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Commissioners briefed on Army Corps final accounting after county terminates partnership
Summary
Staff told the board they received an invoice from the Army Corps for the preliminary engineering and design phase after the county terminated a long‑running partnership agreement for flood/restoration projects; commissioners discussed funding options including REIT 2 or general fund allocation and agreed to start the amendment process to make funds available if needed.
County staff reported receipt of a final accounting and invoice from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers following termination by Mason County of a multi‑year partnership over projects in the Skokomish valley. Staff summarized the history: a feasibility study, a preliminary engineering and design (PED) phase covered by earlier partnership agreements and an anticipated construction phase for which the county and partners had been securing land and permits.
Staff said negotiations and property acquisition challenges led the commission to terminate their side of the partnership; the Corps provided a PED invoice and an estimated construction‑phase balance. Because the county lacks a dedicated flood control district fund for Skokomish work, staff outlined potential funding sources, including using REIT 2 (a capital/project fund) or general fund resources, and recommended budgeting the full amount so the county would be prepared while the Corps finalizes termination concurrence up the federal chain.
Commissioners agreed that an amendment and budget appropriation may be needed and requested staff pursue the administrative steps to present a formal amendment and budget options at a future meeting. Several commissioners expressed concern about using road funds and noted legal restrictions on eligible uses; staff said they would bring back recommended funding strategies and schedule the amendment process.
