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An irresistible source of borough revenue To the Editor: I find it inconceivable that anyone in Petersburg would even consider voting “yes” for the borough petition which gives the Borough Assembly the power to levy personal property tax without a vote (page 4, subsection 11-B). This would include taxing cars and private and commercial boats. Because fishing is so vital to the local economy many believe that the possibility of personal property tax on boats is very remote. But how remote is it when borough costs are projected to exceed the reve...
The Petersburg police station is now the number one capital project for 2014. The Petersburg City Council revised and prioritized the Capital Improvement Projects list Monday evening during its regular meeting. Several attendees at Monday’s meeting agreed the North Harbor and the police station were still the top projects for the list. These two projects were the top two on the list last year as well. During the public hearing portion of the meeting there was some disagreement over which project should be listed as number one. Local a... Full story
Petersburg City School District, along with Kenai Borough Peninsula Elementary Schools are the first two Alaskan School Districts to receive national recognition for supporting the health of children and communities through the Healthier US School Challenge. As part of their efforts in this challenge, the districts feature healthy items on their school menus and emphasize physical education and activity. “Kenai had four elementary schools to meet this challenge,” Petersburg City Schools Superintendent Rob Thomason said. “But Petersburg was r...
A resolution to support the City of Petersburg’s application to the Alaska Energy Authority’s renewable energy fund to allow a feasibility study evaluating renewable heating systems for certain public buildings was passed unanimously by the Council during its regular monthly meeting. “This grant is a study looking at alternate ways to heat and power very specific buildings,” Petersburg Parks and Recreation Director Donn Hayes said. “This will include the municipal building, the aquatic center, the school district and Mountain View Manor.” T...
The possible results of the new Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) program were discussed by the Petersburg City School Board. “This is not a canned program,” Erica Kludt-Painter said. “We as a district and community will create this program to fit our needs.” PBIS is a process for creating school environments that are more predictable and effective for achieving academic and social goals. For some schools, PBIS will enhance their current systems and practices, for others it will radically change the culture for the better....
Petersburg City Schools Superintendent Rob Thomason explained to the Petersburg School Board last year's test scores from the district's three schools at the first school board meeting of the year Tuesday, Aug. 21. The tests conducted last year for grades 3 – 10 in writing, reading, mathematics and science were above state averages in most categories, however some areas will need to be addressed in the future. Each school also exceeded or met statewide Average Yearly Progress level r...
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
The Petersburg Public Schools wrapped up the year with the last board meeting of 2011-12 on Tuesday. “We have great kids, a great staff and everything is moving to a positive future for us,” Petersburg City School Superintendent Rob Thomason said. “Our library renovation is underway and the No Child Left Behind Grant has been submitted.” Thomason explained there are a few minor edits to be made to the grant but otherwise it is in great shape. The summer lunch program, which provides free lunch for kids up to 18 years of age, is in progres...
June 23, 1982 - 422,000 Alaskans who have lived in the State for at least 6 months, and who have already signed up for the State’s Permanent Fund Dividend program will be receiving a $1,000 check in the mail during the upcoming weeks. The Alaska Department of Revenue began mailing checks out within moments after the Governor signed legislation that replaced the distribution plan that was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court last Monday, June 14. June 18, 1992 - Alaska Marine Lines 40-foot d...
Hello again. After a short break to visit family, I wanted to report, from my Corner of the House, on all the latest news. Between budgets, a special session, and redistricting, there’s a lot going on. The best news is how well the Capital Budget came out. Because the legislature worked so carefully with the governor to keep expenditures at a reasonable level, there were very few vetoes. All the projects that are so critically needed in our District 2 communities can expect to get started, or at least be put out for bids, very soon. The recent...
The City Council on Monday voted to draft an ordinance adopting a new utility rate hike for water, wastewater and sewer services. An outside consultant presented a detailed analysis of the water, sewer, and sanitation systems financial forecast. Each year the city reviews revenues as part of its budget process, but with major capital projects looming on the horizon for wastewater, the Assistant Public Works director Chris Cotta said a more detailed analysis was necessary for a number of reasons. “One is that operating costs are expected to r...
The Petersburg Community Foundation on Saturday awarded $7,000 in competitive grants to local organizations and a $5,000 discretionary grant to the new City Library. The announcements were made at a donor event held at Glorianne Wollen's home, amidst the busy Little Norway Festival weekend. Foundation board member Liz Cabrera made the announcements and handed out the checks for the third cycle of grant fund bequeathments. The recipients of the competitive grants include: $2,500 to the Clausen...
The Petersburg School District Board unanimously approved the $8.7 million balanced budget Tuesday night. The budget calls for 78 percent of the funding to come from the state and foundation, 20 percent from city and the remaining 2 percent in local revenues comes from various grants and donations. The expenditures for next year have not changed much from FY12. The district is expected to spend 72 percent of its budget on instruction. The remaining budget goes toward heating, maintenance, landscaping, equipment and other costs. “To have a b...
