LUTHERAN QUILTERS – Members of the Quilts for Comfort Group stand between pews draped with some of the 205 quilts they made, in the Sitka Lutheran Church Tuesday. The group made the quilts for five local non-profits and one in Anchorage. The remaining quilts are sent to Lutheran World Relief which distributes them to places around the world in need, such as Ukraine, as part of Personal Care Kits. Pictured are, from left, Helen Cunningham, Kathleen Brandt,Vicki Swanson, Paulla Hardy, Kim Hunter, Linda Swanson and Sue Fleming. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
Federal officials on Wednesday approved most of Alaska’s four-y [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
At an hour-long work session with the Assembly Tuesda [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
The story behind a classic, though often misunderstoo [ ... ]
By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
The state government risks losing millions of dollars in feder [ ... ]
By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Wednesday signed a bill that promise [ ... ]
By YERETH ROSEN
Alaska Beacon
Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, known for its steep mountains [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
Playing Wednesday in competitive division City League volleyball matches, Ca [ ... ]
Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 27
At 2:36 p.m. a dead [ ... ]
This Week in Girls on the Run
By Sitkans Against Family Violence
and The Pathways Coalition
During th [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
The future of management and operations at the Perform [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
The Sitka Sound commercial herring sac roe fishery continued today with open [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
After storming into the state 3A boys basketball brac [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
The Queen Bees’ spotless season record ended Tuesday night with a 2-1 loss [ ... ]
By SHIRLEY SNEVE
Indian Country Today
A major renovation at an Alaska museum to attract tourist [ ... ]
By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
A presentation about a jump in the number of inmate deaths in [ ... ]
By NATHANIEL HERZ
Northern Journal
Tribal and environmental advocates calling for a crackdown o [ ... ]
Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 26
At 2:10 p.m. a man e [ ... ]
Big Rigs Sought
For April 13
The 3 to 5 Preschool’s spring fundraiser and Big Rig event is happening [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The city’s reassessment of taxable real estate, alo [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
The third opening in this year’s Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery was held Mon [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
Sitka High’s Lady Wolves bounced back from an openi [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel ports Editor
Competing in the state 3A basketball tournament in Anc [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
Playing in a competitive division City League volleyball game Monday evening [ ... ]
By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
A bill that passed the Alaska House of Representatives on Monday [ ... ]
Daily Sitka Sentinel
Sitka Faces Choices On CARES Act Fund
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
City hall has been receiving dozens of suggestions a day since word came down that Sitka may get some $14 million in CARES Act funds.
City Administrator John Leach said today it’s important to get help quickly to individuals and businesses who need it, but the city also needs to receive clarity on how the funds can be spent.
“Ultimately it will come down to the U.S. Treasury rules on how we can spend it,” Leach said. “Whether we can line up the public’s need with how the treasury says we can spend it. It may be even longer till we see that funding. Plenty of lobbying has happened.”
The Assembly had a brief discussion about the expected windfall at its regular meeting Tuesday. After floating a few ideas, members decided to hold off until a work session is scheduled.
“It will take an Assembly work session on how to prioritize and how to help everyone out,” Leach said, adding that some things are already known about how CARES Act money can be spent.
“It has to be directly related to COVID-19 response and recovery,” Leach said. “We can’t put it into savings; it has to be spent. ... It will be audited, tracked and if it’s not spent on where the Treasury says it needs to be spent they will want it back.”
(A potential complication to the process is a lawsuit filed Wednesday by a private citizen seeking to block the plan approved by the Legislature for distributing CARES money to municipalities, saying the plan is unconstitutional.)
Leach said he’s hoping the Treasury rules are coming soon, and the Assembly can plan a work session, hopefully before the next regular meeting May 26.
“Knowing so many people in need of it now, that’s why we want to move quickly, and give the green light, and not have any fear of it being taken back because it wasn’t spent correctly,” he said.
Leach wants to work with Sitka Tribe of Alaska on the best use of the CARES Act funds. The tribe expects $6.9 million from CARES, and has been discussing possible relief ideas for its citizens.
“We’re not talking about spending the tribe’s money in any way, shape or form, but depending on how they spend their money ... ,” Leach said. “It’s for us to work together, find out what their priorities are, whether we have overlap and how to spread funding further.”
Assembly members Thor Christianson and Kevin Mosher shared some of their thinking with other members at the Assembly meeting Tuesday.
Christianson said he and Mosher were working on an ordinance which included utility and moorage relief for those who have suffered financially because of COVID mitigation requirements.
Mosher said, “My vision would be to hopefully use up the first bunch of this money to do something that would be equitable for everyone in town that is affected, and make it as easy as possible but follow the guidelines.”
Richard Wein said he would prefer a full Assembly work session to get organized, including creating categories, guidelines and priorities, as the “fairest and best way” to proceed. He noted the total amount allotted is equivalent to about $1,600 per citizen – or an extra Alaska Permanent Fund dividend check.
“It’s a lot of money, but by the same token it’s not,” he said. Employing a fishing metaphor, he said, “These CARES grants have already had a ‘chum effect’ around the USS Sitka... This could turn wonderful, or it could be a problem.”
Mayor Gary Paxton listed examples of businesses that have been harmed, including private tourism businesses and nonprofits.
“How you create that mosaic is going to be a challenge,” he said. He agreed that the Assembly should have a work session “as soon as practical.”
The packet for Tuesday’s Assembly meeting included a “white paper” from the finance staff about how the funds can be spent. It’s available on the city website.
In public comments at the meeting, Robin Sherman, program manager of the Sitka Legacy Foundation, said: “To the extent that the Assembly decides to use CARES Act funds to assist households, I encourage you to work with the existing nonprofit organizations that have expertise in this area. We have many nonprofits that know how to distribute food and supplies and provide housing assistance, because they’re already doing it. To the extent that the community wants to support local businesses with CARES Act funds, I ask that you provide the same opportunities to nonprofits.”
Some business owners and representatives also submitted comments that were read aloud at the meeting.
Pat Kehoe, representing Island Artists Gallery, commented on the hardships on small businesses, particularly those dependent on cruise ship visitors.
“Please remember the small businesses that are the backbone of Sitka as you make the tough decision about how these funds are to be spent,” she said.
Frances Donohoe talked about the effects the lockdown has had on her business, Sitka Cirque, and the continued difficulties she will face when she reopens after being closed for the last few months.
Fewer students, a loss in income and increased expenses are among them, she said.
“Take a moment and consider what Sitka would be like without its community arts and after-school programs,” Donohoe said. “Please do not forget us as you decide how best to distribute financial aid.”
Login Form
20 YEARS AGO
March 2004
Advertisement: Tea-Licious Tea House & Bakery 315 Lincoln Street Grand Opening! Freshly Baked Scones, Cakes & Pastries Innovative Salads, Soups & Sandwiches Harney & Sons Tea. Lunch * Afternoon Tea * Supper.
50 YEARS AGO
March 1974
Photo caption: National Republican Chairman George Bush takes a drink of water offered by Jan Craddick, Sitka delegate, during the Republican convention held here. Mrs. Craddick explained to Bush that the water was from Indian River, which means, according to local legend, that he will return.