Borough assembly discusses grant usage, faith-based proclamations

At its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday night, members of the City and Borough Assembly pondered different options for participating in the Community Development Block Grant program.

In discussion notes, city economic development director Carol Rushmore explained grants are distributed statewide through a highly competitive application basis, based on an applying community’s income level. Wrangell has since 2015 been considered ineligible due to its population falling beneath the low-moderate income (LMI) threshold of 51 percent, at 46 percent. However, an income survey of residents conducted by the city in February 2017 estimated the community is actually just above the threshold, at 52.8 percent.

After holding a public comment workshop just prior to Tuesday’s meeting, a second hearing will be held before the September 26 meeting to again collect public input on which project to pursue for the funding. CDBG grants require a minimum match of 25 percent, and projects to be considered have to meet certain criteria for development.

For example, reroofing the Public Safety Building was one consideration, due to its impact on the fire department’s section of the building. However, courtrooms are not considered eligible for CDBG funding, meaning a complex bid process separating the roof project into sections would be necessary.

Consensus gravitated toward using any grant funding on at least rehabilitating the city’s ailing water treatment facility, if not completely replacing it.

“I kind of lean toward focusing on the water treatment plant as the number one option for this grant,” said Assembly member Julie Decker.

During her bimonthly city manager report, Lisa Von Bargen added Public Works would be assessing the plant post-summer peak. Staff would include looking at the additional options to support the plant, including efficiencies to its filtration units, the addition of new storage capacity, and the possibility of completing a bypass from the upper reservoir directly to the plant rather than having to pass through the lower reservoir first. Staff would also consider the feasibility of drilling a well for a clearer water source.

Added to the agenda at the behest of the mayor, members also discussed the propriety of issuing faith-based proclamations. Mayor David Jack recounted a recent request from one local group to sign a proclamation regarding the denomination’s founder.

“It was my feeling that that was not an appropriate thing to do, for several reasons,” he said. He cited protections to freedom of religion ensured in the First Amendment to the Constitution, and its Establishment Cause formally separating church from state.

There was also an issue of fairness. Referring to an instance that happened at the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly last August, he asked, “Would we approve a proclamation from a person we recognize Satan? I wouldn’t. … Even from my own religion, I wouldn’t sign it.”

Though Jack did not mention the religious group which requested his signature, Kay Larson of Wrangell’s Baha’i Faith congregation revealed they had proposed the proclamation. It would have recognized the 200th anniversary next month of the birth of Bahá'u'lláh, the faith’s founder from what is today Iran.

“It’s a big thing. I know worldwide it would be celebrated,” she said of the event. Larson mentioned other communities abroad that have issued similar proclamations marking the day, and given the Wrangell Assembly’s inclusion in recent years of an invocation before its meetings found the mayor’s reticence surprising.

“I think there can be maybe some recognition considered for organizations that are promoting oneness and peace and harmony,” she said.

Currently there is no mention of religious expression written into municipal code, save an exemption from requiring a business license for the vendors of religions books and leaflets. Jack stood by his decision, noting proclamations are not an Assembly matter. “It is an exclusive right, I guess, of the mayor to sign a proclamation.”

He did proclaim October 6 to be a day for the community to “choose respect,” with a march to take place that day as part of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The broader initiative encourages Alaskans to stand with the victims and survivors of abuse, and to support preventative and protective efforts.

In other business, Assembly members approved an extension to the facility lease agreement of Don Sorric and Superior Marine Services (see Port Commission story), though members voted to postpone decision on a consent to assignment of the lease for financing purposes until more information could be gathered.

Clerk Kim Lane also reminded residents that early and absentee voting begins September 18, ahead of the October 3 municipal elections.

 

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