WEEK of 8/20/12 MEETINGS IN REVIEW

TOM'S TALES FOR THE WEEK

Submitted to Shelton Blog by Tom Davis Mason County Progressive

Monday, August 20, 2012

9:00 AM: Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Briefing

The following agenda items were discussed out of the public’s view:

Executive Session – RCW 42.30.110 (i) Litigation
Closed Session - RCW 42.30.140 (4) Labor Discussion

Despite attempts to disappear into my seat, I was given the bum’s rush when the above items came up for discussion. I tried pressing an ear to the chamber door, but all I could hear sounded like a bunch of chimpanzees fighting over a pizza. An hour later, Commissioner Ring-Erickson emerged to announce that no action had been taken, which was just as well, since, now I couldn’t get my mind off pizza.

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

9:00 AM: Regular session of Board of County Commissioners (BOCC)

During the comment period I suggested the County provide more details about pending action in Public Notices. But Commissioner Sheldon responded to something completely out of orbit (paraphrased): “I know you didn’t bring it up, but comments about election issues are not allowed during these meetings.”

Okay, and no matter how deep the ocean is you can always break a window with a hammer. Now that we got that out of the way:

Some Public Notices lack critical information, for instance: a recent request to rezone a piece of property failed to provide the location, address, assessor’s parcel number, or a legal description of the property (Tom’s Tales; 8/13/12).

Another public notice requesting a rezone of 241 acres in the Lake Nahwatzel area, and 187 acres at Hanks Lake reads as follows:

“Public Hearing to consider proposal by Green Diamond Resource Company for a request for rezone and amendment to the Mason County Comprehensive Plan.”

No other information was provided.

There was every reason to believe a request for more detail in Public Notices would be met with agreement. But, as previously mentioned, all I got was the old "Sheldon Slider", a pitch meant to brush the public back from the plate.

It falls to reason that if Mr. Sheldon is so concerned about keeping political talk out of official proceedings, maybe he should stop bringing it up at those proceedings -- three times in the past two months, and in the newspapers and on the radio. I think it’s all just an act to muddy the waters.

“8.6 Approval of the resolution to amend the Non-Union Salary Range Alignment Table to reflect a salary range adjustment for the Deputy Administrator of Probation from Range 29 to 33 and for Public Health and Human Services Director from Range 39 to 45.”

In a curious action to approve a pay raise for the Deputy Administrator of Probation (whoever that is) but not for Vicki Kirkpatrick, Director of Public Health, Commissioner Sheldon moved to vote on each request separately.

Here’s why:

In the early part of 2011 Ms. Kirkpatrick encouraged the Commissioners to adapt a 1/10 of 1% sales tax to fund the Mental Health/Therapeutic Court Program, much to Sheldon’s chagrin. At the time, Commissioner Lynda Ring–Erickson, and then Commissioner Jerry Lingle supported the proposal. But Jerry passed away before the Task Force could present its recommendations, and was replaced by Steve Bloomfield. Long story short: Sheldon may have thought Bloomfield would provide the second vote needed to kill the proposal. Fortunately, that didn’t happen.

But that wasn’t the end of it, because as we all know:

You don’t tug on superman’s cape;
You don’t spit into the wind;
You don’t pull the mask off the ol’ Lone Ranger;
And you don’t mess around with Tim.

Over the next several months Tim successfully defeated two requests for a pay raise for Ms. Kirkpatrick. And with the stage thus set for another go-round, the air in the room was electric.

Here's what happened:

A hush fell over the chamber as Timmy
came boppin’ in off the street.
And when the cuttin’ was done,
the only part that wasn’t bloody
was the soles of the big man's feet.
He was cut in hundred places,
he was shot in a couple more.
And you better believe
they sung a different kind o' story
when Big Tim hit the floor.

(R.I.P. Jim Croce)

2:00 PM: Port of Shelton Commission Meeting

ACTION/DISCUSSION ITEMS:

A. Fairgrounds – Future Use – Discussion – Possible Action
B. Rural Development Funding – Discussion

The only reason item “B” is even listed here is to keep item “A” company, so sad was the discussion surrounding the Mason County Fairgrounds.

Things kicked off with a Hupp power point aimed at saving the fairgrounds from the Fairground Assault Agency, commonly known as the FAA. A comparison was made between Sanderson Field and the Chehalis Airport, as both facilities have similar physical characteristics and are governed under the same policies.

But unlike Sanderson, Chehalis leases a significant amount of aviation land to large retail outlets, such as Wal-Mart and Home Depot. It also has a viewing station where the public can park, eat lunch at picnic tables and watch local air traffic, all within 700 feet of the active runway.

In a companion piece to his presentation, Mr. Hupp writes, “Chehalis gives us a model of how to work with the FAA to achieve both airport and community betterment.”

According to Commissioners Taylor and Wallitner, and Director Dobson, primary resistance comes from the FAA. So, once again it was decided to bring all the principals under one roof for a show-down.

Toward the end of the meeting, Commissioner Hupp lowered the boom on the issue, saying (as best I recall): “If this community loses the fairgrounds, for whatever reason, it loses it forever.”

True dat.

Later…

SHELTON BLOG NOTE:

Link to previous related article:
http://masoncountyprogressive.blogspot.com/2012/08/week-of-81312-meetings-in-review.html