Author: kfskadmin

An improved boat launch facility at Banana Point on southern Mitkof Island could be in the works in the near future. It’s one of several projects that has been approved for funding under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act.
The law, which was renewed in 2008, mainly helps fund local schools. However, each year, a portion of the money goes towards projects around national forest land.
So far, the “RAC” or “Resource Advisory Commmittee” for Petersburg, Wrangell, and Kake has recommended 250 thousand dollars go to the boat launch along with over a million dollars worth of other area projects. According to the Forest Service, Tongass Supervisor Forest Cole recently gave verbal approval to the latest round of grant recommendations. They include the grant for Banana Point as well as funding for the Tongass rainforest festival and high school shop equipment that will be used to make signs for the Tongass. Matt Lichtenstein asked Petersburg District Ranger Chris Savage for an update on the projects in the Petersburg area.

The union that represents most of Petersburg’s city workers is now preparing for a potential strike vote. Negotiators for the Petersburg Municipal Employees Association say they still hope to avoid a strike. But the union and the City have remained at odds over wages and leave time since contract talks started last February. The employee’s old contract expired in March and, with little progress since then, the union is now asking the state to clarify which employees would be allowed to strike….if they decide to take that step.

Petersburg Medical Center’s expansion and renovation project at the Joy Jansen Primary Care Clinic should move into its second phase sometime in late January. That will take the construction work upstairs in the existing clinic, which will mean some temporary disruptions for staff and patients. In phase one, Martin Susort with Alaska Commercial Contractors and the company’s subcontractors have been focused on remodeling the clinic basement into new examination and treatment rooms, as well as a large storage area. Overall, The 1.4 million dollar project will increase the clinic’s working space by about half. Matt Lichtenstein recently stopped by for an update – starting in the basement

A new drive-down loading dock on Petersburg’s waterfront saw strong support from the local commercial fishing fleet last week and ended up much higher on the city’s capital project priority list. Replacement of North Harbor and building a new library remained the top two priorities on the list.