SITKA, ALASKA
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It’s the second time in a row the Assembly has recessed after postponing the election results. It’s allowed to postpone one more time, before city code requires the members to make a decision on Friday.
It’s a three-vote race right now, with Cheryl Westover leading John Stein. Certification of the results has been delayed because of the tight margin and because bad weather on Tuesday canceled flights carrying U.S. Mail
That mail could be carrying the 15 absentee ballots still unreturned. Municipal attorney Theresa Hillhouse said the plane landed Wednesday afternoon, but too late for delivery. That mail is expected to be delivered today.
The Assembly will reconvene from its overnight recess at 5 p.m. tonight inside the Maksoutoff Room at Harrigan Centennial Hall.
Even without a mayor, the Assembly managed to get some work done on Wednesday night, continuing through the agenda items not related to the election. Members approved $25,000 for the Sitka Historical Society.
The Historical Society and Museum had been seeking the additional funding to preserve a curator position. It lost its last curator, Ashley Kircher, as she neared the end of her contract and hopes dimmed that there would be enough money to continue it.
Kircher’s early departure meant there was some money left over, and the society also received $7,000 in the form of a non-profit grant from the city. It’s also been doing fund-raising.
The $25,000 approved last night will give the society enough money to hire somebody, says executive director Bob Medinger. He says having a curator will not only improve the quality and management of the society and museum’s collection, but it could help the Sitka economy.
“With our economic woes, and our hope to bring more tourists back, in my mind of all the options there are, the one thing we can do that’s probably most significant is to promote our history, and our heritage, and this place that is so special in Alaska, and of all the west coast,” Medinger said.
Assembly members agreed, unanimously approving the money.
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