Petersburg Pilot -

The Petersburg Borough was the lone bidder on three parcels of land at Papke's Landing. Seven parcels at Papke's Landing were up for bid as part of the Alaska Mental Health Trust's 2014 winter land sale, which closed Friday.

The parcels bid on by the borough measure half an acre each and are located south of Papke's Landing Road near the dock and parking area. Outgoing borough clerk Kathy O'Rear said the Borough bid $46,000 for lot 7 (parcel 24) and $31,050 each for lots 1 and 2 (parcels 18 and 19; see map). The minimum bids were $40,000 (lot 7) and $27,000 (lots 1 and 2).

The Borough Assembly voted 5-1 at their Jan. 20 meeting to bid for the land after hearing public comment on the matter in December. Though some Petersburg residents and assembly members expressed concerns about the number of agencies involved with adjacent facilities-the Alaska Department of Transportation (ADOT) owns the dock and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) owns the ramp-the majority of both parties said the land was important to Petersburg's long-term development and to those currently living in outlying areas. Several public commenters and assembly member Bob Lynn expressed concerns over the current parking area and a need for expansion in the near future, which would require ownership of the lots near the parking area.

The Borough had previously begun an application for direct sale of the Mental Health

land at Papke's in June 2013 but the process stalled due to unknowns with ADOT and DNR involvement.

Mental Health created an alternate sale procedure for the land that would have required a live phone auction amongst the three highest bidders on the seven parcels. Since the Borough was the sole bidder on parcels 28, 19 and 24, this will no longer be required.