Seeking Members
Dear Editor: I am very grateful for all of the support that enables the Sheldon Jackson Museum and its many programs to continue. If you feel passion, curiosity, inspiration, and wonder when you visit the Museum gallery with your children, students, family and friends, please renew your membership or become a new member of the Friends of Sheldon Jackson Museum. Your support and involvement will help keep the promise of future programs with visiting artists, researchers and educators alive. There will always be a Sheldon Jackson Collection but whether it remains open to the public, and in Sitka, and available to all, depends upon everyone who cares.
See the Friend’s website at www.FriendsofSJM.com for membership by credit card. You may also stop by the Museum with cash or check to join. Keep in touch with The Friends of Sheldon Jackson Museum (like the facebook page).
For further information, the State of Alaska Press releases regarding future programs, art acquisitions, and future exhibits are located at lam.alaska.gov.
We are also seeking additional directors to flesh out the board. If I can help you decide feel free to contact me.
Lisa Bykonen, Friends of
Sheldon Jackson Museum
Plumbing Inspectors
Dear Editor: Southeast Alaska is being sidelined again. In addition to the cuts in Alaska Marine Highway funds (and Pioneers Home, fine arts, school districts, university funds), as of Aug. 1, 2019, Southeast’s state plumbing inspector position was moved to Palmer, so that Palmer now has two of the three state plumbing inspectors, and Southeast has NONE. Historically, the three regions (centered at Fairbanks, Palmer and Juneau) each had a state plumbing inspector.
Southeast’s inspector served Ketchikan, Petersburg, Sitka and Juneau – and following the current people count, Haines and Wrangell will likely be included; they have been close to the 2,500 population which would make them subject to the construction codes. The reason given for moving Southeast’s inspector to Palmer was “to save money.” I must question whether flying an inspector from Anchorage to Ketchikan (for example) will save money.
It is vitally important that plumbing code and other construction codes be respected and enforced. Otherwise, dangerous and life-threatening errors will be made. For example, the most recent Southeast plumbing inspector found in an area being used for storage in Ketchikan’s hospital (state inspectors are allowed to inspect for a year after construction is completed) 10 pipes were cut off and not properly capped – and were leaking sewer gas into the room.
This inspector had served for two years: in the first year, he vastly exceeded the inspector’s goal; the second year, his travel funds were eliminated, yet he slightly exceeded the 250 inspections goal in Juneau area alone.
My concern is that Southeast’s state plumbing inspector position be immediately restored. Otherwise, contractors and do-it-yourself builders who don’t know code will have a heyday – their errors will result in greater expense later and possibly in injuries, illnesses, and even in deaths. At least 11 contractors wrote, objecting to the elimination of the Southeast Inspector position, but they were disregarded.
Alice Smith, Sitka
