ROUND ONE:
In an August issue of the Mason County Journal’s PUBLIC NOTICE section, I saw the announcement that the City of Shelton was planning to dredge the Shelton Creek. Because of the build of sediment, there was a distinct possibility  offlooding in some neighborhoods.  It spiked my curiosity, so I looked up the SEPA report.  There already had been a DNS issued. Determination of Non Significance  notices seem to be given out like Halloween Candy in the county and city.  One thing I noticed when reading the SEPA, was item #12, This stated that the sediment would be dredged and hauled off to an upland site so as not to enter State Waters.  No information as to where this “upland site” is located. So being a ‘nosy nelly’, I requested information from the Public Works  Department, including what testing of the sediment would be as it was stated that this should not enter State waters.  Approximately 700 to 900 cubic yards of sediment were to be removed.  One of the reasons I was concerned about sediment, was the fact that some of the water coming down to Shelton Creek is from Goose Lake a very highly contaminated body of water.  This was the responsive I received form  Jerry  Haut,  Project Manager.  “For this project it will be the contractor’s responsibility to properly  dispose  of any dredging materials.  There  are a number of local sites that have been permitted to accept contaminated materials and our  contractor will be responsible to select who they want to team with for this project.  There is no testing proposed if the material is contaminated and it is subsequently disposed of at an approved disposal site, we will ultimately have less contaminated material in the stream and bay.”  This response completely baffled me.  No information where these sites are located, contractors are responsible for picking the correct place to put them and no testing is done and if sediment is contaminated it will be put in an OK place.  A meeting was set up with Steve Goins. Terri Thompson, Doug  Sayan and myself attended. We had no additional information after the meeting that we didn’t have before it. It was basickly the same thing I was told before.
 
ROUND II: FOIA Requst July 26, 2012
I then sent a FOIA to Mason County Health Department requesting all information about hazardous and non-hazardous dumping sites and whether any were over critical areas such as wetlands CARAs (Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas) or near bodies of water, etc.
August 6, 2012;  I received a letter not signed from Mason County Public Health telling me, “Mason County does not currently have a landfill that disposes of hazardous or non hazardous material. There are several intermediate solid waste collection sites that collect solid waste for transfer to other locations for final disposal.”  No information about where these “other sites are located.” Two places were given, Belfair Drop Box and  Transfer Station. There are 14 recycling   operations and 2 composting facilities.  I received the permits for the solid wastes and compost sites but only 2 recycling operations.  The ones I received  were not completely filled out or the  information given  seemed questionable. No information about critical areas.  I wrote a letter on Aug. 14, 2012 again asking for that information. I also requested information if there are any sites other than Webb Hill that accepts sludge as a land application.
August 14. 2012;  I received  a response, again not signed,  stating, “ You requested information that is not maintained in this office.  I will attempt to direct you to the best location to secure your requested information.  The City of Shelton and the Mason County Planning Department both have a rosters of Critical Aquifer recharge Areas. These  two rosters are different. You can determine  the proximity of the business to the recharge areas in question using the address provided   I was  also referred me to DNR and DOE about land application.  Back to square 1.
 August 17, 2012.  I sent another letter , To Whom it may Concern at MCHD.  I told them I do not work for the County or the Health Department.  There are no ‘rosters or lists’. There are two maps, the city’s and the other the county’s , both have the same information source  Gordon Adams, who  did the originals for free.  It is not exactly clear about his qualifications. Anyhow, the maps are completely different.  Where the City of Shelton shows as Class I area the County shows Class II, and vice versa.  There has never been study done to correct differences.
August 30, 2012: My final correspondence from MCHD signed by Debbie Riley.
The comment states; “The purpose of a records request is to make existing records available to the requestor, not to research or analyze data.  Your questions go far beyond providing existing records and I will address them to the best of my ability.” CARA” is not an acronym Public Health uses.  Cannot tell where or if any of listed facilities listed are over or near critical areas. The Mason County Public Health does not issue permits to exempt facilities. Note; The copies of many of the listed facilities have a heading  of “Mason County Public Health Permit.” I stand corrected in thinking that Mason County Public Health would have Public Health related information.  The only information I have heard given at commissioner’s Meetings by Vicky Kirkpatrick are earth shattering statements such as; “Get a flu shot.  Smoking,  drinking alcohol , and not exercising are bad for your health,” and a report by JOHNSON AND JOHNSON  saying the same things. Bye the bye, one of our illustrious Commissioners received a nice campaign donation from this company, and Kirkpatrick received  a salary increase due to her good friend  Erickson.  Well still no information.  So on to……
ROUND 3. On Sept 4, 2012 at the open comment period of the Commissioners Meeting I tried to  find out again for umpteenth time where are the CARAs.  I explained all the above and then read the RCW used by the Growth Management Act requiring  the County to keep accurate information regarding location of the CARAs.  This was totally ignored except about the dredging.  Commissioner Shelton did not like the work “dredging” and thought “excavating” was a better word.  Commissioner Erickson did not have a clue what I was saying, and Commissioner Bloomfield started yelling at me that I was trying to shut down the project and would be responsible for the flooding of the residential areas.  When I tried to explain my question, Erickson started gaveling and telling me I was out of order and to sit down, while Bloomfield  continued shouting. Erickson almost broke the gavel.
So ended my adventure  with  the City of Shelton, Mason County Health Department and the County Commissioners. I never found out any of the information I requested and was  knocked out in all three rounds.                       And that is how things are done in Mason County

Patricia Vandehey, Shelton

As I drove by a political rally this evening, I saw signs touting the essentials of women's rights and necessities. As a woman, I am concerned at the liberal voice asserting what they believe to be "my rights". I want to be a woman who is accountable for her actions, and accepts the responsibility for those actions.  
Therefore, I do not think it is correct or just to continue to live beyond our means and pass that debt on to another generation.  I would not do that to my children, and I will not support a government that does that to all our children. I am responsible for my actions to others, and this woman takes that seriously, and I will hold myself and my government accountable.
This woman does not believe it is my right to force medical professionals, or anyone really, to go against their faith for the sake of my life choices.  I do think it is the choice of consenting adult to have sexual relations, and it is their responsibility to accept the results of that choice. They should be responsible for birth control for that choice, and not ask others to support their decision.  Taking the life of another to avoid accepting that responsibility is not legitimate, and I should never be forced to support it.
If we desire the next generation to be accountable and responsible citizens, we need to show them what that looks like. I hope all women desire to be responsible and let their votes show that conviction.

Lorilyn Rogers, Shelton

April Pooler, Shelton

What happened last week at the Board of Mason County Commissioners meeting was a rude reminder that commissioners are deliberately misleading the public. Over the past four years there have been many examples of callousness toward citizen concerns, but pretending to consider lowering commissioner pay and then, in an eleventh hour move, voting to keep it at the current exorbitant level, including automatic pay increases, was unforgivable. 
In no other position is a public employee permitted to engage in an unlimited number of off-job activities and still claim full compensation. When challenged, commissioners claim they are required to attend only one board meeting a month, and then rattle off a list of activities in which they are engaged.  But what they fail to mention is that few of those activities are part of their job.    
Such slippery ethics are unworthy of a public servant, as is feathering your own nest, currying favor with special interests and paving the way for higher political office, all on the public’s dime. Commissioner Sheldon says that we need to pay commissioners a “good” salary or we won’t attract talented people. But that’s just a ruse to keep his own salary and retirement benefits artificially high.
The question we should be asking ourselves is do we really want an elected official who seeks public office because it pays well? I don’t think so. We need people who come to serve, not be served. Sure, they should make a livable wage, but this is the public sector, where service and sacrifice are the proper measure of good governance, not high salaries.
Is $96,655 in salary and benefits too high compensation for a Mason County Commissioner? The answer is yes and no. No, if there is only one commissioner, but yes if you have three people doing the same job, as is the case here. Based on duty mandates and local conditions, salary plus benefits of a Mason County Commissioner should not exceed $68,000 per year.    
If an elected official moves away from the noble premise of service over salary, then we should move away from them.

Tom Davis, Shelton