SEARHC commits to investments, taxes in AICS merger

The heads of two consolidating health providers appeared before the Wrangell City and Borough Assembly Tuesday evening to talk about upcoming plans and to answer any questions the assembly’s members might have about the transition.

Last month Wrangell-based Alaska Island Community Services (AICS) announced it would be merging with larger organization SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC), a process expected to finalize in February 2017.

AICS executive Mark Walker explained the move was necessitated by the provider’s growth. Since its founding in 1989, the organization has expand...