Michael Hansen
Dear Editor: On behalf of the Sitka Counseling staff, we’d like to thank the men and women who tirelessly helped with the search of our friend and co-worker, Michael Hansen. Though he only arrived a few months ago to work at our agency, his manner of speaking and how he carried himself with sincerity and gentleness will be forever remembered by the clients he served and his co-workers.
His generosity of spirit was apparent in the way he listened to clients and staff, always with patience and a sense of understanding and acceptance. We hope he felt at home here and welcomed, because this is the way we felt about him. His dedication was clearly present in the ways he approached his work, his clients and the staff. His eagerness and openness to learn about the beauty of Sitka was always present. He had an adventurous spirit in all of the things he did, like going mushroom hunting, fishing, berry picking and learning about the local culture. What we’ll remember most about him was his smile and the way he would look at you as he listened intently about what mattered most to you.
We’ll miss you, Michael.
The Sitka Counseling Family
Proposition 1
Dear Editor: My wife and I passed our 50th Sitka anniversary in August. After a long spell of living here, we have seen the mill rate begin an increase from 3 to 4 to 5, and now, 6. The sales tax was at 4 percent in 1966. There was a temporary increase to 5 percent in the ’90s, which is now permanent, and then to 6 percent which may not be listed as permanent but has become that way. These increases were not for city services but for capital projects. Nothing for streets and little for maintenance was provided. When the bonds for one projet were paid off, another project needed funding. So here we are with lots of beautiful wants, a few needs and a city wit operational and staff costs we cannot meet.
Reserves were spent to replace a 25-year-old fire hall whose replacement was twice defeated by the voters. The administration and Assembly by-passed the wishes of the public and used an ordinance to spend reserves – still no streets fixed or funds for ongoing maintenance. The city shops, which were badly needed, went the same route after the voters twice failed to pass a bond issue.
An incompetent architect added another million to the cost of Keet. The roof was replaced after one year, the architect went bankrupt and you paid most of the bill. You also paid an extra $500,000 for a football field that did not meet the standards for high school ball. The goal posts look nice. The largest jolt came with the building of the Performing Arts Center. It came in about $10 million over what the bond issue provided.
Here is the real kicker. With 1 percent of the state’s population, we account for 15 percent of the bonded indebtedness in the Alaska bond bank. To top that off, the latest study shows an out migration from Sitka with an expected population to bottom out at 8,000. We are listed at 9,000 now.
To compute your individual tax increase if the tax increase is passed, you can multiply your assessed valuation by two and move the decimal. A $300,000 home would equal $600 or $50 a month. On top of that, it will cost you more for anything you purchase in Sitka.
If you are in the fishing business, extra expenses for your processor equates to less for your fish. Commercial fishermen are the only industry that is taxed on gross income. Salmon fishers have a 3 percent hatchery fee and a 3.5 percent state tax. Longliners pay a federal 3 percent management fee, an observer fee and the 3.5 percent raw fish tax. The raw fish tax does not show up on your fish ticket, but you pay it. Everything you buy in Sitka will be more expensive. You do not stay in business long, eating increased business expenses without increasing prices.
After years of cries for energy conservation, which included subsidies for energy-efficient appliances and electric heat pumps, we now do not sell enough electricity to meet our bond covenants. Many Sitka homes and businesses spent their hard-earned money to make their property more energy efficient. They are now being asked to pay a property tax that benefits the inefficient by using those taxes to subsidize the electric department. If the electric department needs more revenue, it should come from rate hikes and operational efficiencies and not the general property tax.
I would vote for a 1 percent mill tax rise to help with city debt, but not 2 mills when it would be unevenly distributed.
Bob Schell, Sitka
Board Appointment
Dear Editor: This week enabled the purest form of democracy to be exercised with our appointment of Dionne Brady-Howard to the Sitka School Board. The process we embarked on aligned 100 percent with the required Alaska Statute AS14.12.070 – School Board Vacancies, a statute that directs all Alaska school districts, Sitka to Shaktoolik. In addition we were guided by Bylaws of the Board #9223, which aligns with this statute. I mention this in light of recent reference to our board and superintendent going against the vote of the people and slapping democracy in the face. The exact opposite, in fact, occurred with full transparency and accountability in place. State school districts fall under state jurisdiction and are separate from local municipalities in regard to this appointment process.
As a board, we had the good fortune of having three exceptionally qualified candidates. I cannot speak for the other board members, but I found this selection process to be the hardest decision I have made in my 11 months in office. For me, the final two candidates were separated by literally a razor-thin margin. We did know, as a collective body, that whoever received the final nod would greatly add to our abilities to best serve the children, parents, public and staff of this great community. Please join us in welcoming Dionne. She brings to us a wealth of experience, insight and knowledge that will benefit us all. As always, we welcome your input and presence in our continued mission of providing healthy, safe and productive Sitka public schools.
Eric Van Cise,
Sitka School Board Clerk
and interim Vice President
No to Prop 1
Dear Editor: Our Sitka children are being held hostage because supposedly if we don’t vote for Proposition 1, they won’t have the money they need for education. Actually the truth is the city’s role in education funding is mandated by the state constitution. If they don’t meet their obligation, they can be made to do so. What disturbs me is that when I vote for Proposition 1, it ties not only my home/boat to the dam debt, but since it is a 30-year note, it ties my children and grandchildren’s home and livelihood to the Blue Lake Dam debt! If you think it’s hard to find affordable housing and work in Sitka now, what is it going to be like in 30 years? In my mind, a vote against Proposition 1 is actually a vote to protect our children’s future.
When I am voting for new Assembly members and mayor, I have to vote for people who value children’s education over roads and buildings. I have to vote for people who think about the future generations and how their lives can be effected by voting decisions we make today. I have to vote for people who know what it is like to have very little, work multiple jobs and manage their money wisely just to stay afloat. I have to vote for people that know that Sitka’s future depends upon how we educate our children today because they are our hope for the future. A vote no on Proposition 1 is a vote for our future.
Patty Dick, Sitka
Annual Meeting Thanks
Dear Editor: Last weekend, the Sitka Sound Science Center hosted the 50th anniversary of the Organization for Biological Field Stations annual meeting. We were so proud of Sitka and all the warm hospitality that was rolled out for a group that comes from small and large research and education field stations across the globe. Thank you to shop owners and people downtown for being friendly and open. We are appreciative of the whole gang at Sitka High School and Mt. Edgecumbe who made special accommodations during the Southeast Regional Cross Country meet that started and finished in front of our facility. Additionally, there were many people who gave their time for this event. We’d like to thank:
Chuck Miller; Sitka Native Education Program; Mayor Mim McConnell; Richard Nelson; Laurent Deviche from the U.S. Forest; Margaret and David Steward; Andrew Thoms, Sitka Conservation Society; Wendy Alderson; Eric Jordan; Tim Ryan, Sitka Sound Seafoods; Kitty Labounty; Liz Zacher, University of Alaska Southeast; Mark Sixbey, Northwest Coast Art faculty; James Poulson, Sitka Sentinel; Baranof Island Brewing Company; Ryan Carpenter, Sitka National Historic Park; The Alaska Raptor Rehabilitation Center; Alison and John Dunlap, Sitka Sound Ocean Adventure; Chris Leeseberg, USFS; Mary Boose and Kenley Jackson, Sitka Fine Arts Camp; Paul McGlew, Sitka Winter Fellow; Megan Meier, Sitka Winter Fellow; Silver Bay Seafoods; Slack Tide band members; SFAC kitchen staff; The Greater Sitka Arts Council; Matt Goff; Alaska Brewing Company; Sitka Tours; Max Kritzer; SSSC Board and staff; Sitka Summer Music Festival; Sitka Tribe of Alaska; Americorps/VISTA; Trudi and Sitka Tours; Dick Curran; Dave and Marge Steward; Davey Lubin; Mia Kuartei; and Anna Wietelmann.
We already know what a special town we live in, but pulling off an event like this is a wonderful reminder of how many talented and generous people live in our community. Thank you for supporting science education and science research.
Lisa Busch, Executive Director,
Sitka Sound Science Center
