Teleconferencing from the Wrangell and Petersburg assembly chambers last Thursday, members of the Thomas Bay Power Commission (TBPC) decided to call it a year.
The TPBC was the acting body for the Thomas Bay Power Authority, operating Tyee Hydroelectric Plant until the operations were transferred this summer to Southeast Alaska Power Authority. Since then, the TBPC has found itself with little to do beyond facilitating that change. But because of the unique connection the commission presents for the communities of Wrangell and Petersburg, commissioners are loath to simply decommission themselves.
At its September meeting, commissioners wanted TBPC President Robert Larson to draft a letter for the Wrangell and Petersburg Borough assemblies explaining their current situation and seeking input on the body’s future.
On Thursday, Larson told fellow commissioners he had not drafted the letter.
“My concern was that we haven’t had sufficient discussion on our end,” he explained. “We’re supposed to be advisory bodies to [the assemblies],” but Larson said they did not have any ideas to present to either assembly.
Petersburg representative Joe Nelson said he believed there will be a future need for a forum between the two communities of which the TBPC might play a role. What that role might be is at the moment indeterminable.
“We don’t have to decommission ourselves,” said Wrangell representative Bob Prunella. Pointing out that meetings cost something to hold, he recommended going into “hibernation” for the time being.
“I think you’re right,” Nelson agreed.
After conferring over the rules, Wrangell and Petersburg borough clerks agreed the commission would not violate meeting rules if they had no new business to attend to.
The next meeting has been set for April 2, 2015, at 10 a.m. In the meantime, Larson will draft a letter updating the two borough assemblies on the commissioner’s decision.
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