Mason County Commission approves consent agenda, establishes public hearing dates and authorization for county engineering projects

The Mason County Commission read and approved most of its action agenda on March 3, approving warrants and remittance claims, authorizing planning and procurement steps on several public-works projects, and setting public hearings.

Items approved as part of the consent/action vote included: approval of warrants and remittance claims (clearing-fund warrants number range 8118899–8119324 for $1,832,434.88; direct deposit warrants range 123850–124253 for an amount read in the record; salary clearing fund warrants 7009502–7009530 for $649,876.54), authorization to publish an RFP for a countywide Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP), approval to submit Fish Barrier Removal Board grant applications and Safe Routes to Schools and pedestrian/bike program applications, authorization for the county engineer to advertise and award contracts for Highland Road improvements and other county road projects, approval to set a public hearing on March 17 for the petition to rename Pertie Creek Bridge to Senator Tim Sheldon Bridge, and authorization to set a March 31 public hearing to consider a franchise agreement with Forged Fiber 37 LLC for fiber in county rights-of-way.

Commissioners also approved a lease-extension agreement with the Victor Improvement Club and reappointments to the Solid Waste Advisory Committee. The Washington State Office of Civil Legal Aid notified the county that it is terminating its professional services contract with Mason County Public Defenders Office; staff recorded that correspondence.

Item 8.3 (Memorial Hall rental policy) was removed from the consent vote at the request of citizens so the public could testify; the commission later approved an amended version (see separate article).