The city will be trying to return court services to the Public Safety Building as quickly as possible.
The Alaska Court System curtailed its courtroom and legal services in Wrangell just before Thanksgiving, citing air quality concerns with the space it rents from the borough. The building, which is home to the majority of the city’s emergency services, has experienced long-term leakage issues with its roof and siding. The problem at the court offices came to a head in September after the discovery of carpenter ants in an exterior wall, and initial containment left one clerical office temporarily unusable. Plans to replace the building’s roof and siding have since become a top capital project priority for the city, which is currently applying for Housing and Urban Development block grant funding to defray some of the costs.
Due to the possible continued presence of mold at the site, ACS temporarily closed its offices in November, pending an inspection by a certified industrial hygienist last month. The city joined in on the contract for additional inspections elsewhere in the building, and a report was submitted to both parties on January 3.
City manager Lisa Von Bargen reported to the Wrangell Assembly at its Tuesday meeting that one section of the building is outside of compliance with air quality thresholds, and that the inspector has recommended keeping the court area closed until an environmental remediation firm can be brought in to contain the situation. She said staff is reviewing its options and will have a recommendation within the next two weeks.
“I have requested a meeting by phone with the members of the court to discuss alternatives about getting them back in,” Von Bargen added.
Prior to Tuesday’s meeting, Assembly members held a legislative priorities work session with Rep. Dan Ortiz (I-District 36). During their hour together, the Ketchikan legislator explained what was on the agenda in Juneau starting next week, while the Assembly was able to share its priorities for the coming year.
Included in the discussions by phone was the city’s lobbyist on retainer in Juneau, Ray Matiashowski. In a separate item of business, his annual contract with the city was renewed in the amount of $36,000.
Near the top of its priorities for Juneau, the Assembly expressed its support for maintaining the state’s revenue sharing commitments with municipalities, and encouraged lawmakers to support fully funding the Alaska Marine Highway System. Assembly members also weighed in on a payroll tax proposal put forward by Gov. Bill Walker. An upward income cap on the 1.5-percent struck them as a regressive direction to take.
“You’re singling out the middle class here,” commented Assembly member David Powell. He suggested removing the cap altogether.
In other borough business, Von Bargen let Assembly members see a form letter which was to be sent out on Wednesday, informing private property owners about an impending crackdown on stored junk. She and economic development director Carol Rushmore had taken a tour of the town in December, scouting properties for noncompliance. Around 15 problem properties had been identified, with the letters going out to the owners letting them know what their options are. It was the Assembly’s intention that police and city staff begin enforcing the rules on its books more strictly in May.
Assembly members also took a first crack at changing the city’s filing requirements for senior property tax exemptions. As required by state law, the borough exempts the first $150,000 of assessed value on the residential properties of seniors aged 65 and older, the widows or widowers of an exempted person, and disabled veterans.
Due to demographic trends Wrangell has the highest proportion of exempted property owners in the state, with 230 successful applicants last year. Their exempted properties together total $25,525,213 in assessed value, which represents $316,341 in lost tax revenue.
Not required by state law though is annual refiling for these exemptions, a process which has increasingly taxed city staff as the number of exempted residents grows. Staff notes point out Petersburg does not require such refiling, and recommended allowing existing filings to carry over each year. The finance director would ultimately be responsible for ensuring eligibility is up to date.
The ordinance was approved on first reading and will return for a second at the Assembly’s January 23 meeting. Also to be held that meeting will be a
discussion item Von Bargen is preparing laying out priorities for next year’s city budget, as well as a draft schedule for its compilation. A final budget will need to be adopted by the Assembly prior to the current fiscal years end on June 30.
In other upcoming business, Von Bargen presented members with a report on the
summer water situation on behalf of Public Works. In 2016 conditions at the aging water treatment plant had reached a point where it was unable to meet demand, prompting a declaration of emergency and causing some disruption to local seafood production. To prevent a repeat performance the following year, temporary staff had been hired on to assist the three-technician crew normally tasked with managing water and sewage treatment, allowing more thorough maintenance on the facility’s filtration units. The additional crew cost just over $31,000, but had been effective enough that a similar arrangement is planned for the 2018 season.
Assembly members approved a pair of tidelands sale requests at properties neighboring the state ferry terminal. One request was presented by contractor Brett Woodbury, who had made similar requests for purchase in 2015 and 2016 which was complicated by water access issues for the adjacent lot. That lot was purchased last year by Tidewater Investments, which had no interest in maintaining water access for the property. Tidewater has applied for purchase of the tidelands next to those being requested by Woodbury. Both run against the right-of-way of the state ferry terminal, and Planning and Zoning gave its blessing to the proposed sales so long as the boundaries remained clear of that line.
Woodbury’s request was approved, which means he will need to order a survey of the property. Afterward, an appraisal will need to be ordered by the city, a plat approved by Zoning and the Assembly, and then final approval again by the Assembly before a quitclaim deed can be issued. The same process applies for the tidelands requested by Tidewater Investments.
Mayor David Jack appointed Chris Hatton to fill the vacancy on the Convention and Visitors Bureau, after she submitted a letter of interest. There are still two vacancies on the Planning and Zoning Commission remaining. Assembly members had floated the idea at a previous meeting that they take turns serving as placeholder members in order to allow commission business to continue uninterrupted. Jack reported that the city attorney had felt this would be a bad idea, because of the potential conflicts it would create. Anyone willing to sit on either, one expiring in 2019 and the other in 2020, is encouraged to contact the city clerk for details.
Time was taken for cake and certificates at the meeting as well, with official recognition given to the WHS volleyball team for its second-place finish at State last month, and certificates of appreciation for retiring lead mechanic Jim Lebo and retiring harbor employee Jerry Knapp, who have respectively been working for the city for 34 and 10 years.
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