Author: kfskadmin

Petersburg customers will see higher water bills this month. The city council finalized the water-rate increase Monday. Charges will go up 25 percent this month and another 15 percent in July. The final rate-hike is smaller than the original measure recommended by the city’s staff and advisory board. That ordinance would have resulted in a 62 percent hike in service fees and a 41 percent hike in the commodity charge over the next three years. In order to compensate for the smaller increase, the amended ordinance also includes a controversial provision forgiving the utility’s debt to the city’s general fund. The idea prompted some public opposition and resulted in a split council vote.

Petersburg’s senior housing facility is fully-staffed and almost fully-occupied. There are no vacancies at Mountain View Manor Assisted-Living and just three openings on the independent-living side.
The manor also has a new director. Registered nurse Brie Hayes took over late this fall from long-time elderly housing manager Nancy Reed, who has since retired. Hayes was originally hired as the first director of nursing services for the new assisted –living wing in the summer of 2005.
The City Council approved her hire as the overall Manor director this fall. Along with patient care, communication with family members and coordination with the hospital clinic, Hayes is also responsible for budgeting, staffing and making sure the facility meets government standards and requirements.
The Manor also now has a committee to help address resident needs and concerns. That includes Manor residents June Vick and Bev Hammer as well as food-service board member Jeanie Norheim, City Councilor Melinda Hofstad and Brie Hayes. Matt Lichtenstein stopped by the Manor this week to talk with Hayes about her work and some of the changes at the senior-housing complex.

One of three men accused of the 2005 murder of Michael Gerber in Petersburg was sentenced Friday for a much lesser offense.
42-year-old Tom Evenson was sentenced to serve five years in prison after a no contest plea to felony assault. It was part of an agreement Evenson made with the state rather than face a third murder trial. His first two trials had ended with hung juries. The victims mother, Ramona Gerber, saw the deal as far too lenient and unjust. She urged the court to reconsider during Fridays sentencing hearing. Evenson had agreed to the deal back in September, but on Friday he argued the sentence was too long.

The effort to build a new Library in Petersburg got a major boost last week. The local Masonic Lodge presented library officials with a 25-thousand dollar check. The donation will go towards the library building construction fund. Library supporters are hopeful it will prompt other donations to the project.

Petersburg Medical Center will see some major staff turnover and change this year in its doctors and nurses. The hospital has a new director of nursing, Jennifer Bryner, who will replace Sandy Tacket. Tacket is moving to Tucson after 14 years as director. Bryner has worked for the hospital since 1996. Meanwhile, after working in South Africa for a year, doctor John Bergren and his family return to town this month. At the same time, doctor MarK Tucillo was called-up to serve a second tour of duty as a lt. Col with the Alaska Air National Guard in Afghanistan. Tucillo returns to the hospital in March….but after his contract expires in may, Tucillo and his family will move to the anchorage area. As the new year begins, the hospital is looking to hire more permanent nurses as well as a new doctor to fill Tucillo’s position. Administrator John Bringhurst recently spoke with Matt Lichtenstein.