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
Living Costs Aired At STA-City Dinner
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
“I’m always cold.”
“Use no heat. Use minimal lights.”
“No food at the end of the month, and I can’t pay some bills.”
“Not buying things locally.”
Those were among the dozens of responses of Sitka Tribe of Alaska members to a questionnaire on the impact of utility rate hikes in Sitka.
STA shared results of the survey with the Assembly Tuesday night at a dinner meeting at the Westmark Sitka. Attending the meeting were Sitka Tribe and city staff, five tribal council members, five Assembly members and two observers from the public.
The two governments meet twice a year to discuss issues of mutual interest, with each entity bringing a list of items to discuss.
Some 143 tribal households (representing over 400 citizens) responded to the survey, either online or at the annual STA picnic, the Assembly was told.
One of the questions related to changes tribal members have made in their lives “because of the increase in electric and other utility bills.”
Sixty-six percent said the increases were “extremely harmful to (their) household,” 23 percent said it was moderately harmful, 8 percent said it was slightly harmful and 3.5 percent said “no impact.”
Another question was about the impact of the senior sales tax exemption revocation on “you and your household.”
About 50 percent said losing the exemption had no effect, 23 percent said it had a minor effect, and 27 percent said it had a “major effect.”
“I think there are solutions,” said Woody Widmark, tribal council vice chairman. “People wanted to share their frustration and passion ... Not everyone is going to be happy about decision making. There are some tough decisions out there.”
Another question invited comments on the price of groceries in Sitka.
The survey was designed by STA Economic Development Director Mary Miller, who wanted to “find some sort of metric to counter the notion the rate increases can just be absorbed,” she said today. “It’s just not true. People are having to choose between heat/electricity and food.”
The two organizations discussed other items on STA’s part of the agenda, including:
– the request for a “sacred” zoning designation for historic cemeteries, instead of including them in the Residential zone. The project is in the works, city staff said.
– the “Native community” seat on the Sitka Historic Preservation Commission.
– contributions of Sitka Tribe of Alaska to the community at large.
A list of the ways STA benefits the community as a whole included the more than $150,000 in pass-through dollars for the Swan Lake Senior Center; collaborating on $250,000 in grants to the Police Department to combat domestic violence and sexual assault; $50,000 in higher education scholarships; grants to Native and non-Native activities; grocery gift cards; and the RIDE bus service.
Sitka Tribe representatives said the organization collaborates with other groups in Sitka, including SEARHC, to fund scholarships in “Healthy is Here” fitness activities. They also highlighted a program with a local business that provides a discount and funding to help buy shoes for kids at the beginning of the school year.
“Seeing all the kids come in super excited, and get them into a new pair of shoes ...” said Assembly member Steven Eisenbeisz, co-owner of Russell’s. “We’re glad to be able to help with that.”
“We have great partnerships,” Tribal Chair KathyHope Erickson said. “It covers a lot of Sitka, and every dollar they spend on gift cards keeps the economy of Sitka healthy.”
Assembly Items
Mayor Matt Hunter responded to concerns about utility rates, noting that Oct. 1 through April 1 winter rates will go into effect, 12 cents per kwh instead of the 19 cents summer rate.
“The Assembly chose to have a staggered rate increase to stabilize the cost of living over the winter months,” he said. “It’s high in the summer, lower in the winter.”
Also, the sales tax rate will go from 6 percent to 5 percent winter rate on Oct. 1, he said.
City Administrator Keith Brady said the city is taking applications from residents needing help with their utility bills. The Assembly last year voted to set aside funds for the purpose. The application period will be open until Oct. 31. Brady said the subsidy is for up to $65 per month, depending on the number who apply. The application is available on the city web page, under “Utility Cost Subsidization Opportunity.”
Residents are eligible if they qualify for such programs as the federal school lunch program, Medicaid, Baranof Island Housing Authority, and Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, he noted.
The two bodies discussed other areas where they can collaborate, including with legislative priorities at the state and federal levels, as well as concerns related to state management of herring stocks.
Recycling
Brady also spoke about issues with the city’s recycling program, “something we’re wrestling with.”
With China taking fewer “contaminated” – unwashed – items, Sitka is getting less for its recycled materials.
“We want to cut down on the percentage of contaminated recycling, (which means) not clean or dried,” he said. “One thing we’re going to be emphasizing is need clean and dry items.”
The city accepts Nos. 1 and 2 plastic, glass, newspaper, cardboard, aluminum and tin cans at the recycling center, but labels should be removed, and the items should be clean and dry.
“They will start charging us money to take it,” Brady said. He commented later to the Sentinel, “We want to keep our recycling program, but to keep it we want to make sure it’s productive and it’s not going into the landfills if it’s dirty.”
Hunter said the recycling program has gone from producing about $100,000 in income to operating at a loss for most recyclables except for aluminum. “Everything else is costing us,” he said.
“For now,” Brady said, “it’s still worth doing.”
Login Form
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 .....