Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 51
January The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration proposed establishing critical habitat areas for humpback whales in three distinct population segments located off Mexico, Central American and the Western Pacific. The Petersburg Borough sent a letter of disapproval to the National Marine Fisheries Service regarding the proposed critical habitat for humpback whales after residents spoke out against the proposal. The Petersburg Borough authorized the hire of Josh Rathmann to fill the...
The Borough Assembly again voted on a memorandum of agreement between the Petersburg Borough and Petersburg Medical Center for the asymptomatic testing of staff at Mountain View Manor Assisted Living. After it was made clear that testing would be voluntary, the borough assembly approved the agreement unanimously at their meeting on Monday. According to the MOA, PMC will provide the staff, equipment and materials needed to perform asymptomatic testing at no cost to MVM AL. Both parties will...
The Borough Assembly failed to pass a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the borough and Petersburg Medical Center to provide COVID-19 asymptomatic testing at Mountain View Manor Assisted Living at their meeting on Monday. On Nov. 18, PMC CEO Phil Hofstetter sent an email to the borough and the Petersburg School District, suggesting the asymptomatic testing of employees at MVM AL and at PSD by the hospital. Hofstetter cited rising COVID-19 case numbers in congregate settings across the state...
Mountain View Manor Assisted Living has begun allowing visitors into the facility under a limited basis, according to acting Incident Commander Sandy Dixson at the COVID-19 community update on Friday. Visitation resumed on Thursday, Aug. 27, and Dixson said the public was eager to see residents at the manor in person again. Apartments are limited to four visitors per visit, and only three apartments can have visitors at one time, said Dixson. Visitors are also screened before entering the...
Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced on Tuesday that phases three and four of his Reopen Alaska Responsibly Plan will take effect Friday morning, but Borough Incident Commander Karl Hagerman said communities are still waiting for more details on what businesses can expect to happen later this week. "[Dunleavy's] obviously making some leaps here to move the state ahead and jumpstart the economy, but the details of how or what restrictions are expected of every business hasn't been released," said...
The Local Emergency Planning Committee held their second meeting in two weeks telephonically, as the borough and local businesses take further precautions to prevent a COVID-19 outbreak in Petersburg. To start off the teleconference, Petersburg Public Health Nurse Erin Michael and Petersburg Medical Center's Laurie Miller gave a brief overview of the new developments being taken by local health professions in reaction to the virus. Michael said the public health office and PMC are making...
Police Chief Jim Kerr suggested at Tuesday's borough assembly meeting that the assembly discuss and adopt an ordinance that would put rules in place for parades or events that take place in roadways and impact the flow of traffic. On Sunday, several organizations in town hosted an Elizabeth Peratrovich Day celebration that began with a parade downtown. Kerr said that he spoke to a Petersburg Indian Association tribal leader and was supposed to be informed if the parade grew in size, so that...
The borough assembly approved an ordinance in its second reading that would add a fourth level of care at Mountain View Manor and increase rental and service rates. Mountain View Manor has already been offering that fourth level of care, the facility hasn’t been charging for it, said Shelyn Bell, department head of elderly housing and assisted living, at an assembly meeting last month. The facility could bring in an additional $55,000 per year should the ordinance pass, said Bell. Rates vary according to the number of occupants in the a...
The borough assembly approved an ordinance that would increase assisted living rental and service rates in its first reading at their meeting Tuesday to be in line with Medicaid and other assisted living facility rates throughout the state. The basic level of services, which covers apartment maintenance, meals and rent, would be raised from $4,700 to $4,880 per month if ordinance #2020-01 is passed in three readings. Level one services, which includes the basic level of services along with...
The Petersburg Medical Center held its fourth Community Cafe last week, which focused on healthcare for the aging population and the concept of "Aging in Place." Ken Helander, associate state director of advocacy with AARP, spoke on caregiving and other topics to consider to help aging citizens transition from an independent lifestyle to one that requires assistance. A combined total of 89 residents attended the afternoon and evening Community Cafes on Nov. 12. Hospital staff was also available...
An assessment of Mountain View Manor by the Fox Group in July found that the facility is effectively run and that there are no recommendations at this time to improve the facility's financial position. "That's a good and bad thing to hear," said Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht at an assembly meeting last month. "It's a good thing meaning it's managed very well. It's a bad thing in the sense that there's not necessarily ways to make that place break even." The borough assembly directed...
At their meeting last Friday, the borough assembly approved 13 goals and objectives for Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht to work on in the upcoming 2020 fiscal year. The 13 items are a result of the manager's recent performance evaluation. Some of the goals and objectives have comments from Giesbrecht that go into further detail to better capture the assembly's intentions. A motion was made to adopt Giesbrecht's comments into the document. Giesbrecht said that he could get each of the items done...
There are many ideas, books, quotes, videos and even classes on what makes a good, lasting relationship, but all one has to do is ask lifelong Petersburg residents Roald and Jeannine Norheim, married 64 years this July. Their joint response, "doing things together." The Norheims' love story from the beginning was about doing things together, such as both being born and raised in Petersburg by Norwegian immigrants. They both attended elementary and high school together, although Roald is three...
