Author: kfskadmin

Petersburg-area residents can now get word of a tsunami warning, ammonia leak or other emergency through their phones, mobile devices, and email. The community has enrolled in the Code Red system, a high-speed emergency notification service offered by a Florida-based company called Emergency Communications Network. Area residents are now being encouraged to register to receive the emergency alerts.

Petersburg officials continue to struggle with a pollution liability insurance requirement for businesses that lease city land. The city has included the provision in all its leases since 2006. However, it’s only enforced it for one lessee who has complained of unequal treatment. The City Council had another lengthy discussion of the issue during its regular meeting this week but came to no conclusions. Matt Lichtenstein reports:

Petersburg area residents will see some substantial changes to the fees at the community gym and pool facilities next month. Without comment this week, the City Council unanimously gave final approval to a new, simplified rate structure ordinance. It bumps the daily rates up a dollar but it drops cost of a yearly pass by well over half. Another big change is that all daily, monthly, and yearly passes will be good for all facilities. Currently, customers buy passes for specific uses like the weight room or the pool or they pay much more for an all-facility pass.
According to Parks and Recreation Director Donny Hayes, the changes are aimed at getting more people to use the facilities. Hayes spoke with KFSK’s Matt Lichtenstein about the new rates this week.

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources is considering a water-rights request for the protection of fish habitat on the Farragut River near Petersburg. It one of many applications for rivers around Alaska. State officials say the reservation of water would not totally prevent development in the future, but it would give the Alaska Department of Fish and Game more legal standing to make sure there’s enough water flowing for fish. Matt Lichtenstein reports:

The Petersburg City Council supports the Tonka Timber Sale project. The Councilors voted unanimously last night to send a brief letter expressing that general sentiment to the U-S Forest Service. But in response to public comments, they also agreed to add some more specific language aimed at protecting shellfish and deer habitat. Matt Lichtenstein reports: