Applicant for Mason County Board of Equalization interviewed; commissioners defer appointment pending conflict review

Todd Wilmowski, an applicant for an alternate seat on the Mason County Board of Equalization, interviewed with commissioners during the Jan. 12 county briefing and said he has 22 years of experience as a state-certified real estate appraiser. "I've been a state certified real estate appraiser for 22 years," Wilmowski said, adding that he has worked in Mason County extensively and maintains a business PO box in Olympia.

Commissioners explained the alternate role is expected to serve when regular board members are unable to attend and underscored procedural limits on outside advising. The chair cautioned that alternates should not serve as on-call experts for the assessor's office and emphasized that determinations must be made according to law and the assessor's records.

Wilmowski disclosed he has a personal property tax appeal scheduled on March 5, which prompted commissioners to flag a potential conflict of interest. The board agreed to seek an opinion from county counsel (referred to as "Tim" in the briefing) and to bring the appointment back for formal action at a future regular business meeting rather than appointing the alternate at the briefing. The commission noted that any formal appointment would take place at the dais during a regular meeting.

The commissioners did not take a final vote or appoint Wilmowski on Jan. 12; they said they would return the item to the agenda in two weeks or at the next regular business meeting after receiving counsel's guidance.