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) 

New RFP Sought For Managing PAC
27 Mar 2024 14:48

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The future of management and operations at the Perform [ ... ]

Seiners Get Second Day with 2 Areas to Fish
27 Mar 2024 14:46

By Sentinel Staff
    The Sitka Sound commercial herring sac roe fishery continued today with open [ ... ]

Braves Take Second in Last Minute Upset
27 Mar 2024 12:41

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    After storming into the state 3A boys basketball brac [ ... ]

Tuesday City League Volleyball
27 Mar 2024 12:39

By Sentinel Staff
    The Queen Bees’ spotless season record ended Tuesday night with a 2-1 loss [ ... ]

Kodiak Alutiiq Museum Getting New Attention
27 Mar 2024 12:37

By SHIRLEY SNEVE
Indian Country Today
    A major renovation at an Alaska museum to attract tourist [ ... ]

House Hearing on Inmate Deaths Halted
27 Mar 2024 12:35

By CLAIRE STREMPLE
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    A presentation about a jump in the number of inmate deaths in  [ ... ]

Nominee to Bering Sea Council: Not a Trawler
27 Mar 2024 12:34

By NATHANIEL HERZ
Northern Journal
    Tribal and environmental advocates calling for a crackdown o [ ... ]

March 27, 2024, Police Blotter
27 Mar 2024 12:26

Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 26
At 2:10 p.m. a man e [ ... ]

March 27, 2024, Community Happenings
27 Mar 2024 12:25

Big Rigs Sought
For April 13
The 3 to 5 Preschool’s spring fundraiser and Big Rig event is happening [ ... ]

Reassessments Raise Tax Bills for Sitkans
26 Mar 2024 15:22

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The city’s reassessment of taxable real estate, alo [ ... ]

Two Areas Opened in Herring Fishery Today
26 Mar 2024 15:21

By Sentinel Staff
The third opening in this year’s Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery was held Mon [ ... ]

Lady Wolves Rally to Take Fourth at State
26 Mar 2024 15:16

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    Sitka High’s Lady Wolves bounced back from an openi [ ... ]

Edgecumbe Girls Close Out Season Up North
26 Mar 2024 14:58

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel ports Editor
    Competing in the state 3A basketball tournament in Anc [ ... ]

City League Monday
26 Mar 2024 14:55

By Sentinel Staff
    Playing in a competitive division City League volleyball game Monday evening [ ... ]

House Votes to Broaden Rules For Review Panel Memb...
26 Mar 2024 14:52

By JAMES BROOKS
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    A bill that passed the Alaska House of Representatives on Monday  [ ... ]

Alaskan Grilled in D.C. Over Climate Science
26 Mar 2024 14:51

By NATHANIEL HERZ
Northern Journal
    Gus Schumacher, the Anchorage Olympic cross-country skier, a [ ... ]

Faster Internet Speeds In Rural Schools OK'd
26 Mar 2024 13:53

By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
    Alaska’s rural schools are on track to access faster interne [ ... ]

Native Words Gathered In Environment Studies
26 Mar 2024 13:52

By YERETH ROSEN
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    In the language of the Gwich’in people of northeastern Alaska,  [ ... ]

March 26, 2024, Police Blotter
26 Mar 2024 13:49

Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 25
At 7:48 a.m. a calle [ ... ]

March 26, 2024, Community Happenings
26 Mar 2024 13:48

Vietnam-Era Vets
Invited to Lunch,
Commemoration
American Legion Post 13 will host a luncheon 1-3 p.m.  [ ... ]

Sac Roe Herring Fishery Opens in Hayward
25 Mar 2024 15:30

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The 2024 Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery got under [ ... ]

Projects on the Table For Cruise Tax Funds
25 Mar 2024 15:28

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The Assembly will start the annual process of determi [ ... ]

Braves Take Second at State after Close Loss
25 Mar 2024 15:23

By Sentinel Staff
    Competing in the 3A state championship title basketball game Saturday, the M [ ... ]

City League Games Continue
25 Mar 2024 15:11

By Sentinel Staff
    Playing through the afternoon Sunday, City League volleyball teams faced off [ ... ]

Other Articles

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 .....

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