FIFTH OPENING – The Sitka seine boats Hukilau and Rose Lee pump herring aboard this afternoon at the end of Deep Inlet during the fifth opening in the Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery. The opening was being held in two locations beginning at 11 a.m. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
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 [ ... ]
By NATHANIEL HERZ
Northern Journal
Gus Schumacher, the Anchorage Olympic cross-country skier, a [ ... ]
By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
Alaska’s rural schools are on track to access faster interne [ ... ]
By YERETH ROSEN
Alaska Beacon
In the language of the Gwich’in people of northeastern Alaska, [ ... ]
Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 25
At 7:48 a.m. a calle [ ... ]
Vietnam-Era Vets
Invited to Lunch,
Commemoration
American Legion Post 13 will host a luncheon 1-3 p.m. [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
The 2024 Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery got under [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Assembly will start the annual process of determi [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
Competing in the 3A state championship title basketball game Saturday, the M [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
Playing through the afternoon Sunday, City League volleyball teams faced off [ ... ]
Daily Sitka Sentinel
Assembly Approves Budget, School Funds
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The City and Borough Assembly Tuesday night approved a $26.8 million general fund budget in an ordinance that also covers the budgets for the city utilities and the city’s contribution to schools and Sitka Community Hospital.
The vote was 4-1 on the spending plan for the fiscal year starting July 1. Kevin Knox, Aaron Bean, Bob Potrzuski and Mayor Matt Hunter voted in favor, and Steven Eisenbeisz against. Tristan Guevin and Aaron Bean were absent.
The ordinance will be up for final adoption on June 13.
City Administrator Mark Gorman told the Assembly he had received some good news from the city’s insurance agent, Paula Scott, who had negotiated successfully to bring the increases down on employee insurance from 17.5 percent to 12 percent.
That will mean a $50,000 savings in the general fund and less money coming out of reserves to balance the general fund budget. It will also mean a decrease in insurance costs to enterprise funds, schools and the hospital.
In the budget discussion, Gary Paxton Industrial Park Director Garry White said the board had approved a $40,000 engineering study for an access ramp at the park, and the item was not in the budget as presented. He said after the meeting that he plans to talk with the finance department to make sure the project can go forward.
In accordance with state law on school funding, the Assembly voted 5-0 to approve $6,578,292 from local sources for schools, along with $150,000 for building repair and maintenance.
The final city allocation for schools is about $40,000 shy of the amount approved last year.
Earlier this year the Assembly gave notice that it was planning to cut local school funding by $239,000. But on May 2, after hearing of the school district’s financial problems, the Assembly agreed to restore $200,000 of that initial cut.
Speaking at Tuesday’s meeting, Superintendent Mary Wegner said the district’s budget problems are not over.
She said the state Senate is holding firm on a 5 percent cut from last year’s funding. If the compromise between House and Senate results in only a 1 to 2 percent cut, it could result in the reduction in elementary teachers and increased class sizes, Wegner said.
Responding to concerns from parents, she reported that the district has hired a music teacher for Blatchley Middle School, a position that had been held vacant until state funding was worked out.
“It was a great relief to fill that vacant position,” Wegner said, noting that the district was not contemplating cutting the program but holding off on hiring. “It was an overwhelming number of contacts from a variety of sectors in the community.”
In other budget issues Tuesday night, the Assembly passed on first reading a motion to allocate up to $400,000 from general fund reserves to cover the bond debt obligation on the Blue Lake dam.
City Chief Finance and Administrative Officer Jay Sweeney said the city is still waiting for final figures on electric consumption for April to know the overall shortfall for the year.
Hospital budget issues were back before the Assembly on Tuesday, with members agreeing to postpone a decision on purchasing a $400,000 modular unit for the outpatient section of the hospital. They said they would prefer to hold off on a decision until after they hear SEARHC’s proposal to merge the two hospitals next Tuesday, and hear the results of a new consultant’s recommendations.
SCH hospital operations director Steve Hartford said the project would “address a critical space need” for patients in the short term.
“This fits in the cash model for the ’18 budget,” he said.
But Assembly members said they were reluctant to approve the expense at this time, since they haven’t yet made a decision on the SEARHC proposal, and SCH has not yet heard from its own hired consultant.
The vote was 5-0 to postpone.
Fortress of the Bear
The Assembly on a 5-0 vote approved a 99-year lease at $50 per month for the Fortress of the Bear at the Gary Paxton Industrial Park.
An amendment proposed Tuesday to adjust the monthly rate according to the Anchorage consumer price index failed on a 3-2 vote, with Eisenbeisz and Swanson opposed.
