Author: kfskadmin

Supporters of an effort to form a new Petersburg borough government are responding this week to opposition from Petersburg’s nearest neighbor. The small city of Kupreanof, across the Wrangell Narrows from Petersburg, passed a resolution last month asking Petersburg to redraw the lines and exclude the community of about 25 people. The opposition echoes that of some other residents outside city limits, but the Kupreanof resolution is not sitting well with some elected officials in Petersburg.

A bill requiring that logging on state, municipal or private land doesn’t endanger public safety is awaiting a hearing in the state legislature. The measure was sponsored by Wrangell Republican Peggy Wilson and prompted by Petersburg residents who worry about potential logging on landslide-prone hillsides adjacent to their homes. As Matt Lichtenstein reports, the bill came up at State Board of Forestry and Petersburg City Council meetings last week.

Major sidewalk and road replacement work in downtown Petersburg could get started in the late summer or early fall. However, local residents and business owners are worried about street closures, construction mess and loss of access to the downtown shopping district during the road upgrades. Joe Viechnicki reports.

With revenue falling short of increasing costs, Petersburg’s school board is looking for a little more money from the city in next year’s budget. The Board shared its concerns with the city council Wednesday night in a joint worksession. The councilors were sympathetic, but they also worried about the city’s own budget problems.

While commercial quota cuts and sport-charter restrictions will have the biggest impacts, last week’s International Pacific Halibut Commission meeting dealt with several other issues as well. The Commission set the season dates and responded to ongoing industry concerns over the bycatch of halibut in other fisheries. They also directed staff to study some potential new regulations for next year and they agreed to a review of the entire Halibut Commission process. Matt Lichtenstein has more coverage on last week’s meeting in Victoria, BC.