At Tuesday evening’s meeting of the City and Borough Assembly, the operating budget for the new year was adopted.
The fiscal year begins July 1, and for the coming year will use about $457,311 in previous-year surpluses to cover the difference between revenues and expenditures. A number of critical capital expense items have made the borough's list of priorities this year, including exterior repairs to the Public Safety Building and swimming pool, and acquisition of a new excavator for the waste transfer facility.
Property tax rates will remain the same at 12.75 mills, and no increases or reductions are expected either to permanent staff levels or operating hours.
One additional capital item was requested, the extension of water and sewer service to a couple of lease lots on the eastern side of The Marine Service Center. The item was brought forward by contractor Don Sorric, owner of Superior Marine Services and holder of Lot 7.
Winning the bid for that lot in 2013 and holding it since January 2014, Sorric has long been trying to get utilities extended to the welding shop and office space he constructed there. It was his understanding lots would be provided with water and sewer access, which drove the course of his investments. He estimates around $250,000 have gone into the building itself, with considerably more than that in equipment and other materials.
While he has met with a number of city officials, Port Commission members and Public Works staff over the past three years, Sorric expressed some frustration with the lack of progress. He said he understood the logistical challenges: Public Works estimates extending a main connection to his lot from Front Street would run into the ballpark of $110,000.
“I’ve tried to be patient,” Sorric told the Assembly. His main anxiety is fire safety, a concern he said is shared by his neighbors. Being a welding shop, Sorric said the threat of a fire occurring was “not a matter of if, but when,” and that his business was “operating on borrowed time” despite the presence of an emergency cistern and extinguishers on site.
Superior Marine experienced a fire at its covered work area on the yard's western side back in March, causing significant damage. “We had hoses at the other fire,” he recounted. At the welding shop, in contrast, the nearest connection was around 300 feet away. “If we had a problem over there, it puts a lot of people in jeopardy. … What you really need when you’re doing our kind of work is you need unlimited water.”
Assembly member Mark Mitchell was supportive of the recommendation. “I believe Don is well within his right to ask these questions,” he said. “I think we need to do everything we can.”
The Assembly also adopted in a unanimous motion revised sections to city code providing for emergency water conservation measures, enabling the potential installation of meters for residential and commercial users, and updating the fine schedule to suit these.
Mitchell also initiated conversation for potential action later, which would change code to allow residents to exempt themselves from the requirement to maintain city water connections where available. With the city concerned about water production and scarcity, he felt it would be of benefit to allow residents to supply their own sources if they wanted.
“It makes absolutely no sense to force somebody to hook up to the water if they already have a source of water,” he commented. Per state requirements, residences would still need to remain connected to the municipal sewage system.
In solid waste matters, Public Works head Amber Al-Haddad reported residents have a window to remove junk vehicles and ferrous scrap from the island next week. From Tuesday through Saturday, Channel Construction of Juneau will be conveying such materials from the waste transfer facility over to the barge ramp, across from City Hall. From there the firm will load up a barge for repurposing elsewhere.
“They are going to be hauling all of that metal through downtown,” Al-Haddad pointed out. To help keep streets safe during that process, city staff will help direct traffic.
Residents are advised to bring in any unwanted vehicles to the municipal dump ahead of time this week. Before bringing in unwanted jalopies, they are reminded to make sure all tires are off, fluids drained, and titles ready to be presented. Otherwise Channel will be unable to take them.
Hours at the municipal dump will be affected during the week, trimming down Tuesday through Saturday to 2 to 4 p.m. Curbside trash pickup will still continue as regularly scheduled. Those with questions can call Public Works at 874-3904.
Reader Comments(0)