Mason County to send Island Lake management district formation to property-owner vote

The Mason County Board of County Commissioners voted July 22 to send the proposed formation of Island Lake Management District No. 1 to a weighted vote of the affected property owners.

The measure — if approved by a simple majority of weighted ballots — would authorize a 15-year special-assessment district to fund lake improvement and maintenance activities to control aquatic invasive plants, monitor lake health and maintain a neighborhood advisory committee.

Jennifer Byerly, support services, told the board the hearing was held “pursuant to RCW 36.61 0.07” and that signed petitions had been returned by “approximately 46% of property owners in favor of creating the LMD.” She said the proposed district would exist for 15 years and that the county has reviewed the plan and “finds that the formation of the district is in the public interest.”

Under the financing plan presented, the first-year assessment was estimated at $50,000; subsequent annual assessments were estimated at $15,000 with a 5% annual inflation factor beginning in year three unless the Island Lake Advisory Committee elects otherwise. Byerly gave a total projected funding amount of approximately $343,980 over…