The borough assembly voted in favor of instructing borough manager Steve Giesbrecht to send out a request for proposals, or RFP, for the cost of a consultant for Mountain View Manor assisted living to determine if the facility is running efficiently. The costs for Mountain View Manor are greater than the revenue it brings in despite being at 100 percent occupancy, according to Giesbrecht. The borough lost an estimated $240,117 in the 2018 fiscal year from the assisted living operation. “We’ve scratched and clawed to get to where we are, and...
Six action items were removed from Tuesday’s assembly meeting agenda by the assembly that addressed cuts and additions to the borough’s 2020 fiscal year budget. In beginning of the meeting, assembly member Bob Lynn made the motion to amend the agenda and remove the six items. The items would have called for a discussion and vote on whether to replace the vacant police sergeant position, add an EMT to the fire department, reduce some community services, hire a consultant to look at Mountain View Manor’s assisted living operations, give departmen...
Problem at playground To the Editor: We have a problem on the Stedman Elementary playground. People are not picking up their dog's poop. I have a suggestion. Reuse your bread bags, cereal bags and plastic grocery bags. Tie them on your leash, then scoop your dog's poop. Emi Anderson, 3rd Grade Stedman Elementary Student Council Slow down and consider impacts To the Editor: I was born in Petersburg in 1947, completed grade and high school, married and raised my family, invested in some...
Ruth W. Sandvik, 100, Petersburg resident for 75 years, died on July 29, 2016 at Seattle"s Kline Galland home in the comfort of her family. Ruth fractured her hip in Petersburg, then was medevaced to Swedish Hospital in Seattle. After a successful operation she suffered a stroke and didn"t ever recover. Ruth was born in Portland, Oregon to Hermann and Vesta Wetterborg on February 8, 1916. Her parents preceded her in death as well as her sister, Betty. She and Betty attended Portland schools... Full story
Petersburg Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht reported the following at the Borough Assembly’s November 2 meeting: Municipalities across the state are seeing evidence of pressure on courts and prosecutors to reduce pre-trial incarceration. Other chiefs report bail amounts set at arraignment have been significantly reduced and prosecutors have been directed to seek lower bail amounts to lower bed days in the jails. Presiding Judge Stephens has ordered the courts in our region to be closed for additional days to cut costs. This is expected to s...
Petersburg Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht presented his report to the assembly at Monday's meeting. Replacement lighting at the South Harbor is finally nearing completion. We plan to remove the last of the old fixtures during the high tide on August 13. The old fixtures are mounted on the pilings, which makes them difficult to access except at a high tide. Power and Light is ordering material and getting ready for the new line extension for the Drive Down facility. The borough is preparing to do a significant amount of right-of-way clearing t...
During Petersburg’s latest Borough Assembly meeting, Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht reported the following: Gary Peters from ProCom Alaska was here the first week of March to evaluate existing radio equipment and coverage deficiencies for police, fire and EMS. Several deficiencies were noted and strategies for corrections are being developed. PFI has a large transformer not working properly. A replacement has been ordered. We’re assisting them with installing a spare unit to get through herring season and until the new unit is delivered. Powe...
Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht presented the following report to the Assembly on Monday night. Joe Nelson and power and light staff are working on incorporating a thorough capital project plan into the electric rate study to better outline the needs of our electric system. Southeast Alaska Cities Against Drugs officials are drafting a letter to the Alaska Department of Transportation in an effort to partner with Alaska Marine Highway to curb illegal controlled substances being transported on state ferries. Postal interdiction efforts...
The Borough Manager reported to the assembly last Monday that Mountain View Manor received a 100 percent score on the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation inspection and there continues to be a waiting list at both Elderly Housing and Assisted Living. He congratulated Scott Newman who has taken over as the PMP&L Line Foreman. An annual street light survey is underway. Citizens are asked to report any streetlights that are not working. The borough is working on a draft RFP for the Borough Comprehensive Plan, Economic Development and Harbor...
The Petersburg Borough Assembly met with department heads Monday afternoon in a work session to discuss the proposed 2013-14 fiscal budget. “For the 2013-14 budget, the general fund is presented to the Petersburg Borough Assembly as a balanced budget,” Petersburg Borough Finance Director Jody Tow stated. “Property tax revenue is budgeted to increase due to the new library bond and the proposed budget does not include any increase to the base tax rate of the borough.” Tow also explained that the borough is expecting to receive an additional $193...
The City of Petersburg adopted the 2012-13 City budget with very few changes from last year. “The biggest change is the general fund subsidizing some of the assisted living facility expenses,” City of Petersburg Finance Director Jody Tow said. “In addition to charging a mill rate for the facility’s annual debt service, the City will be transferring $100,000 from the general fund to assisted living. These funds are to support the facility’s day to day operations. The facility is now at full occupancy which means the City is receiving more reve... Full story
