Sorted by date Results 351 - 375 of 400
Founder of Historic Flight Foundation, John Sessions, landed this WWII Class B-25 Mitchell Fighter plane at Petersburg airport for fuel Wednesday afternoon. Sessions is the owner of 10 WWII Class planes ranging from 1927 to 1957. This B-25 is on its way to Elmendorf AFB for an air show. Sessions is shown here fueling the plane as his co-pilot Vanessa Dunn looks on....
The Petersburg City Council discussed raising the sales tax cap from $1,200 to $1,700 at a work session Thursday evening. Citywide sales for the fiscal year 2012 were $95,570,231.29 and after exemptions the total sales were $2,752,594.84, which is an increase of over $200,000 from fiscal year 2011. Sales for the fiscal year 2011 were $90,427,154.48 with exemptions in the amount of $47,404,716.97 “Assuming sales generated are above the proposed $1,700 will generate an additional $353,000 in sales tax revenue,” City of Petersburg Finance Dir... Full story
Engineering plans show that the North Harbor project is projected to cost $2.2 million more than the $7 million that has been budgeted. Petersburg City Manager Stephen Giesbrecht stated this oversight in his report to the City Council Monday evening. “Rough estimates at this time are a project around $9.2 million,” Giesbrecht stated. “We are $2.2 million over budget and we will be meeting with the engineer in the near future to see how we can get back within budget.” PND Engineering also reviewed the Mitigation application and permitt... Full story
City officials and members of the Finance Committee have had concerns that the properties in Scow Bay, including the Reid property, have been assessed too low. This question is posed because the appraisal value and assessment value are so different. City Assessor Mike Renfro met with the Finance Committee to explain the industry and the differences between appraisal and assessment. According to Alaska Statute AS 29.45.110, the assessor shall assess property at its full and true value as of Jan.... Full story
The Petersburg City Council awarded a $36,397 bid to Urban Accessories for the purchase of 20 medallions to be used in the Petersburg Road Improvement Project. One of these new medallions will be cast in the design of the new Petersburg logo. The medallions will replace the existing brass sidewalk inlaid artwork with full sized sand casted bronze artwork. This purchase will be funded through Capital Project Fund 727 and will come from the City’s share of matching funds for this project. Petersburg Public Works Director Karl Hagerman stated t...
The Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department and The Trading Union teamed up to host the Safety Bike Rodeo Saturday. Safe Routes to School of the Alaska Department of Transportation had representatives on hand along with Reflectasaurus to ensure all in attendance received all safety information needed. “We are hoping to make this a much larger event in the future,” Barry Morrison said. “Maybe we will add a carnival to it next year.” Many organizations pulled out all the stops to make sure this...
A resolution was passed unanimously by the council at Monday night’s meeting, reducing the amount of funds to be bonded for the library project from $1.5 to $1.3 million. Voters of the City of Petersburg authorized the City to incur debt and issue bonds in the amount not to exceed $1.5 million to finance part of the cost of planning, designing, constructing and equipping a public library. “The bids for this project came in lower than expected,” Petersburg City Manager Stephen Giesbrecht stated. “The City staff and the project architect are in...
The annual Municipal Election will be held Tuesday, Oct. 2. The first day to file for candidacy is Tuesday, July 24. “To date, there is one approved ballot proposal,” Petersburg City Clerk Kathy O'Rear said. “That is to withdraw from the Inter-Island Ferry Authority. However, the council has until the second meeting in August to finalize any additional proposals.” The 2012 ballot will provide for the election of two City Council members for three year terms and one council member for the balance of a term ending October 2014. “In addition...
The bid for the medical center roof replacement base bid and all alternates has been awarded to Silverbow Construction in the amount of $469,600. Petersburg Hospital Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Woodyard states that the roofing project is considered “high emergency” top priority. “This project will be funded first in the fiscal year 2013 before funding the other high priority items,” Woodyard said. “Other projects are the pediatric crib, label printers, bladder scan, long term care interior design/remodel, blood bank refrigera...
For some time the City of Petersburg has been contemplating the purchase of the Reid waterfront and warehouse property. During the June 11 City Council meeting requests were made for an appraisal and survey of the property to be performed along with the preparation of a business plan to assess the possible benefits for this facility to the city. Several statements of positive feedback from the business community were introduced to help guide the council toward a favorable decision regarding the purchase of the property. “Our fishing c... Full story
Chip marks and excessive wear and tear to the gym floor of the Petersburg Community Center are main subjects of discussion by the Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department. The concerns regarding the conditions of the floor brought the Petersburg Hockey Club members to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting Monday, June 25 to address the possibility of losing its program. “This facility was built in the 1990s,” Parks and Recreation Director Donn Hayes said. “About 10 years ago is wh... Full story
Petersburg's First Friday Meet the Artist event was a big success Friday evening. Even the rain could not keep Petersburg art lovers at home. Paintings by Beth Flor were displayed for the public at Miele Gallery and Framing, and everyone had a chance to talk with the artist. “I like to paint places I have been,” Flor said. “And I take photos of the subjects sometimes to capture the light at the moment.” Don Cornelius was on hand at Wild Celery Framing Studio and Eclectic Gallery with several of... Full story
Investigation ensued after the Alaska Marine Highway ferry Matanuska crashed into the Ocean Beauty Seafoods dock Monday, May 7, but the cause of the accident has yet to be determined. “A report has been submitted for internal review,” Alaska Department of Transportation Public Information Officer Jeremy Woodrow stated. “There are several things that need clarification before any news can be released.” As reported in the May 10 issue of the Petersburg Pilot, the M/V Matanuska was negotiating a turn in Wrangell Narrows prior to the acciden...
The Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department Big Viking Summer Camp is in full swing and this week the theme for these campers is Ancient Ancestors. “We are trying to teach the kids the hardships of living on the land,” Brigham Young University intern Jake Hartner stated. “This is obviously not a true Tlingit structure, but they are getting the idea behind the activity.” Hartner and his wife, Tiffany, also a BYU intern, guided the children to the woods around Sandy Beach Park. Campers Ines La...
Fourth of July activities brought out visitors and residents alike. Semi-clear skies and no rain made for great times for all. Festivities began in earnest Tuesday, with competitors hitting the water for the Blindfold Row Boat Races, the two person Tote Race, the four person Tote Race and the Herring Toss. After several boats got hung up in the pilings, the winners of the Blindfold Row Boat Race were Brian Pike with child navigator Kobuk VanHouten. As the Tote Races began, the tide ran stronger... Full story
Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief Jerod Cook gave rebuttal to accusations put before the Public Safety Advisory Board during the Monday night’s City Council Meeting. “After accusations made by the Chief of Police before the PSAB and being aired over radio and written in the local paper, I felt compelled to respond to those accusations,” Cook said. Cook went on to state that he was sure Chief Agner was given information but he failed to check for accuracy. “Had Chief Agner taken the time to investigate the matter or even talk to me... Full story
Ordinances 963, 964 and 965 were amended during the Petersburg City Council meeting Monday night. The City of Petersburg Ordinance #963 has the purpose of adjusting the rates for providing safe potable water to residents and businesses. “The water rate for the City will see two percent increases per year through the year 2018,” Petersburg Public Works Assistant Director Chris Cotta said. The main concern for this amendment for the council was determining if, in the near future, the rate increase wasn't enough. “I believe it would be impor... Full story
The Petersburg City Council voted to accept $7.39 million in legislative grants for fiscal year 2013 during Monday night’s City Council Meeting. A grant in the amount of $250,000 is awarded for the Sons of Norway Hall; $275,000 is awarded for the Hospital Roof Replacement Project; $350,000 will go to the Petersburg Police Department Design, Planning and Pre-Construction Project; $800,000 is earmarked for the crane dock upgrade; The Commercial Dock Drive-Down Facility is awarded $5.6 million; $...
Petersburg City Manager Stephen Giesbrecht summarized the activities taking place for the city during the Petersburg City Council Meeting Monday, July 2. The Corps of Engineers opened up the bid period for the North Harbor Dredge Project Friday, June 22 with bids due by Tuesday, July 24 at 2 p.m. “The bid will be awarded by the end of August in order to satisfy federal funding regulations,” Giesbrecht said. “We have a tentative start date of August 2013.” The contractor for the Mountain View Manor roof replacement has submitted materia...
Senator Lisa Murkowski visited Petersburg Monday, July 2, and discussed issues and concerns in regards to fisheries. “I am here to listen to issues that impact your ability to make a living and raise a family here,” Murkowski said. “Give me your concerns on subjects that we need to work closer with you on.” Many of the members of this fishery centered round-table discussion made mention of a problem with the sea otter population. “Sea otters eat everything,” co-owner of Tonka Seafoods We...
Members of the Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department brought proposed fire department Ordinance 961 before the Petersburg Public Safety Advisory Board Wednesday, June 20. Department member William Bergmann reviewed the proposed ordinance. At the insistence of the City Manager, five senior members of the Fire Department have rewritten the draft ordinance provided by the City Manager. This ordinance governs how the department functions. The City Manager’s basic desire is to give the department head the authority over the fire chief. “This is a v... Full story
The Humpy 500 go-kart race held the first weekend of October to celebrate the end of the salmon canning season will not take place as it has in past years. “Due to road construction that will be taking place on PFI Hill at this time, we will not be having the street race this year,” Petersburg Fisheries Plant Manager Patrick Wilson said. The event will still take place with the costume contest, theme contest and picnic. “I know this is disappointing to the participants that work so hard all s... Full story
The Petersburg Borough Petition was approved by a 4 to 1 vote Friday, June 1. Many residents of the proposed borough area are wondering, what happens now? There are many steps that have to be made in this process before the City of Petersburg is dissolved and the Petersburg Borough is formed. “Right now we are in a holding pattern,” Petersburg City Clerk Kathy O'Rear said. “We are waiting now for the Local Boundary Commission to determine the precise boundaries.” In the approved borough area, the recommendation was to include the Endicot... Full story
Petersburg Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Woodyard will remain in Petersburg after being offered the CEO position at Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau. “I applied for the position because professionally it was an opportunity too good to pass up,” Woodyard said. “But my heart is here in Petersburg.” Woodyard was offered the position in Juneau but turned it down. “I talked it over with the Hospital Board Chair and my husband and decided to stay,” Woodyard said. She explained t...
The Petersburg Public Safety Advisory Board heard from Petersburg Police Chief Jim Agner on the subject of raising parking fines in the near future. “The fines for parking haven't been raised in approximately 30 years,” Agner said. “In communities that have parking fines, we are the lowest in the southeast area.” In the beginning, parking fines at the rate of $7 to $10 was equivalent to one to one and a half hours of salary. “The salary for the parking attendant has increased over the years,” Agner said. “More hours are involved in the positi...
