At Wrangell’s regular meeting of the Borough Assembly Tuesday, members opted not to withdraw their opposition to a proposed timber sale package.
The United States Forest Service has over the course of years been putting together a timber sale for Wrangell Island, of which it manages 93 percent of the borough’s land area, which has been nearing its final stages. In August the city responded to the project’s final draft record of decision with an objection letter. After speaking with staff, Tongass National Forest supervisor Earl Stewart proposed an alternative that might satisfy the city’s concerns.
The primary concern was that the service’s preferred alternative would not produce sufficient timber capable of sustaining a small- to medium-sized mill. The counteroffer to allow between 250,000 and 500,000 board feet to be harvested annually over the 10-year sale was deemed to still be insufficient by Wrangell’s Economic Development Committee last week, which recommended that the Assembly maintain its objection.
The next step will be to hold a formal meeting with Stewart in Juneau on October 30. Wrangell manager Lisa Von Bargen will be participating by phone, and will report what transpired at the next Assembly meeting on November 7.
During the meeting, Assembly members also approved renewal of a $500,000 line of credit for Wrangell Medical Center (see hospital article), in place so far for two years. Hospital CEO Robert Rang appeared to implore the council to approve the arrangement, as WMC’s financial situation had grown quite dire. Cash-on-hand levels had dropped from around 11 days’ worth of operating expenses by the start of October to barely three, and an infusion of $250,000 would be needed immediately to make payroll.
Prior to the vote, Assembly member Stephen Prysunka offered up a potential conflict of interest, as his wife is chief of staff at the hospital.
Mayor David Jack waived the concern, saying “I don’t see it as a conflict of interest because it’s not directed at her personally.”
Before approving the item, fellow member Patty Gilbert asked that Rang provide financial reports from the hospital on a monthly basis. The Assembly then voted 4-0 in favor.
In other business, Von Bargen told the Assembly the city had been approached with an invitation to sign on to a new appeal to the “Roadless Rule,” after the most recent lawsuit was thrown out by the Federal District Court of the District of Columbia late last month. In place since 2001, the rule prohibits new road construction in much of the national forest system, of which most of Southeast Alaska is a part.
Von Bargen said the potential appeal is being orchestrated by Jim Clark, a Juneau-based lawyer. “He has asked if we would like to sign on again to that appeal,” she explained, adding he would need an answer in 45 days. A proposal may be coming before the Assembly at its next meeting on November 7, as it will not have another meeting until December.
Von Bargen also relayed information that a 2016 amendment to the Tongass Land and Resource Management Plan may require congressional review, per a decision issued Monday by the Government Accountability Office. The decision stemmed from a letter submitted by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, and Von Bargen said it was possible a resolution of disapproval put forward in Congress could enable application of an earlier version of the management plan.
Wrangell Parks and Recreation has been having trouble filling lifeguard positions, despite waiving fees for training and looking at other financial incentives. As a result, department head Kate Thomas has been spending more than half of her working hours on lifeguard duty, Von Bargen noted. A workshop seeking public input will be held by the Parks Board inside City Hall next Wednesday at 6 p.m. Swimmers and other interested parties are encouraged to attend.
Clerk Kim Lane also informed the Assembly the city will finally enable online payments for public utility bills, either on one’s computer or mobile devices. Payments will be instantly transferred, and users will be able to take a more in-depth look at their energy use history. For those without computer access, a terminal will be made publicly available at City Hall, or people can still make payments at the front desk. The city still has no plans to accept credit card payments for property taxes, however. Because of amounts involved, credit fees would be financially damaging, Lane explained.
Assembly members also expressed hesitancy to adopt a memorandum of agreement with USFS regarding display of the retired vessel Chugach. At the boatyard now, it was proposed the Nolan Center might set aside yard space for outdoor display of the vessel. Prysunka expressed concern that the arrangement would increase maintenance costs, because while USFS would commit to upkeep of the boat in perpetuity, a proposed roof and viewing platform would likely be the borough’s responsibility.
In light of other, larger capital needs and financial commitments, Prysunka felt it would be unwise to commit the city to such a course.
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