Fortress Director Les Kinnear talked about the evolution of the venture from its inception 15 years ago, to the present day, where the Fortress generates $1 million a year, with a $625,000 annual budget. He estimated the Fortress has had 150,000 visitors.
“What started out altruistically has become a reality,” Kinnear said.
White said the GPIP board supports the Fortress’ plans and operations, and wants to see more capital investment in the project. The new lease adds 26 percent more land to the lease, from the current size of 118,320 square feet to about 149,880.
A number of Fortress supporters were present for the meeting, with one testifying in favor.
Administration Building
The Assembly voted 5-0 to accept a $248,000 insurance settlement for damages to the GPIP administration building in the 2015 landslides.
Eisenbeisz said accepting the settlement offer appears to contradict the city’s earlier valuation of the building.
“It’s troubling we value it at zero but we’re accepting $250,000 for the building that has no value,” he said.
Administrator and Mayor
The mayor and administrator reported on several items, including:
– cell phones while driving. Gorman said Lt. Lance Ewers advised him that officers were starting to issue warnings to people caught using handheld cell phones while driving. “They anticipate they will be issuing citations soon,” Gorman said.
– resignation of the library director. Robb Farmer, who’s held the post for almost three years. He’s leaving to take a job in the Smyth County Public Library System director in Virginia. His last day is June 11.
– an additional Coast Guard vessel in Sitka. The mayor said Coast Guard officers met with city officials about the prospect of basing a second, smaller Coast Guard vessel here, which would bring 25 or more new families to Sitka.
– the opening of the Blue Lake Road. The road is open to pedestrians and bicycles, but the overlook will not be done until the fall. “We don’t think it’s a safe place to encourage vehicle traffic,” Gorman said.
Other Business
In other business, the Assembly:
– approved the final plat for a new housing development at the old city shops property at 1306 HPR, for the Sitka Community Land Trust, on a 4-1 vote. The plans for the project call for pre-selling one-, two- and three-bedroom homes. Sitkans would own the homes, while the SCLT would retain ownership of the land. The main question at the meeting was over whether there was adequate parking for both homeowners and the neighboring vet clinic. The vote was 4-1 with Eisenbeisz voting against.
The goal of the project is to create an affordable home ownership opportunity.
“It’s going to serve Sitkans overall for a long time,” Hunter said.
– gave final approval to recognize revenue from the state for two blitz fire oscillating monitors for $6,570; appropriate $40,000 from the donations account and $124,999 in pass through grants for the Crescent Harbor playground project; and set aside $50,000 from the commercial Passenger Excise Tax fund to complete the Sitka History Museum’s interior at Centennial Hall.
– heard a report on the federal flood plane mapping appeals process.
– appointed Martha Moses to the Sitka Tribe of Alaska alternate seat on the Sitka Historic Preservation Commission.
– proclaimed Arbor Day, noting the city’s designation as a Tree City, and the Tree and Landscape Committee’s commitment to beautify Sitka with trees and landscape areas.
– honored Debra Pohlman for her years of service on the Sitka Planning Commission.
– voted 5-0 to adopt on first reading a resolution to set Baranof Warm Springs dock and user fees. It will go on to second reading because the Assembly adopted what it saw as a more equitable rate structure for floatplanes – at the same rate as the 20- to 35-foot boat rate by the day, month and year. Under the plan as presented float planes could only use the $20 daily rate. It will be up for final reading in June.
– scheduled a special meeting 6 p.m. June 1 to pick an interim administrator who will take over when Gorman retires on June 15, until a new administrator is hired.
The Assembly had a lengthy discussion on the issue, agreeing to consider local candidates and a professional interim administrator from the recruiting firm Prothman of Issaquah, Wash.
The Assembly voted 5-0 to direct the human resources director Mark Danielson to solicit letters of interest.
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20 YEARS AGO
March 2004
Matthew C. Hunter of Sitka recently returned from Cuba as part of a St. Olaf College International and Off-Campus Studies program. Hunter, a junior physics major at St. Olaf College, is the son of Robert and Kim Hunter of Sitka.
50 YEARS AGO
March 1974
Eighth graders have returned from a visit to Juneau to see the Legislature. They had worked for it since Christmas vacation ... Clarice Johnson’s idea of a “White Elephant” sales was chosen as the best money-maker; Joe Roth won the political cartoon assignment; highest government test scorers were Ken Armstrong, Joanna Hearn, Linda Montgomery, Lisa Henry, Calvin Taylor and David Licari .....