The Mason County Sheriff’s Office in Washington state has opened its new North Precinct location in Belfair. The opening event took place on February 2, 2024, and included an open house for community members. The new precinct is at 460 NE Old Belfair Highway, a building previously occupied by the North Mason Regional Fire Authority, which has relocated next door.
The North Precinct building will accommodate the Sheriff’s Office and the state departments of Corrections, Fish and Wildlife, and Natural Resources. The Treasurer’s Office also plans to install a drop box at the location. North Mason Fire Chief Beau Bakken acknowledged the challenges in opening the new precinct, which took nearly eight years of planning and coordination.
The precinct was funded by a 2019 Fire District bond. Bakken stated that the bond was sold based on the partnership being formed, not a new structure. Commissioners Randy Neatherlin and Kevin Shutty expressed their satisfaction with the services in North Mason County at the event. Neatherlin, who usually opposes tax increases, stated that the bond was well-spent.