Petersburg High School was recently ranked by the publication US News and World Report, receiving a Bronze award for academic achievement and college preparedness. US News and World Report and the Washington D.C.-based American Institute compiled the high schools rankings for Research. More than U.S. 21,000 high schools were analyzed based on how well the school served the students, not only those who are college-bound, but also students who showed measurable academic progress across a wide...
School Superintendent Rob Thomason presented a balanced budget to City officials on April 25 during a budget work session. No changes were made to the recently drafted Petersburg School District 2012/2013 operating budget. “Over the years we've had great directors, we've had a very supportive city, we've had staffs that have negotiated agreements that were fair and equitable, and we've been able to do some very wise spending … and so we're in better shape than just about all of our colleague districts,” Thomason said. The projected opera...
PIA changes To the Editor: Out of respect to the many relationships that the Petersburg Indian Association (PIA) provides to the Petersburg School District, City of Petersburg, Roads Programs, and businesses in the community, the PIA Board of Directors would like to reassure the community of the strength and stability of our organization. PIA has undergone many organizational changes within the last year with the addition of new board members and changes in leadership. Change is always a challenge however be reassured that PIA is moving...
Schools students and public officials participated in a statewide Choose Respect event – with a march downtown and a rally at the Sons of Norway hall. Choose Respect is a campaign sponsored by Governor Sean Parnell to raise awareness of domestic violence, sexual assault, child sexual assault and bullying. The students marched on Nordic downtown and then gathered for snacks and to share thoughts and comments on what 'Choose Respect' means to them. “Sometimes we're a little too polite when we see...
March 31, 1982- Don Schultz has three months left before he retires as superintendent of the Petersburg School District, and the School Board has more than 100 applicants to sift through before the position is filled. As of March 26, 102 applications had been received by the Alaska School Board Associations which was retained to conduct the search for a new superintendent after Schultz announced last fall his intention to resign at the end of June. “That’s a lot of paperwork to go thr...
Schools students and public officials will take to the streets today at 4 p.m. as part of a statewide Choose Respect campaign - bringing awareness to issues such as domestic violence, sexual assault, child sexual assault and bullying. “[This is] about problems in Alaska, as well as making people think about what respect means to them,” said event coordinator Jo Ann Day. A march will go from Trading Union to Wells Fargo followed by a gathering at the Sons of Norway Hall. The event will include several speakers including Police Chief Jim Agn...
It's spring break for Petersburg students, but maintenance workers and other facilitators have been busy during this student-free week. Tye Petersen, facility maintenance director for the Petersburg School District reported to the School Board on Tuesday that the he and his staff have been working on several projects at the three schools. As part of keeping up the grounds Petersen and his team of five workers are doing some concrete repairs between the Voc. Ed. building and the High School, and making other safety improvements to school...
Carlee Wells thinks school lunch is not all fun and games, but instead is another opportunity for learning. For Wells, Petersburg School District Food Services Director, lunchtime is when students can learn where food comes from and how it's best prepared. In order to ensure she's teaching engaging lessons, Wells is applying for the state's Farm to School Grant, for a second year to help with lunch and lessons at Rae C. Stedman Elementary School. Last year's grant of $500 from the state fund,...
Petersburg Municipal Power & Light has purchased a new stand-by diesel generator that will assist in high-energy demand cycles, when the city is cut-off from its main power supply, Tyee. Petersburg City Council on Tuesday approved a bid from ASCR McGraw Constructors for $724,000, for the construction of a concrete platform, the construction of a control shack and installation of underground wiring. “It is a stand-alone unit that is to be used in case the city is ever cut off from Tyee,” said PMPL Superintendent Joe Nelson in a phone int...
Ernest “Bud” Parker passed away at home on February 29, 2012. Bud was born to Ernest and Freda (Good) Parker on December 15, 1937. Bud attended Sedro-Woolley High School and then graduated from Oregon State University with a Teaching Certificate. Bud taught school, first in Reedsport, Ore., then Petersburg, Alaska, South Kitsap High School and eventually in the Concrete School District. Bud was a favorite of many school kids over the years both as a dedicated school teacher and as a wre...
Field inventories needed To the Editor: The Tongass Land and Resource Management Plan FEIS of 1-23-2008 provides for the sustainability of the resources of the Tongass National Forest yet the proposed Tonka Timber Sale only provides for viable populations of deer for subsistence. Definition of these 3 key words are (1)Sustainability- to provide for support of and sustenance or nourishment for. (2)Resource- something that lies ready for use or that can be drawn upon for aid to the care of a need. (3) Viable- able to live and likely to survive....
The buzz in the hallways, here at the capital, is all about Education funding. We all recognize that if we’re going to keep America’s workforce strong, today’s students need to be getting the best education possible. There are those who believe that the state hasn’t raised education funding in several years. This is not so. In fact, in Fiscal Year 2009 the House of Representatives instituted forward funding education with a three year increase that just ended two years ago. In addition to incr...
