Author: kfskadmin

The city of Petersburg might consolidate some of its building maintenance staff into one department. Some city councilors have raised concerns over the upkeep of city facilities and they discussed the issue at this (1/7/08)week’s regular meeting.

Petersburgs only State Trooper is leaving town this spring. After a year of service in central southeast, Fish and Wildlife trooper Cody Litster says he and his family will be moving back to Wasilla. He says they love the town and would prefer to stay, but their young son needs speech therapy services that are not available here. They plan to move in march and the state will soon be looking for a replacement. During his time on the job here, Litster has been the only trooper permanently assigned to the Petersburg, Wrangell and Kake area. Matt Lichtenstein spoke with him recently about his work.

Members of the region’s commercial fishing industry are not happy about an effort by the charter fleet to rework southeast Alaska halibut catch limits for the upcoming year. The charter fleet is asking the International Pacific Halibut Commission to change the way it calculates the projected 2008 charter catch. Both the commercial and charter sectors are facing major cuts to the amount of halibut they will allowed to catch as the commission meets this week (1/15/08)

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.