The Petersburg Borough Assembly today will take an initial vote on whether to make changes to the Borough’s budget.
One change would complete the purchase of new safety equipment for the volunteer fire department. The Assembly approved the purchase last month, agreeing to spend $76,327 from the Borough’s general fund reserves
The Borough recently got $722,484 in special revenue to use for schools and roads. The federal government reauthorized the Secure Rural Schools fund last December. The state told the Petersburg Borough last month that it had been awarded the retroactive payment for the federal fiscal year of 2024. The proposed Borough budget change, accounting for that revenue, says most of the money will go toward the school, and the rest for roads.
The dry sprinkler system in the Elderly Housing facility at Mountain View Manor is 44 years old and has aged out of use. It’s for fire protection — a valve holds back water and the pipe is filled with air until heat activates the sprinkler. However, a major air pressure leak in the system was discovered on New Year’s Eve, and technicians from Ketchikan determined the old, failing parts would need to be replaced. A proposed budget change would allocate $25,000 to fix the dry sprinkler system.
The last proposed change budgets for a $275,000 expense to repair wastewater infrastructure: part of the outfall line, which discharges wastewater from Petersburg’s treatment plant into Frederick Sound, has broken and must be repaired in order to comply with an Environmental Protection Agency permit. Reserves would be used for the project’s initial expense and reimbursed with loan proceeds, according to the ordinance’s language. The budget change also adds $275,000 in loan funding from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation for the project.
One of four resolutions on today’s assembly agenda would authorize the Borough to pursue that loan. The $275,000 would come from the Alaska Clean Water Fund. That dollar amount is within the wastewater debt voters approved in 2024.
There are several other issues for the Assembly to consider today — including land sales for housing, bike path maintenance, and more. The Petersburg Borough Assembly meets today at 12 noon in the Assembly Chambers. KFSK will broadcast that meeting live.
