEFF GREEN It's another unfunded state man- date and it's going to cost the City of Shelton money. The Municipal Water Law, as the 2003 state legislation is commonly known, calls for Shelton to submit goals for the city's Water Use Effi- ciency Program to the Washington Department of Health by January 22. Under the law, the Department of Health adopted a rule establishing water use efficiency requirements for all municipal water suppliers. The rule is designed to help conserve wa- ter for the environment and future generations, as well as to enhance public health by improving water sys- tem efficiency and reliability. "The spirit of this is to use less water," said Tracy Farrell, the city's recycling coordinator. "We do have conservation measures we need to fOCUS on." THERE ARE funding elements tied to the water use efficiency rule, but no funds are available from the state's Department of Health or De- partment of Ecology now, Farrell not- ed. "It is a mandate," she said, "lack- ing funding." "The range of costs will vary, de- pending on system size and other factors, such as installing service meters on existing connections, costs involved in water system planning and costs of implementing a Water Loss Control Action Plan," according to a publication by the Department of Health. "Although the new rule requires municipal water suppliers to pay more attention to conservation and rate structures, it is the responsibil- ity of each water system to determine which conservation measures best apply to their system and whether rates need to change," the publica- tion noted. A public hearing for setting goals for the city's water use efficiency is scheduled fir January 10. Mean- while, commissioners will discuss goal setting at their meeting on Mon- day, December 10. IN ANOTHER water-related matter, commissioners set a public Hospital is feeling the pinch (Continued from page 1.) the hospital and three associated fa- cilities: North Mason Medical Clinic, Oakland Bay Pediatrics and Mason County Eye Clinic. The budget projects revenue of about $62.1 million next year and spending of about $58.6 but must address the challenges of "overall de- clining volume" after votes to shrink Hospital District 1 and create a new Hospital District 2 for an area that has been served by the medical clinic in Belfair. "I feel that we've got some wonder- ful leadership within our hospital that has the time and the expertise to stay on top of that," said Nancy Truck- sess, chair of the hospital board. JOINING HER in voting to ap- prove the budget on November 13 were her fellow commissioners, Don Wilson and Scott Hilburn. Their plans call for the North Mason Medi- cal Clinic to be handed over to the new hospital district and managed iff cooperation with the staff of Harrison Hospital in Bremerton. The District 1 budget accounts for this "transi- tion in services" by projecting 9,000 fewer visits and the loss of $512,054 in projected revenue. Also subtracted from the revenue side of things is an unknown amount of tax revenue that might have been collected on proper- ties that are now in District 2. That amount is a fraction of the $1.64 rail- tion District 1 would expect to collect from the entire county. With surgeries down and the num- ber of patient days in the hospital expected to be flat, District 1 is chal- lenged to make ends meet in a climate of rising costs. The per-day operating expense for next year is estimated at $145,708, an increase of 8.3 percent over a per-day cost of $134,538 this year. "The ongoing pressure will be in- creasing salaries and benefits against a low growth volume scenario," the executive summary states. Surgeries are expected to drop by 5.8 percent to 1,303 "due to decreases in laparoscopic and orthopedic servic- es," these being procedures for people who are morbidly obese or have prob- lems with their bones. The number of babies delivered at the hospital is projected to grow by 10 percent to 288 as a result of "planned stabilization" in obstetrics and gynecology. HOSPITAL OFFICIALS are keeping their ears to the ground and their fingers to the wind as they look for signals from the federal govern- ment. Mason General has been desig- nated as a critical-care facility, which allows for the billing of patients at a somewhat higher rate than other small hospitals. Trucksess makes the point that without this designa- tion Mason General would be losing money by providing services to pa- tients supported by federal prograins. Larger hospitals in urban settings can offset losses in federal-pay cases by performing complex surgeries and other treatments that generate a lot of revenue, but smaller institutions don't have that luxury. "We have nothing that can com- pare to that, and so the government started this program as an aid to small hospitals, and it's been a tre- mendous help to us," Trucksess said. Medicare and Medicaid, the two major federal health programs, are expected to generate about $36.8 mil- lion for Mason General this year, an amount that accounts for 68 percent of the patient revenue. The 2008 bud- get projects Medicare and Medicaid revenue of about $40 million and ex- pects this to account for an even larg- er share of the total: 74 percent. Of concern to Trucksess are rumblings that the federal authorities might be redesigning the system that supports critical-care facilities like Mason General. "You never know what they're go- ing to do, so we just hang in there," she said. "We want to stay within their parameters. We're always sort of watching and trying to figure out what's ahread." MASON GENERAL will work to recruit two primary-care physicians, one orthopedic surgeon and an OB/ GYN, this being doc talk for a phy- Criminal court has run of mistrials (Continued from page 3.) were identified after fingerprint tech. nicians from the King County Sher- iffs Office took prints at the Seattle medical center. Stokley allegedly was under the influence of" alcohol when he drove his pickup truck north on Highway 101 after he and Smith