By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Sitkans “drew together” to make it through the COVID-19 emergency of the past year, and now should also take time to remember the losses, Mayor Steven Eisenbeisz said at Tuesday’s Assembly meeting.
“We as a town drew together,” Eisenbeisz said under the Reports section at the end of the meeting. “We as a town supported each other and got through COVID to the point that we are now.
“Your actions over this last year, you set aside your personal needs, your personal beliefs in order to help the greater good. And I believe it was extremely important on keeping our COVID (case rates) extremely low in town.”
Public health and community pandemic response officials have reported progress toward having all Sitkans vaccinated, but are advising everyone to continue wearing masks and social distancing until the local risk from the pandemic is contained.
Eisenbeisz’s remarks Tuesday night came at the first regular Assembly meeting since the March 11 one-year anniversary of the state declaration of a public health disaster emergency and the local disaster emergency measures proclaimed March 15-16, 2020.
“But I want everyone to remember that there was over half a million of us that did not make it through COVID,” Eisenbeisz said. “Relatives that should be here today. Friends, family, that should be here today. So as we celebrate our victories today, as we celebrate how far we’ve come in this battle against COVID, let us remember the 500,000-plus people that were unable to make it, some locals included.”
He said he was “extremely proud of the actions that we will continue to go forward, as COVID vaccines continue to be administered.”
He noted the work of the Emergency Operations Center on a “reopening plan.”
“How do we start to open town up even more than we already are?” he said. “How do we eliminate the guilt of going out to a restaurant if you want to? (Those are) the conversations that (have) been happening. Sitka, it’s been a very long year. It really has been a long year, but I thank you for bearing with the world on this. And I look forward to a prosperous ’21 where we can hug our friends again, and we can stand around a campfire and do the things that make Sitka so great.”
Other Reports
In other reports City Administrator John Leach told the group that he’s learning more about the federal funding packages coming out, and keeping up-to-date with Alaska Municipal League, which is tracking developments.
“As we learn more we’ll push information out to you,” Leach said.
The city staff has announced that it expects to receive some $3.4 million in federal funds, but the exact amount is not known.
In his report, City Attorney Brian Hanson said the legal department during the pandemic saw a “noticeable decrease” in the amount of regular Assembly legislation, including ordinances and resolutions. “Of course, there was a significant uptick in the pandemic-related legislation and declarations,” Hanson added.
But that has started to change in the last two months.
“In the last 60 days, interestingly enough, there’s been a significant uptick in Assembly legislation that is getting in the queue,” he said, and asked the Assembly to review the priority list and timelines suggested.
