Katherine Rose, Author at KCAW

Assembly calls for city hiring freeze

At a special budget meeting last Thursday, community members appealed to the Sitka Assembly to boost funding for Sitka’s schools amid the threat of state budget cuts. Instead it instituted a hiring freeze on city staff and boosted funding for the library to stay open on Sundays.

Assembly approves PAC agreement, pinches pennies on planner

The Sitka Assembly, Tuesday night (4/23/19), approved an agreement with the Sitka School District and the Sitka Fine Arts Camp to fund the Sitka Performing Arts Center through FY2020. And while the assembly voted to fund several other projects, for the second time they failed to approve the hire of a new planning director on the basis of salary.

Assembly reverses condemnation, paves way for sale of utility dock

The assembly, acting as a judicial body at a special meeting Monday (4/22/19), overturned a notice of condemnation for the utility dock issued by the city Building Department in January. An otherwise routine matter, there were nevertheless some fireworks along the way, over the jurisdiction of park property.

Sitka health providers dismayed by state budget cuts

Earlier this month, the University of Alaska Southeast invited community organizations to its Sitka campus to discuss how state funding cuts would affect them. In part three of our series revisiting that conversation, KCAW’s Katherine Rose reports on the healthcare panel.

Sitka administrator evaluation turns to debate over termination

In a move that caught many off guard, the Sitka Assembly deliberated the termination of municipal administrator Keith Brady, who’s been on the job less than two years. Although Brady kept his position on a split vote, an assembly majority agreed to revisit his work performance in three months.

Assembly approves sale of Sitka Community Hospital

The city of Sitka is moving forward with the sale of Sitka Community Hospital to the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium. In a vote of 5-2 they approved the final sale documents. Now those must go to the SEARHC board for approval.

Assembly holds off on hiring investigator, planning director

The Sitka Assembly, Thursday (4/11/19), postponed choosing a consultant to conduct an outside investigation of the Sitka Police Department. They voted against approving the hire of a new city planning director on the basis of salary, and they went into executive session to consider questions surrounding the liquor license renewal application for Baranof Island Brewing Company.