Running three-and-a-half hours long before even coming to an executive session, the borough assembly meeting on Oct. 22 saw a wide variety of topics covered. One of them was overseeing several appointments to various city positions. Patty Gilbert, recently re-elected to the borough assembly, was named the vice-mayor. There were two open seats on the planning and zoning commission, to which Terri Henson and April Hutchinson were appointed. Annya Ritchie was appointed to the parks and recreation advisory board. The convention and visitor's bureau also had two open seats available, which were given to Brenda Schwartz-Yeager and and Stephanie Cook. These were all approved by the assembly without objection. The assembly also planned to appoint one of their members to sit on the Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Board. Prysunka said he had intended to nominate Assembly Member David Powell, as he had been on the board before. He was not present at the meeting, however, and Prysunka did not know if he was interested in the position again. So he put his own name out there, volunteering to sit on the board if Powell did not show interest in the future. The assembly agreed to this plan, as well.
The economic development committee had two open seats, one of which Bob Dalrymple had expressed interest in. While not listed in the agenda packet, Mayor Steven Prysunka named Caitlin Cardinell as a second community member who had expressed interest in the position. However, he said he had a point of concern when it came to appointing her. Cardinell is the head of the Stikine River Jet Boat Association. He said he wanted Borough Manager Lisa Von Bargen to sit down with her to make sure she understood that she would need to find ways to help the economy of Wrangell in all aspects, not just for jet boats. Her appointment was postponed until this conversation can take place.
Another topic in the meeting was the disposal of a derelict vessel. The F/V Tres Suertes was impounded for nonpayment, according to the meeting's agenda packet, and was essentially abandoned by its main owner. However, it has proven to be a challenge to get rid of. Despite holding an auction and an over-the-counter sale, the borough could not get rid of the Tres Suertes. The main owner did make a small payment on Sept. 25, it is reported, in the amount of $240, but there is still a debt of over $5,600. The harbor department recently received a document from a co-owner of the vessel giving them permission to dispose of it. The cost of disposal will be around $1,000. The total debt will be sent to collections to help the borough, hopefully, recoup some of their cost. The request to dispose of the Tres Suertes was approved.
Another topic of discussion related to vehicles was a proposed resolution to move $80,000 from the general fund to the public works capital equipment account for the purchase of a used replacement dump truck. The borough's current dump truck is 36 years old, according to Public Works Director Roland Howell. It finally broke down three weeks ago, and according to the agenda packet the parts needed to fix it are no longer being manufactured. The public works department had requested money for a new dump truck back when the FY 2020 budget was being put together, in the amount of $100,000, but this was not approved.
Howell said in the meeting that a dump truck was absolutely necessary for their work. He pointed to several leaky pipes and water main breaks that they fixed recently, that could not have been done without a dump truck to help dig and refill holes. Prysunka said he understood the importance of having a dump truck, but he was balking at the price. If they keep taking money out of the general fund for purchases, eventually the general fund would dry up, he said. There was some back and forth between Howell, Prysunka, and the assembly, but eventually the resolution was approved.
One topic that was not originally on the agenda, but was added at the request of Assembly Member Julie Decker, was a discussion on the Institute property. Development of the old Institute property, located near Shoemaker Harbor, has been the topic of revived discussion in the planning and zoning commission, but Decker wanted the assembly and whole borough to relight the fire under the project that has been sidelined for several years. More and more people are asking about what is being done with the property, she said, and she added that they really needed to start thinking about how they intend to pay for any future development.
Prysunka said, during the discussion, that getting the Institute property developed should be a high priority because it really could help boost economic development. A lack of housing was bottlenecking economic development in Wrangell, he said, so getting more housing on the island was an important first step to seeing more business. All assembly members agreed that it was time to prioritize developing the Institute property once again.
Some of the other items on the night's agenda included approval of the parks and recreation department's new membership purchasing policy and user group policy, postponing a vote on a disposition and development plan for the former junkyard property at 4.5 mile, a continued discussion of joining a proposed remote sales tax authority, and approval of a change order for the Shoemaker Harbor renovations in the amount of about $318,000.
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