Author: kfskadmin

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.

The City of Petersburg has settled a lawsuit over an alleged sexual assault at the Mountain View Manor assisted living facility. The guardians of a mentally-disabled Petersburg man brought the civil suit against the city in 2007, following allegations that the man was assaulted by another resident of the facility in 2005. As Joe Viechnicki reports, an agreement between the two sides will mean a 100-thousand dollar payment to Raymond Sheppard in return for dropping the case. Joe Viechnicki reports.