Centennial Renovation
Dear Editor: I have been a part of the Centennial Hall Building Design Committee since it was established and have actively participated and attended many of the visioning and design meetings. I have been part of this community for over 20 years. I, too, am concerned, as many are, about the economic challenges faced by city hall, the school district, our community hospital, private business owners and individuals alike.
While there may be hesitation and questions by the community at large to spend on another large scale public capital project, this is unlike others in that the funding sources do not include property tax, sales tax or any other local source of revenues – it is entirely funded from grants and cruise ship passenger funds. The project will lead to reduced overall operating costs in a larger footprint.
I repeat, the construction and renovation of Centennial Hall is entirely funded from grant funds, will be a larger footprint, and will reduce the city’s annual operating costs.
Additionally, in light of financial constraints not only facing Sitka but the State of Alaska, this may be our last opportunity to renovate and bring Centennial Hall to modern standards that will effectively compete with other convention, visitor and community centers throughout Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.
Centennial Hall is a wonderful facility and is one of many treasured assets in this community. I would submit that it is one of the most heavily used facilities in Sitka by locals and visitors alike. Centennial Hall deserves an upgrade.
We have the ability to leverage grant funds and increase our opportunity to generate local revenues through conventions, trade shows, and private events. The economic development potential of Centennial Hall to produce sales tax, bed tax, and local spending should not be underestimated.
Thank you to the Assembly and city staff for your support of this project.
Maxwell Rule, Sitka
Electric Vehicles
Dear Editor: Did you know that owning an all-electric vehicle can save you money? That’s right! You don’t have to drive a sporty and expensive Tesla to realize the benefits of all-electric transportation; many car manufacturers have developed affordable all-electric vehicles (EVs) that can actually pad your wallet.
Owning an EV can help you save money on your taxes. Even though federal tax credits are no longer available for hybrid vehicles (cars using gas and electricity), they are still available for all-electric vehicles. You can bank up to a $7,500 Federal tax credit when buying an EV – which means a dollar-for-dollar savings of up to $7,500 off the purchase price.
When you consider that a number of EVs are already “cracking” the $30,000 barrier (a new Ford Focus electric costs $29,995), an additional $7,500 discount could be a game-changer when comparing EVs to conventional gas-powered cars. In the case of the Ford Focus electric, a buyer’s final price could be less than $23,000. The possibility of state and/or local incentives could reduce this even further.
Once you own an EV, the price you pay for “gas” will be much lower than what you would pay with a conventional car, making the deal even sweeter (please see Sentinel letter to the editor March 6, 2015).
Furthemore, maintenance costs for EVs tend to be much lower than conventional cars since they have fewer moving parts – you’ll never need to replace your muffler or spark plugs. EVs also have fewer fluids to change, brake wear is reduced, and batteries and motor require little maintenance.
When you add all of this up, savvy new car shoppers in Sitka should take a close look at all-electric vehicles. The combination of lower purchase prices, a significant tax credit, lower fuel prices, and lower maintenance costs all add up to a compelling economic argument. If you’re looking to buy a car, consider buying an EV.
If you are interested in learning more about EVs, stop by Kettleson Memorial Library on Monday, April 20, at 7 p.m. for a discussion about expanding the use of using clean, locally powered, all-electric vehicles in Sitka.
Dave Nicholls, Sitka
City Bus Funding
Dear Editor: Our public city buses are an integral part of Sitka both summer and winter. Many people don’t realize our public buses are not funded by the city nor do passenger fees cover the entire budget. Three agencies currently provide funding: the Center for Community, the Sitka Tribe of Alaska, and Catholic Community Services (Swan Lake Senior Center).
As a member of the CFC board, I am extremely concerned about how much of a cut in funding our bus system may sustain, because of a federal grant-funding reduction. We are facing drastic reduction in the existing schedule and routes. We had hoped to add Saturday and longer day of buses, and expanded routes; however, this is no longer even a possibility.
The buses are as important to many people as the ferry system. As a single mother I relied on the Juneau city bus extensively to provide safe transportation for my daughter and her friends. High school students, the elderly, the disabled, bicycle riders, etc., rely on an adequate bus system as well.
Since I worked the tourism desk at the Centennial building for several years I am aware of how many tourists use the Sitka bus system. We need to remember that not all tourists, even those arriving on cruise ships, are wealthy, and many prefer to see the ‘‘real town’’ on a bus rather than take a tour.
We need good ideas and the support of the community for this important issue. The Assembly was asked to contribute $100,000 this year to keep bus service steady. So far, the Assembly has a pending motion to contribute $25,000 to the bus system.
Thanks for your time and happy riding.
Pat Eliason, Sitka
Found Wedding Band
Dear Editor: Huge thank you to Carol and Bob Potrzuski!
My wedding band went missing at the end of January and I swore my dog ate it. We poked through many piles of dog poo and never found it. It never turned up in my house or in our dog’s poo. I thought it was long gone. Our 1-year-old mastiff has been all over this town, on the cross trails, benchlands, Mosquito Cove, Totem Park, beaches, down on the docks and everywhere in between. The past few weeks she has been with me up at the ballfields behind Keet getting ready for Little League.
Carol, out of the kindness of her heart, was picking up poo so all our kids didn’t have to step in it playing ball this season. And whose ring did she find? Mine! She took it home and she and Bob cleaned it up and posted on Facebook “FOUND! Beautiful wedding-type band. If you have lost a ring, no matter where, call and describe! Found in an unusual place.”
I had a gut feeling I should call. Sure enough it was my ring. It could have been anywhere my dog has poo’d in the past couple months and I’m so thankful it ended up on that field. I never thought it could possibly be stuck in her for more than a couple weeks. Makes me wonder what else is hanging out in there.
So thankful for Carol voluntarily picking up dog poo, finding my ring, cleaning it up and finding the owner! Crazy story we’ll never forget it.
Nicole Balovich, Sitka
