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The Petersburg Assembly unanimously approved its budget last week for the upcoming year that starts July 1 and runs through June 2018. Over three meetings and three readings of the proposed budget, the Assembly grappled with a change worth about $160,000. A vote to delete a fourth lineman position from the Power & Light budget ultimately passed unanimously on the third reading. "[The Assembly] went back and forth on this," said Petersburg Borough Manager Stephen Giesbrecht. "I can't speak for...
May 16 — Daniel Varner appeared before Judge Carey and entered a guilty plea to reduced charges of Harassment in the 2nd Degree. The defendant was sentenced to 10 days in jail with 5 suspended; a $50 surcharge; contact Petersburg Mental Health Services for an anger management course; one year probation and other conditions. May 17 — Matthew Kurt Roelfs entered a not guilty plea before Judge Magistrate Burrell on a charge of Assault in the 4th Degree. The defendant was released O.R. with conditions. May 18 — David Janzen entered a not guilt...
KETCHIKAN, Alaska (AP) – A recently approved U.S. Senate bill secures a long-awaited land trade. The $1.1 spending bill approved by the Senate on Thursday will permit a land trade between the U.S. Forest Service and the Alaska Mental Health Trust, the Ketchikan Daily News reports. The bill is heading to President Donald Trump’s desk for final signature. The land trade has been an ongoing effort by the Mental Health Trust Authority Board. The board uses land proceeds to fund the state’s mental health services. The entities began the land tradi...
Voters may soon decide whether or not they want to raise the sales tax cap to $5,000 and to eliminate the exemption for the sale of goods purchased within the borough for use outside of it. The Petersburg Borough Assembly approved in its second reading an ordinance that would send those questions to the voters for the October 3 election. Chamber of Commerce administrator Mara Lutomski asked the assembly to reconsider putting the questions on the ballot after a group of chamber and other community members discussed the issue. “…we believe it...
The Petersburg Borough Assembly budget calls for Community Service grants to Petersburg Chamber of Commerce, KFSK Public Radio and Clausen Memorial Museum. KFSK may receive a 46% increase over last year's grant of $19,000 for a total of $35,000. This year KFSK general manager Tom Abbott itemized the station's broadcast services with a tally of $36,404 for 958 hours of personnel and air-time. Borough meeting broadcasts for two employees totaled $3,648 (96 hrs. @ $38/hr.); borough call-in programs...
Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) has completed its acquisition of Alaska Island Community Services (AICS), with the transition formally taking effect on April 1. Started in 1975, SEARHC is a non-profit tribal health consortium representing 18 Native communities in the region. Among its other programs, it operates Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital and the Ethel Lund Medical Center in Juneau. One of the largest private employers in the region before the merger, the deal with AICS extends its reach to 24 communities. Established in...
March 1 — Superior Court Judge Carey ruled in favor of Dean and Elena Roundtree in a small claims case against Ken Olsen dba K/O Construction. Judgment of $4,665 plus interest and costs was granted to the Roundtrees for a total of $4,802.06. The Pilot incorrectly reported the plaintiff’s name as Dane Roundtree in last week’s paper. March 3 — Judge Magistrate Burrell accepted a not guilty plea from Lapasi Mikaio who was arraigned on a charge of Assault in the 4th Degree DV. Defendant was released OR on $500 cash bail and $500 unsecured appeara...
The Trust Land Office will hold a series of public informational meetings in Southeast communities to discuss the proposed land exchange between the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority (Trust) and the United States Forest Service (USFS). The transaction would be a value for value land exchange of approximately 20,000 acres of USFS land for 18,000 acres of Trust land, the result of extensive negotiations between the Trust and the USFS and years of work with interested parties in Southeast Alaska. Informational meetings are scheduled starting...
Feb. 14 — Ray Stoner III entered a No Contest Plea for operating gear without a permit card. The defendant was sentenced to a $300 fine and ordered to pay a police training surcharge of $50. Feb. 23 — Magistrate Judge Desiree Burrell heard the small claims case involving Consuelo Santiago vs. Victor Torres. The court ruled that Torres should pay Santiago $3,165. Feb. 27 — Superior Court Judge William Carey presided over the sentencing of Cesar Gonzalez on three counts involving weapons violations. On count two, felon in possession of a firea...
To the Editor: Thank you for welcoming us into your communities. We are grateful to you for making time to visit with us to discuss the land exchange legislation and share your concerns about potential timber sales on Trust land near your community, if the legislation does not pass. At the meetings, we heard how important public safety is to the Petersburg community. We realize the announcement back in August about the potential timber sales surprised members of the community, and that created great concern. We take responsibility for the way...
Over 20 people assembled at the SONS last Thursday evening for a presentation and Q&A with representatives of the Alaska Mental Health Trust Land Office (TLO). The representatives stressed their desire for a land exchange to pass via federal legislation as it would allow the Trust to bypass logging on contentious land in Petersburg and Ketchikan. Residents who attended were more concerned about what would happen if the land exchange does not go through and the TLO moves forward with plans to log areas in close proximity to residences on Mitkof...
October 28, 1916 – A local business man suggests that, in anticipation of probable spells of cold, dry weather during the nearing winter season, with consequent increase of danger from fires, now would be a very proper time for some preparedness. While the present members of Petersburg’s volunteer fire department have proven their efficiency in the handling of firefighting apparatus, and have thereby on numerous occasions prevented serious property loss, a strengthening of the organization at this time through the acquisition of and dri... Full story
September 30, 1916 – Owing to the soaking rains of the past week or two, the foundation under the engines at the power-house has become rather shaky. Ditches have been dug around the building, and other measures will probably be taken to overcome the difficulty. While it is now considered unlikely that it will be found necessary to shut off power at any time in fixing the foundation, residents depending on the electrical lights could avoid some inconvenience in case the lights should “blink out” for a spell by having oil lamps in shape durin...
