Author: kfskadmin

The City of Petersburg’s general fund is again facing a deficit in the next fiscal year. That’s according to the administration’s preliminary budget, which was released late last week. It would be the fourth year in a row the general funds revenues would be short of expenditures.

Petersburg’s Smoking Ordinance Advisory Committee made some progress in its first meeting earlier this week the City Council tasked the committee with revising a proposed measure that would ban smoking in most indoor, public spaces. Despite their mixed opinions on the original ordinance, the new committee members were able to settle a number of issues in a friendly and productive discussion. The group still has more work to do, but as Matt Lichtenstein reports, they are well on-track to come up with a recommendation for the city council.

Plans for a new Petersburg library are shifting a little. The library board this month agreed to re-situate the proposed building on its Haugen drive site. That’s in response to concerns from neighboring property owners. Planners say the adjustment will have some affect on the view from the new library, but it could also provide more of a buffer for nearby residents and save a little money on construction costs.

Petersburg has hired Glorianne Wollen as the new Harbormaster. Wollen will take over for Jim Stromdahl, who is retiring after more than three decades on the job.

The city of Petersburg is willing to use a mediator in the contract dispute with its largest union – as long as the union will retract its unfair labor practices compliant. That’s according to City Manager Scott Hahn who has responded in more detail to Petersburg Municipal Employees Association claims that the City is not negotiating in good faith. Hahn spoke with KFSK’s Matt Lichtenstein, who filed this report: