The Mason County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 2 authorized the chair to sign an interlocal agreement with the City of Bremerton to begin negotiations on potential sanitary sewer service from the Belfair Water Reclamation Facility to portions of the Puget Sound Industrial Center and related areas. The vote passed following public comment and extended discussion about feasibility, permitting and financial terms. Loretta Swanson, Public Works Utilities and Waste Management director, told the commissioners the ILA incorporates language the commission requested, including defining a mutual service area and aligning both jurisdictions’ sewer plans. She said the draft also reflects government-to-government communications with Bremerton leaders and the city engineer. Resident Randy Lewis urged caution and called for a feasibility study before signing a final deal, asking specifically for detailed financial projections on buildout costs, revenue allocation and potential costs to Mason County. Commissioners debated amendments that had been proposed during the meeting, including whether Bremerton should commit funding for a feasibility study at the time the ILA is signed. A motion to require Bremerton to provide feasibility funding not to exceed $250,000 was discussed but not adopted; a later motion to authorize signing the ILA passed. Commissioners emphasized that the ILA is an early step, not the final agreement, and several said that Ecology approvals, plan submittals and further negotiations are required before any service extensions occur. The ILA was described by staff as providing a framework for detailed negotiations on economic impacts, permit compliance and service terms; the board directed staff to continue working with Bremerton and state Ecology as next steps.