Author: Joe Viechnicki, KFSK

While the Petersburg borough’s proposed budget for the upcoming year does not yet cut hours in the community gym and pool, there are closures in that facility planned this spring. The reason is a severe staffing shortage.

Petersburg borough officials are proposing a budget that would slightly increase spending for next fiscal year, despite months of discussions about budget cuts. The borough assembly starts its review of the spending plan April 17 and will start voting on it in May. However, it’s expected this budget will have to be revised significantly once state law makers decide on funding levels for municipalities.

Petersburg’s planning commission hopes to be voting next month on recommended changes to the borough’s newly adopted development code. That will be after the borough notifies owners of industrial property about potential changes to allowable uses of that land. They’re also reconsidering a change that allows manufactured homes on residential property.

Local residents noted a large amount of krill washed up on the beaches and in the water near Petersburg in late March and early April. The small sea creatures often wash up on area beaches at this time of year but mostly in smaller concentrations. Many were asking what causes these krill to wash up on beaches and die out of the water.