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Solid Waste Dispute On Assembly Slate Tonight

Posted

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer

The city administrator’s recommendation for settling a dispute on the way the city ships out its solid waste will be on the agenda at tonight’s Assembly meeting, at Harrigan Centennial Hall.

The city’s waste handling contractor, Republic Services, has notified the city that Alaska Marine Lines has stated its “intent to refuse service of open top equipment effective June 1, 2021, unless significant measures are adopted to mitigate fire risk.”  

The city believes it has addressed the fire risk concerns. City Administrator John Leach sent a letter to Republic Services June 10 with his analysis and recommendations.

The information packet for tonight’s meeting includes a possible motion, that the city “commit to providing additional mechanical compaction in sealed containers only if Republic Services accepts the terms presented to them in the Municipal Administrator’s letter of June 10, 2021.”

Leach didn’t hear from the company until this morning, when he met with Republic officials.

The company is expected to make a presentation at a work session 5 p.m. tonight.

No information was provided by Republic for the packet.

“I gave them until June 16 to offer an alternative to my terms,” Leach said Monday. “I’m asking the Assembly to approve the terms as a way forward.”

Leach said the city has addressed the fire risk issue through improvements in waste handling, such as sorting and removing items, and public education about what should and shouldn’t go into the waste stream.

“We’ve always said we’re willing to ship our garbage in closed top containers if (Republic) provides them, and (those containers) work with our facility,” Leach said.

 The work session at 5 p.m. is open to the public, with remote access available on KSCT-TV (cable channel 11), but the city has discontinued its YouTube Channel and streams only meetings – not work sessions – on cityofsitka.com.

The regular meeting can be streamed through this site starting at 6 p.m.

The Republic Services garbage issue is near the bottom of the agenda, and Leach’s presentation of options and costs is on the city website, under Assembly meetings and agendas.

 

Other Items

The agenda for the regular meeting is packed with some major issues, including:

– an ordinance to place an item on the ballot for a 5 percent consumer sales tax on marijuana products, on top of the city’s regular sales tax, 5 percent going to 6 percent summers. The item is up for second and final reading. The ordinance says that proceeds from a marijuana tax, if approved by the voters,  would be used for school activities.

– an ordinance on a ballot question proposing an excise tax on motor fuels. It passed on first reading at the last meeting, but co-sponsors Kevin Knox and Rebecca Himschoot say they plan to withdraw it before tonight’s vote.

– proposed lease terms on land for the Sitka Community Boatyard at the Gary Paxton Industrial Park. A second motion would direct the administrator to prepare a lease or present modified terms.

– approval of the Sitka Community Hospital sale request for proposals evaluation and selection team. The RFP is currently in the 60-day advertisement period. SEARHC has expressed interest in purchasing the properties at 209 Moller Drive, 302 Gavan Street, and 202 and 204 Brady street.

– discussion and decision on a letter of non-objection from the city to a proposed a 10-year aquatic farm lease, for 15 acres of tidelands in No Thorofare Bay. If approved, the letter would be sent to the Department of Natural Resources.

– accepting funds for the Cross Trail expansion project.

– a temporary lease between the city and Secon Inc. for city property at Site 7 of Granite Creek.

– discussion of priorities for federal grants from the American Rescue Plan Act.

– dedication of the $1 million gift to the city from the cruise industry to the Lincoln Street paving project, but delaying the street improvement until the “scope and budget are further developed through the tourism planning process and finalized by the Assembly.”