Mason County hears briefings on septic-rebate program, weed-control grants and labor contract progress

County public-works and natural-resources staff briefed commissioners on three operational items during the briefing session.

Septic rebate: Public-works staff described a Puget Sound Partnership-funded septic-rebate program that covers 75 percent of qualifying services, with up to two rebates per property for a total of $1,500. Eligible work listed by staff includes inspections, pumpings and certain repairs; applicants generally must be resident property owners and the system must lie within qualifying watersheds that drain to Hood Canal or Puget Sound. Staff said some southwestern parts of the county that drain to the Chehalis watershed do not qualify.

Weed-control grants: Staff reported two interagency agreements for noxious-weed control. One is a $3,000 award from the Washington State Department of Agriculture (contract K6454) for control of class A giant hogweed in Mason County. The second is a $10,000 award from the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (agreement 527-131) to address invasive weeds in state parks within Mason County. Staff requested that both agreements be placed on the next action agenda for approval and signature.

Labor contract update: County management reported a ratified contract with the command guild after nearly yearlong negotiations and asked that the ratified contract be placed on the night agenda for formal signature. Commissioners present voiced support for bringing the contract forward.

What happens next: staff will place the two interagency agreements and the ratified command-guild contract on the action agenda for consideration and signature at the night meeting; the septic-rebate policy and eligibility details will be finalized and returned to the board as needed.