Month: April 2014

Assembly votes down heat pump rebate

By the end of its meeting Tuesday night, the assembly had decided not to offer rebates for homeowners who install energy-efficient heat pump systems in their homes. But their path to that decision had less to do with heat pumps than with concerns about the city’s long-term electricity use.

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After disaster, the long road to recovery

President Obama’s visit to the landslide in Oso, Washington, this week (Tue Apr 22) was timed to refocus the nation’s attention on this disaster, long after the headlines have moved elsewhere. Former Sitkan Barnaby Dow is the external affairs manager in the King County Office of Emergency Management in Seattle.

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Gorman: Managing ‘conflicting expectations’ in Sitka

6 months into his tenure as municipal administrator, Mark Gorman says Sitka is going to become more self-reliant -- through a combination of increasing local revenues and exploiting economic opportunities. Gorman spoke to the Sitka Chamber of Commerce Wednesday afternoon (4-23-13). He discussed the unrealistic expectations Sitkans may have about the community’s relatively low tax rates, as more and more of the burden of paying for services shifts to local taxpayers. But Gorman also pointed out opportunities for efficiency and growth.

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Ford-Slack steps down from Sitka High School

PJ_Ford-SlackSitka’s high school principal has resigned. PJ Ford-Slack met briefly with district superintendent Steve Bradshaw and his successor, Mary Wegner, before Monday night’s school board meeting and indicated that she would not sign her contract for next year. Tuesday morning it became official.

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Middle school Home Ec, Shop may fall to budget cuts

The Sitka school district will not lay off any teachers next fall, but at least two programs -- Home Ec and shop in Blatchley Middle School -- could be cut. The Sitka school board Monday night (4-22-14) passed its final budget for the coming year, with conservative assumptions on enrollment and state and federal revenue. But it’s not likely that any of the cut programs would be restored, should additional funding come in.

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Assembly approves Centennial Hall design

The assembly voted 7-0 to approve the architects’ full plan, which includes a new space for the Sitka Historical Museum, larger meeting rooms, and an ambitious overhaul of the building’s exterior, including new landscaping on the hall’s south side.

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Sitka Tribal Council welcomes new GM

The Sitka Tribe of Alaska welcomed a new general manager last week. Lawrence Spottedbird replaced Ted Wright after a lengthy search. Council members and the public formally welcomed Spottedbird at the Tribe’s monthly meeting last Wednesday (4-16-14).

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Happy Earth Day from SCS

Tracy Gagnon and Mary Wood from Sitka Conservation Society discuss Earth Day activities, starting with cleaning up garbage caches this afternoon (4-22-14).

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Tues Apr 22, 2014

The Sitka Assembly will hear updates on Harrigan Centennial Hall renovation and Blue Lake dam expansion during its work session tonight (4-22-14). A loan to complete the Blue Lake dam expansion is in limbo as lawmakers wrestle with the issue. Crewman rescued after troller ran aground in Sitka Sound.  Supporters organized a sit-in protest, and the Alaska Senate voted to make 20 Alaska Native languages official state languages. Sitka Representative, and primary sponsor, Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins reacts to Alaska Senate passing House Bill 216.

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