RAC meeting interrupted by snoring participant

The local Resource Advisory Committee, which covers the areas of Wrangell, Petersburg, and Kake, held a series of meetings last week. The RAC, for those who are unaware, is a committee of residents of these three areas that advise the Forest Service on what projects to pursue. There were a variety of interesting and pertinent projects covered in the recent RAC meetings.

In their meeting on May 27, the RAC elected committee co-chairs Kim Powell and Patrick Fowler. They also approved of a proposal to spend $40,000 on dock repairs in the City of Kupreanof. It should also be noted that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the committee has been meeting via web conference to keep everybody safe from the virus. It was in this May 27 meeting that the sound of somebody snoring interrupted the meeting’s procession.

“As we have all been learning the advantages and challenges of remote communication these days, the RAC has not been immune to some of those hiccups,” Fowler wrote in an email to the Sentinel. “Some comic relief was found when the meeting was temporarily interrupted by what sounded like a bit of snoring. The culprit remains unknown among the several staff, committee members, and guests that were on the line. However, we don’t think this is reflective of the exciting projects the RAC is recommending for funding in our local communities.”

As many people likely know, and this reporter can personally attest, sometimes it can be hard to stay awake during a meeting regardless of how interesting it is. In a time where most meetings take place on the internet, from the comfortof one’s own home, this is even more true.

Aside from the “mystery snorer,” the RAC meeting continued largely as normal. The committee heard readings of several projects, yet to be approved. Some of these included invasive plant control for the Petersburg and Wrangell Ranger Districts, putting interpretive signs on Sandy Beach in Petersburg, discussions regarding a Kaatslitaan Culture Camp in Kake, and watershed restoration work at Ohmer Creek.

Fowler added in his email that they are seeking applications for the committee from all three communities in the RAC. Anybody interested should contact Linda Slaght for more information, at linda.slaght@usda.gov.