A North Mason citizens' group has formed with the goal of redefining the boundaries of Mason County's Public Hospital District No. 2 to match the boundaries of the North Mason School District. The voter precincts of Allyn, Victor and LakeLand Village would then withdraw from Shelton-based Public Hospital District No. 1 and be served by the Belfair-based Public Hospital District No. 2.

Led by Victor resident Mike Boyle and LakeLand Village residents Rodger DeBritz and Don LePere, the group has already begun to solicit signatures for the effort. A petition has been placed at Doug's Marketplace in Allyn Center and volunteers will staff tables in front of QFC and Safeway beginning in mid-July. The petition drive will continue through the summer with volunteers going door-to-door and petitions available for signing at all North Mason events and additional local businesses.

Of the registered voters in the three targeted precincts, 25% (or approximately 600 voters) must sign the petition before it can be presented to Mason County Auditor Karen Herr for validation prior to September 1, 2009.

Following validation, the petition must be presented to Public Hospital District No. 1 commissioners
for acceptance and approval. The suggestion from Boyle's attorney was that residents should attend these
meetings and "let their voices be heard loud and clear." The commissioners meet every second and fourth
Tuesday of the month (except holidays) at 8am in the Washington Room at Mason General Hospital in
Shelton. Commissioners are Nancy Trucksess, Shelton, president; Scott Hilburn, Shelton, secretary; and
Don Wilson of Potlatch.

Public Hospital District No.1 is the governing body of Mason General Hospital (MGH); Oakland Bay Pediatrics; Shelton Family Medicine; Shelton Orthopedics; Mtn. View Women's Health Clinic; MGH Eye Clinic and the MGH Surgery Clinic. All entities are located in Shelton.

According to Boyle, there are three major reasons for the group's decision to request withdrawal from PHD1. "We've heard the PHD2 commissioners promise Belfair residents that the 34¢ tax rate will stay the same and it has, even with the new Urgent Care facility now open. If PHD1 runs a hospital bond and it passes, our tax rate could run anywhere from $1.20 to $2.00 per $1000 assessed property value for a hospital we simply don't use," he explained.

While South Mason voter precincts outnumber North Mason voter precincts in population, the North Mason assessed property values may be higher. With a possible hospital bond on the ballot and the majority of voters residing in the Shelton area, it is likely that the bond would pass and North Mason voters in Allyn, Victor and LakeLand Village would pay.

In addition, should PHD1 voters approve a hospital bond, the opportunity for North Mason precincts to withdraw from PHD1 would not be legal for at least another 20 years or for whatever term is attached to the new bond.
Boyle also points out that local fire department records indicate that over 75% of all North Mason ambulance transports go to Harrison Hospital in nearby Kitsap County.

"The majority of us don't use Mason General - we go to Harrison," said Boyle. "We want to support the hospital we use."

Lastly, with the new Harrison Urgent Care Clinic now open in Belfair, residents of Allyn, Victor and LakeLand Village want to travel closer to home for care.

"Harrison Urgent Care is only four miles down the road from us and it's a beautiful brand new facility, but it's not ours," said Boyle. "We want to support it."

If the group is successful with its petition drive and PHD1 commissioners approve the withdrawal, the request must then be presented to the Board of Mason County Commissioners for final approval. If all goes according to plan, the withdrawal could be final before the close of 2009.

Residents who would like to sign the petition can contact Mike Boyle at mike@northbaymortgage.net
or 360.277.3282, Rodger DeBritz at 275.6052 or Don LePere at 275.3629.