TOM'S TALES FOR THE WEEK
Submitted to Shelton Blog by Tom Davis Mason County Progressive
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
5:30 AM: Davis residence
A half empty bottle of Tequila and a pounding headache told me that Election Day was over and it is time to get up, throw up and move on. Clearly, the local results did not go as so many of us had hoped, and now faced with another four years of Tim Sheldon we must all now dig deep. As for the other two Commissioner Elects, time will bring to the surface their true natures.
Okay, enough of that, here now is the other news of the week:
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
9:00 AM: Regular session of Board of County Commissioners
At the public comment period Annette McGee asked the commissioners how much money will Mason County have to pay out for their 2009 screw up of labor negotiations, and where will that money come from? (See "Tom’s Tales" 8/27/12)
Commissioner Ring-Erickson responded that the County continues to negotiate a resolution and that no set amount has been agreed upon, then added that any payout would likely come out of the General Fund.
Item 8.5: Approval of Amendment #1 to the Interlocal Agreement Between Mason County Public Health and Thurston County to continue Dr. Yu's services as Mason County's Health Officer in the amount of $47,489 for 2013.
The arrangement between Mason County Public Health and Dr. Yu started back in 2005 with a contract that provided for four hours of professional medical officer services a week at a cost of about $18,000 a year. That contract has now blossomed into over $47,000 a year for one day a week of services.
But here’s the kick: Dr. Yu’s opinions seem more political than medical; her “White Paper” on the failed ADAGE biomass proposal stated that air quality in Mason County was “Good” and then went on to recommend how people could protect their health while being poisoned by a major source of industrial air pollution. In fact, nine and a half pages of the report were little more than boilerplate that any high school student with a computer and a thin conscience could have generated.
Two years later, now responding to why Mason County has the highest incidence of cancers in the state, Dr. Yu reversed her position on the quality of Mason County air, citing a higher level of particulate matter than other counties. She also thought only mortality rates from cancer should be counted. In other words, in Dr. Yu’s professional opinion, you have to be dead to count.
Item 8.10: Approval of the resolution amending the Non-Union Salary Range Alignment Table to reflect a salary range adjustment for the Human Resources Director from Range 39 to Range 43, or to Range 44. (NOTE: I don’t write this stuff; I just lift it from the agenda.)
Alright, let’s talk money: Salary range 39 is $70K - $83 a year; range 43 is $76K - $91K a year: and range 44 is $78K - $93K a year.
The yearly salary of Karen Jackson, the previous HR director who left (in part) because the County wouldn’t give her a raise, was about $80,000 a year. But the County soon realized they could not attract a replacement of Ms. Jackson’s caliber without increasing the salary by $10 to 20k a year. In the end, Commissioners Bloomfield and Sheldon voted to increase the salary range to 43; Commissioner Ring-Erickson dissented, on principle.
9.1 Public hearing to consider extending the moratorium on Collective Gardens (medical cannabis) for six months, expiring on May 8, 2013.
Commissioners voted unanimously to continue the moratorium on collective gardens for cultivating medical marijuana. The move was designed to sidestep having to deal with the possible passing of Initiative 502 which would (and did) allow for licensing and regulation of marijuana cultivation and distribution in the state. No member of the public spoke for or against the issue, leaving the lonely sound of an empty can being kicked down the road to echo off the chamber walls.
2:00 PM: Port of Shelton Commission Meeting
In a battle of Bratwurst vs Brains, the combined talents of Commissioners Taylor and Wallitner may have the makings of a fine sandwich but little else. Here’s what’s happening:
Commissioners Taylor and Wallitner and Director Dobson, want to use borrowed money to fund future projects at the Port. Commissioner Hupp wants to fund the projects from the Port’s reserves.
There’s more to this story (there always is when the Port is involved), but the issue boils down to a philosophical approach to business: use your own money to fund your own projects or use borrowed money and risk an unknown economic future.
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg; the real problem is whatever’s taking place between Dobson, Wallitner and Taylor while leaving Hupp out of the loop. The other two commissioners agree, Hupp has the experience and brainpower to keep the Port on solid financial footing, yet neither commissioner is inclined to follow his advice.
I find this to be something of a mystery, especially since Dobson has done so little to facilitate economic growth. As a matter of fact, other than being a competent airport curator, I don’t know why anyone even listens to him. Tom Wallitner is an easier read; he follows the money, especially if he thinks some of it will wind up in his pocket. Dick Taylor, is a bit more complex, but only because he seems to be genuinely conflicted. I know Commissioner Taylor to be basically a good person, though I’m not too sure he’s all that able to follow the technical complexities involved in running an airport.
Not that anyone cares, but what I want is a complete independent audit of Port finances.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, there’s still half a bottle of Tequila sitting under my desk which I have every intention of reuniting with its brother.
Later…
Link to previous related post:
http://masoncountyprogressive.blogspot.com/2012/08/week-of-82712-meetings-in-review.html
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