Mason County approves action agenda: warrants, appointment, land sale, and letter on indigent defense costs

The Mason County Board of Commissioners approved its action agenda by voice vote at the Jan. 6 meeting, enacting several consent and action items as a package.

Items approved in the action agenda included: claims-clearing fund warrants 8117504 through 8118035 for $3,069,743.79; direct deposit fund warrants 121812 through 122632 for $2,057,263.64; salary clearing fund warrants 7093293 for $1,952,596.81; the appointment of Virginia Feldman to the Mason County Historic Preservation Commission for the term beginning Jan. 6, 2026, and ending Nov. 30, 2028; approval authorizing Commissioner Netherland to sign a vacant land purchase-and-sale agreement for parcel 22005-53-00012 (1581 E Phillips Lake Road, Shelton) to Bernard and Lisa Stewart for $6,000; and placement of a public hearing on the six-year transportation improvement program amendment for Feb. 17, 2026.

Commissioners also approved a letter to Governor Bob Ferguson expressing concern about the potential fiscal impacts of changes to public indigent defense standards, which commissioners described in discussion as a potentially large unfunded mandate that could require more public defenders, investigators, mental‑health specialists and support staff. During discussion commissioners cited short‑term cost estimates in the order of $1,000,000 and warned of greater long‑term uncertainty.

The action agenda was approved by voice vote with no roll‑call tally recorded in the transcript. The board did not amend the listed items during the meeting.