Author: kfskadmin

Petersburg elected officials last week continued an ongoing discussion about developing more of a fishing vessel services industry. Petersburg’s city council, harbor advisory board and local business representatives heard updates Friday on several public and private projects to increase the number of vessel maintenance and repair options in town.

Petersburg will give up its legal challenge over redistricting. While they were not happy about losing their long-time legislators next year, the Mayor and the majority of city councilors Monday voted not to appeal the case to the Alaska Supreme Court.

The agency that sells hydro-electric power to the Southeast communities of Ketchikan, Wrangell and Petersburg is going to look into the possibility of raising one of its hydro dams. The Southeast Alaska Power Agency is trying to make up for a shortage of cheap hydro electricity from an increasing wintertime demand. SEAPA officials say adding new hydro plants to the southern Southeast power grid may not be answer. The SEAPA board met in Petersburg this month and voted to investigate the potential for raising the dam at Swan Lake near Ketchikan, and will hold off on applying for a new project near Wrangell.

Petersburg now stands a good chance of getting all the money it needs to replace its oldest port facility as early as next spring.