Mason County commissioners voted on Nov. 25 to approve a memorandum of understanding with the City of Bremerton that directs a preliminary engineering and financial evaluation of potential sanitary sewer service to part of the Puget Sound Industrial Center.

Loretta Swanson, Mason County Public Works, told the commission the draft MOU adds a requirement that the study quantify capital and operational impacts, and sets a 180‑day target to complete that evaluation. The MOU also gives the county up to 90 days after the study’s completion to decide whether providing sewer service is in the county’s best interest.

Supporters said partnering with Bremerton could spread the cost of necessary sewer expansion as growth related to planned naval shipyard investments brings new demand. “Do we want Mason County taxpayers to pick up that bill alone, or share the expense with a partner?” one commissioner asked in support of the MOU.

Opponents and public commenters raised concerns about limited current capacity and local economic impacts. Commissioners and members of the public repeatedly cited the Belfair sewer system’s permitted spray-field limit of 125,000 gallons per day and current usage near 82,000 gallons. Commissioner Randy Netherland (spoken in record) warned the county is near a regulatory trigger and said he feared the county could be left subsidizing service outside its taxing district. “To sell something that you don’t have is not very bright,” he said, arguing the county should not commit to service without clear capacity and licensing changes.

City of Bremerton representatives and local engineers said grant and design timing complicate who pays when: Bremerton’s engineer noted the commerce grant typically funds design work and that an interlocal agreement (ILA) would follow only after an evaluation and county commitment.

After extended discussion and a short amendment debate about funding language for the study, commissioners approved the MOU by voice vote and directed staff to move forward with the study and the schedule described in the agreement. The motion as approved requires the feasibility work to be completed within the MOU timeframes and for Mason County to provide written notice to Bremerton within 90 days of the study’s completion on whether it will offer service.

Next steps: staff will carry out the preliminary engineering and financial evaluation described in the MOU and return to the commission; any decision to provide service will follow separate actions and may require separate permitting, capacity changes and interlocal agreements.