TRUCK FIRE – Firefighters knock down a fire in a Ford Explorer truck in Arrowhead Trailer Park in the 1200 block of Sawmill Creek Road Saturday evening. One person received fire-related injuries and was taken to the hospital, Sitka Fire Department Chief Craig Warren said, and the truck was considered a total loss. The cause of the fire is under investigation, Warren said. The fire hall received the call about the fire at 5:33 p.m., and one fire engine with eight firefighters and an ambulance were dispatched, he said. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

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Daily Sitka Sentinel

New City Administrator Settling In Sitka Office

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    On a day earlier this week the conference table in the city administrator’s office was covered in a pile of papers including a six-inch-high binder of the Sitka General Code, Sitka’s tax policies and information about SEARHC’s proposal to purchase Sitka Community Hospital.
    After two weeks on the job Sitka’s new city administrator said it’s a little daunting learning the ins and outs of a new municipality, more than a thousand miles from his last position in Green River, Utah.

 

Keith Brady (Sentinel Photo)


    “I’ve been asked, is it like drinking water from a fire hydrant?” said Keith Brady, 39. “Yeah, it is.”
    But he’s working steadily and at full throttle to get through his to-do list.
    “That part is like eating an elephant – one bite at a time,” Brady said.
    Brady was the Assembly’s unanimous choice among four finalists for administrator at the end of a four-month hiring process. He was praised by members of the public and the Assembly for his approachability, friendliness and preparedness for the interview process.
    His first day on the job was Sept. 5.
    Brady comes to Sitka from his elected position as one of three county commissioners in Emery County, Utah, where commissioners are chosen in partisan elections as Republican or Democrat. A Republican, he was chairman of the commission. He also owns a motel in Green River.
    While some members of the public expressed concern during the interview process about Brady’s politics, Assembly members said Brady won’t be setting policy and they don’t believe his personal views would define his performance as city administrator. Near the beginning of his interview in August, he was asked a question submitted from the public about global climate change.
    Brady said he believes climate change is occurring but “only as far as a natural cycle of things.” He said he’s open to learning more about it through his own research, instead of listening to “talking heads” on the issue.
    Brady said his work and life experience have prepared him for the job. He’s worked or lived in Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Alaska, where his dad taught school in Nikolski, in the Aleutians.
    “The education from experiences I’ve had will be beneficial for the job,” he said. “I don’t feel overwhelmed; I have a really good crew to help me not be overwhelmed.”
    He’s spending his days getting to know the municipality through meetings with department heads, business leaders, hospital officials, community leaders and tribal government officials.
    So far, it’s been going well, he said.
    “I’ve just been learning what’s going on inside the city so we can get the community to give input and hopefully approval for what’s going on,” Brady said. He said he’s grateful to city staff members who’ve been helping him get off to a good start. “We’re going to work really well together.”
    Brady has been working with city staff this week on preparing a Request for Proposals for management or ownership of Sitka Community Hospital. He’s also looking ahead to welcoming Coral Crenna, the new legal assistant in City Attorney Brian Hanson’s office, and the new library director Andrew Murphy, both of whom start on Monday.
    It’s a busy office, and Brady acknowledges it’ll be a steep learning curve for the first several months.
    “I came into this position eyes wide open,” he said. “My eyes may be widening because of some things that are unexpected, but I’m really enjoying it so far.”
    He expects the main hurdles will be getting through budget challenges for the next couple of years, adjusting to cutbacks at the state and federal levels.
    “We have to act as if no money is coming from the state or the feds,” he said. “We have to be self-sufficient. There has to be changes. What those look like I don’t know.”
    He’s delving into Sitka’s complex tax structure, and familiarizing himself with the thick book of local ordinances, and wondered whether both could be simpler.
    “There’s always a history of why things are the way they are,” he said. “I’m trying to get a handle on what’s going on. ... At some point we’ll have to have an honest discussion about what services are needed, what taxes are needed, and what aren’t. And to do that in short order, coming into the next budget season. I’m really looking forward to having that discussion with the public. There are a lot of good ideas out there.”
    One area he sees room for improvement in is communication. He would like the public to get into the habit of checking the city’s sites, like Facebook, to get information directly, instead of circulating rumors from third parties.
    “I’d like everyone in the city to ‘like’ our Facebook page,” he said. Brady said he’s looking forward to meeting more members of the public, who are welcome to make an appointment with him.
    He’s been living downtown in a studio apartment, but plans to purchase a house in time for his family’s arrival.
    Kristi, his wife of 17 years, and their four daughters, ages 8 through 14, will be arriving in November, after Kristi winds up her season coaching the Green River high school volleyball team.
    Besides dedicating himself to his new job, Brady also has started enjoying the town. He bought his first fishing license, and, taking a tip from locals, he used Pixee lures to do some catch and release fishing. He’s also looking forward to taking advantage of everything else the town has to offer, including camping, hunting and the arts.


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20 YEARS AGO

March 2004

Businesses using the Centennial Hall parking lot testified Tuesday against a proposal to charge them rent in addition to the $200 annual permit fee. City Administrator Hugh Bevan made the proposal in response to the Assembly’s direction to Centennial Hall manager Don Kluting to try to close the $340,000 gap between building revenues and operational costs.


50 YEARS AGO

March 1974

Alaska Native Brotherhood Grand President William S. Paul Sr. will be special guest and speaker at the local ANB, Alaska Native Sisterhood Founders Day program Monday at the ANB Hall.

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