Editorial: Thank you Jeff

We join with the community in thanking Jeff Jabusch for his 40 years of service to the citizens of Wrangell.

Jeff has maintained the public’s checkbook for much of that time and kept it balanced through boom times and busts.

During Alaska’s oil boom era, the city built its Public Safety Building, high school and municipal pool.

When the Wrangell Mill closed in 1994, “it was scary bleak,” as Jabusch put it.

Later, Alaska’s rich uncle, Sen. Ted Stevens secured a $37 million relief grant that public officials along with Jabusch leveraged into $200 million in public projects including generators, trails, a museum and The Marine Service Center.

During volatile times when Wrangell ventured into a public partnership with Wrangell Seafoods and local shareholders were likely to lose their investments, public meetings were tense. Jabusch could have remained silent, but he spoke up and reminded elected officials that their fiduciary responsibilities were to the citizens of Wrangell and not WSI shareholders. There were limits on how public money can be spent.

In 2013 he made a move we can’t fully comprehend. He took the borough manager’s job.

Wow, he even made that job look easy.

This month, like all good managers, he gives credit to his fellow employees, speaks modestly of his achievements and transitions into grandpa mode.

Jeff, Wrangell is grateful that you executed your city hall duties with transparency, integrity and thoughtful leadership for the past four decades.