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Mason County, Bremerton MOU: feasibility study to proceed under Commerce grant funds; commissioners lengthen decision window to 90 days
Summary
County staff presented a draft MOU with Bremerton that sets a 180-day feasibility timeline; commissioners debated the 45-day decision period and funding responsibility, agreed to revise the decision window to 90 days and to document that feasibility costs can be paid from the Department of Commerce grant funds or Bremerton’s allocation.
Mason County staff told commissioners they had received revised MOU language from the City of Bremerton’s attorney that added concrete timelines for a joint feasibility process. The draft would give 180 days to complete feasibility work and then 45 days to make a determination whether to proceed.
Commissioners expressed concern about being forced into a short decision window and about who would pay for the work. One commissioner argued the county should not be compelled to pay Bremerton’s feasibility costs and that any county costs should come from the county’s allocated portion of the state Commerce award. A staff presenter said the timeline and scope had been reviewed with Commerce and that a 180-day feasibility step was already consistent with the county’s work plan.
After discussion, commissioners asked staff to revise the draft: extend the 45-day determination window to 90 days and explicitly state that the county’s feasibility work would be funded from its allocated Commerce grant funds (or Bremerton’s funds where applicable). Commissioners directed staff to bring revised language back for presentation and possible action.
The briefing also noted dependencies: Ecology must approve general sewer plans and perform capacity analysis; Department of Commerce previously awarded funds (the packet referenced a Commerce award of $3,000,000 split in project allocations). Commissioners emphasized the need to specify in the MOU which party pays which portions of the study and to fit the county’s portion into the grant subaward or subcontracting language.
The county did not take final action at the briefing; staff said they would prepare a red-lined draft reflecting the 180/90-day language and the funding clarification for the board’s consideration at the next meeting.