followed a friend to her residence. He said he had not consumed alcohol since around 10:30 a.m. but Smith testified he had been drinking with her and her friend. Investigating officers said his vehicle left the roadway about two miles north of Lilliwaup and struck a series of power poles, shearing off one pole and downing another pole, cans- ing some transformers to fall on the vehicle. He and Smith were trapped inside the vehicle by live power wires and had to be extracted. A blood sample was taken from Stokely when he was at Mason Gen- eral Hospital about two hours after the crash, according to testimony at the trial, and a forensic scientist for the Washington State Patrol Labora- tory testified it was analyzed and the blood alcohol level was 0.11. The le. gal level is 0.08. JUDGE SHELDON declared the mistrial saying "one juror had ad- ditional information on the law that had not been provided by the court to the jury." Sheldon's instructions to jurors warned them not to seek out information on their own and looking up information on the Internet is one of the specific examples she gave of what not to do. Jurors began their deliberations around 1 p.m on November 15 and re- turned at 9 a.m. November 16. That's when one of the jurors reported go- ing "on-line" to review the Revised Code of Washington statutes regard- ing driving under the influence and blood alcohol levels. Members of the jury were Kimberly Metcalf, Terri Butler, Melissa Bergland Cosin, Tim Kingery, Marian Nordland, Charles King, Dorotea Pineda, Dennie Bow- ers, Lorraine Coots, Sharon Chan- dler, Cheryl Allen and Barbara Pe- terson. Kerry Fraser was excused as the alternate juror. This is the second time in less than a month that a mistrial has been de- clared in a felony case involving seri- ous or fatal injuries suffered on the roads of Mason County. Shelton Floor Covering is proud co introduce JIM BARR 1:O our Mason County cust.omecs • Jim brings 35 years of experience in heavy commercial, schools, hospitals, new and multi-story construction • Knowledgeable in specialty floors You're invited to stop by or call today! (360) 427-2822 on Hillcrest 1306 Olympic Hwy. S. Shelton,WA 985B4 Cont. #SHELTFC968QP Page 8 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, November 29, 2007 A mistrial was declared October 18 as a jury began deliberations in the vehicular-homicide trial of David Jensen, 49, of Port Hadlock. He was accused of driving under the influence and causing the death of 57-year-old Paul C. Parker of Seattle on June 30, 2006 in a head-on collision on State Route 3 near the intersection with Judy Lane in Belfair. Parker died at the scene and Jensen was airlifted to Harborview. As jurors began their deliberations an evidence box was given to them. The items in the box included all the evidence from the trial, not just evi- dence which had been admitted. An order signed by Judge James Saw- yer, who presided at the Jensen trial, states this was declared a mistrial "based upon inadvertent submission of excluded exhibits to the jury dur- ing deliberations." We have fishing supplies! Skokomish Indian Tribal Enterprises (S.I.T.E.) Premis Carton + tax Bud & Bud Lit00 6949 12 12 oz. cans u 3 Chicken Strips & 8,1Io Jo sician who specializes in the health- care needs of babies and their moms - obstetrics and gynecology. The budget allows for pay hikes of up to 6 percent for non-union work- ers, with the cost of providing medi- cal benefits to about 500 employees rising 10.9 percent to $5.3 million. Officials envision the spending of $267,977 to pay the holders of about five new jobs and $125,000 tbr a med- ical director who will work on "qual- ity improvement initiatives focused on implementation of clinical best practices based on evidence-based medicine." Mason General expects to provide about $1.9 million in charity care this year and a little more than that in 2008. Dollars generated by its criti- cal-care status are instrumental in this care and maintaining that status is a consideration when it comes to staffing the hospital. "We add people to stay in compli- ance so that we can stay on top of ev- erything," Trucksess said. "It's very, very important. It is important that we serve the community to the great- est extent that is possible." hearing for 6 p.m. on cember 3, about a to prohibit new wells within limits. Public Works Director 3a' said there currently is Shelton Municipal Code wells within the city. There between 20 and 30 wells in most of them used for irri "Staff is suggesting that to promote public health, potential revenue in the way ter system connection monthly water consum and to help reduce the risk fer depletion, that all city tamers be required to connect water," Ebbeson wrote in a memo to the commission. private wells in the city "grandfathered" under the and allowed to continue until they fail, he added. Free home buyers class this Saturday, 3 p.m., Shelton. Loads of free information on the Ma- son County home and current o for home loans. No and no obligation. For those who request it, on-site confidential Ioa0! assessment. Limited call to reserve: Exit Boardwalk, and A+ Mortgage. Still C0me to the Cove. relax, touch and eni.og in all her beauqr Bug ifg0u lille, or FREE Amethgsts FREE Nature center tours FREE Educational material Complete Flooring Showroom Full Lapidarg Shoppe • Zen gardens • New expanded gift selection • Artist onsite. Aroma therap!l • Books & tapes • P,0ck mineral & driftwood galler!l Open 10:30AM-6:OOI'M Tuesda!i-Saturdatl. II:OOAM-5:OOrM 510 $E 01d Arcadia load • 426-8111 2.3 miles out Arcadia Road, Shelton, WA 98584 wwtu.covecrgstals.com • Linda Glendenning & Elson Baugh 19390 North U.S. Hwy. I01 Skokomish Nation, WA 98584 At the intersection of Hwy. 101 & Hwy. 106 minutes north of Shelton on the Skokomish Indian Reservation Located next to the Casino • 427-9099 Camel Carton Winston s300? .......... 2-pack .................. ":' ":",' }illNlOll varieti Basic Marlboro $1.59/BAG SURGEON Cigarette Smoke Contains Carbon Monoxide.