By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Assembly approved about $45,000 in grants to Sitka nonprofits at a special meeting Thursday night.
All who applied received at least some or all of their requested amounts.
A total of $50,000 was budgeted, but $5,000 of that was designated for emergency special requests.
Award amounts for each request were suggested by each of the five Assembly members present, and the two who were absent. After they were averaged, the results were accepted with little debate and approved on a 5-0 vote. The meeting adjourned within a half hour.
The results were:
Human Services
Brave Heart Volunteers - $8,060 ($9,000 requested)
Sitka Counseling - $5,845 ($7,600 requested)
Sitka Homeless Coalition - $4,536 ($7,600 requested)
Southeast Alaska Independent Living - $8,179 ($20,000 requested)
Cultural and Educational Services
Alaska Arts Southeast (Sitka Fine Arts Camp) - $7,500 ($7,500 requested
Community Development
Baranof Bruins Wrestling - $4,464 ($10,000 requested)
Sitka Trail Works - $5,750 ($10,000 requested)
The total amount awarded was $44,334. As in the past, the Assembly agreed to keep $5,000 of the $50,000 budgeted for emergency requests during the year.
Attending the meeting were Kevin Mosher, Valorie Nelson, Thor Christianson, Rebecca Himschoot and Crystal Duncan.
“I support young people in this community, and after reading the (Baranof Bruins) proposal, I think that’s a very worthwhile project,” said Valorie Nelson, in proposing moving leftover funds from one category to another.
From the public, Tony Jackson thanked the Assembly for the awards to nonprofits, citing the chairlift SAIL installed at his house that makes it possible for his wife to get up and down stairs. Jackson said SAIL also writes grants, which means the city is “getting a lot of bang for your buck. ... They’re trying to help themselves also.”
Jackie Ojala, secretary and treasurer of the wrestling program, said the program had a successful season last year, despite challenges.
“The only downfall is that it’s very expensive to pay rent and keep up with cleaning, and we don’t want to have to make people break the bank to pay dues,” she said. “It’s really helpful when we’re able to give scholarships to families that aren’t able to pay... We’re very geared toward keeping kids active in our community and we don’t want to see that fall by the wayside because of COVID.”
A second member of the public spoke in favor of the wrestling program.
In other comments, Lynne Brandon, director of Sitka Trail Works, said as a community development organization, STW promotes endeavors that support the economy, the health and well-being of the entire community.
Under Persons to be Heard, a few spoke about the mask mandate ordinance that will be before the Assembly on a vote for final passage on Tuesday, Sept. 28.
“We do not need to be treated as children,” said Nicholas McGraw, speaking against the mandate. “This mandate for the next six months is not necessary. People making the choices for themselves is what is necessary. ... The choice should be theirs.”
Nelson left her chair at the Assembly table to speak as a citizen under Persons to be Heard. She wore a Tyvek suit, mask and gloves to the meeting, and said she was disturbed by rumors she heard about comments being made about unvaccinated people in an unrecorded portion of the EOC meeting.
“Our community is so divided right now. We need to do things, and be leaders, and step up and try to quit the divisiveness,” she said. “It’s going on in the whole countrywide, it’s going on in the state.”
She said as an Assembly member she hasn’t decided how she will vote on the mandate Tuesday. Nelson also said she has been advised by medical providers that she should not be vaccinated, due to her medical history.