The Petersburg Borough Assembly held its second reading for an ordinance concerning an excise tax being applied to all marijuana and marijuana products in the borough at its meeting Monday. Any proposed tax would depend on the results of the upcoming Oct. 4 municipal election. If voters approve marijuana sales, a tax of $25 per ounce could be charged on the cultivation, manufacture and importation of marijuana and any marijuana products for commercial use. In the first reading of the ordinance assembly member Nancy Strand voted against an... Full story
The recent addition of two bird cages filled with feathered friends for Petersburg Medical Center's Long Term Care (LTC) residents is all about combating loneliness, helplessness and boredom. The positive impact of the birds is noticeable, according to Susan Ohmer, executive director of Petersburg Mental Health Services. Ohmer started the process of bringing birds into LTC about three months ago, after getting the green light from PMC Chief Nursing Officer Jennifer Bryner. Ohmer immediately... Full story
Petersburg Medical Center staff and board members face tough decisions and an even tougher fiscal climate as they continue discussion on how to improve or replace their inadequate facility. PMC board, staff members and architect Joann Lott from Jensen Yorba Lott Architects met last Friday, May 6 to discuss the pros and cons of different options. Lott met with the PMC board last October when it presented a facility assessment. Many of the building’s issues include but are not limited to several mechanical and electrical systems in the L...
The Petersburg Borough Assembly approved this year's $9.6 million budget after reallocating it's community service grant funding where it reduced funding to Petersburg Mental Health Services for the first time in decades. The assembly reduced PMHS funding by $20,000 and directed it towards Petersburg's domestic violence prevention and victim advocacy non-profit Working Against Violence for Everyone (WAVE). Annette Wooton, WAVE Director and it's only full-time employee, this year made a one-time... Full story
A little more than a year ago on a cold winter morning, not unlike many Petersburg couples, Meggan and Donnie Hayes were eating breakfast. Out of all those couples, the Hayes may have had the most honest, albeit brutally honest, conversation shared in that moment. In-between slurps of cereal, Meggan told Donnie she didn't love him anymore. Not only did she not love him, she told Donnie, she didn't even like him. "We had been through such a time in our marriage where I just said that because that... Full story
Petersburg Borough Assembly members face tough decisions when it comes to funding local community service organizations, especially amid concerns over decreased state funding. The decrease in revenue from the state along with the possibility of an increase in public employee retirement (PERS) contributions dominated much of the discussion Monday as the Borough Assembly advanced the budget in its second reading. The Senate Finance Committee proposed a bill last week that would increase local PERS contributions from its current 22 percent to...
The Petersburg Borough Assembly unanimously voted to approve this year’s budget in its first reading including a change to its community services budget, which awards grants to various local organizations and non-profits. Domestic violence prevention non-profit Working Against Violence for Everyone (WAVE) for the first time requested $45,000 from the Borough Assembly earlier this month. In light of decreased state funding and widespread tight financial times, Petersburg Mayor Mark Jensen asked community organizations to provide balance s...
The Petersburg Borough Assembly is asking for an increase in financial information from organizations requesting community service grants from the borough during this year’s budget hearings. “One thing I would like to ask that be added to all of the people that are applying for these grants is to put a detailed financial statement like if you have holdings on property or bank accounts,” Mayor Mark Jensen said during Monday’s meeting. “It’s going to be tough times financially and if some people have a better wherewithal to take a little bit of a...
When Kate Smith moved to town she immediately found the community welcoming, and the fact she found a cute cream-colored house to live in just made it that much sweeter. Smith came to Petersburg just over two months ago to take a clinician position at Petersburg Mental Health (PMH). "I really like it a lot, everyone here is so friendly," Smith says. "It's such a wonderful community, everyone is so sweet. It's been great so far." In 2012, Smith graduated with a master's degree in social work from...
The Assembly and Borough staff discussed public safety issues at Monday’s Assembly meeting. While Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht delivered the news that decreased staff at the Juneau prosecutor’s office may lead to more case dismissals, Assembly member John Havrilek proposed instituting a dual Neighborhood Watch and Crime Stoppers program to help reduce crime in Petersburg. Giesbrecht said the prosecutor’s office sent an email saying that decreased staffing may lead to more case dismissals for Petersburg based on the “disp...
The United States Forest Service (USFS) announced the next step has been taken in a land deal with Alaska Mental Health Trust (AMHT), after signing an Agreement to Initiate on June 30. The agreement as currently envisioned could see the transfer of nearly 40,000 acres of state and federal lands between the two agencies. For AMHT, the deal will allow it to develop the lands’ timber and mineral resources. Founded by Congress in 1956, AMHT is a state corporation set up to assist the state in funding its mental health program. The trust manages l... Full story
Traveling across Alaska to address the problem of domestic violence, Roberta James, domestic abuse specialist with Tribal Family and Youth Services, stopped by Petersburg on Monday. Provided by the Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, Tribal Family and Youth Services uses a grant to travel to communities and work primarily with natives. “We all know there’s a high rate of domestic violence in Alaska,” James said. “Everyone is trying to do something.” A 2010 University of Alaska Anchorage survey showed that out of every... Full story
