6-4-13 Borough Assembly Meeting Report

By Sue McClure

Our first meeting in June began with the usual committee meetings at 3 PM, which included 10-minute budget presentations from each of the four “non-departmental” groups that the borough partially funds.  This included CARTS, the Kenai Peninsula Tourism Marketing Council, KP Economic Development District, and UAA Small Business Development.  In the final budget, passed later in the evening, they received, respectively, $25 thousand, $300 thousand, $50 thousand, and $105 thousand.

During the meeting, beginning at 6 PM, we heard the quarterly report for the School District from School Superintendent Dr. Atwater.  He reported that our end-of-year enrollment borough-wide was at the lowest number in 18-19 years.  Also, there was a dramatic shift in personnel, with 7 new principals, a total of 36 retirements, and 35 teacher resignations.  Health care costs continue their upward trend.  Despite State funding, and the borough’s contribution of $43.5 million for operations, they will be dipping into reserves.

There were six ordinances up for public hearing, and all were passed by unanimous consent, after some amendments.  Ordinance 2012-19-55 accepts and appropriates funds from State Homeland Security and Emergency Management to reimburse the borough for costs from the September 2012 flooding.  Ordinance 2012-19-58 accepts an equipment grant for the Bear Creek Fire Service Area, and appropriates nearly $1600 in matching funds.  Ordinance 2013-15 raises the E911 surcharge from $1.50 to $1.80 to cover costs.  Then Ordinance 2013-19, the fiscal year 2014 budget, was passed after a number of amendments.  Among the amendments was one requested by the Bear Creek Fire Service Area board, increasing their capital funding by $50,000.

Resolution 2013-053 was passed on the consent agenda, which sets the mill rate for the borough property and real taxes for fiscal year 2014.  The overall rate, 4.50 mills, remains the same.  A change was made to the mill rate for the Bear Creek Fire Service Area, by request from their board, increasing their rate by 1 mill to 3.25 mills.  This will go to paying the bond for their new building.

Resolution 2013-037, sponsored by Murphy and Wolf, was passed by a 7-2 vote, after discussion and amendments, which establishes a fiscal note policy, to sunset in one year.  This would require a fiscal note for all ordinances creating new programs or that are expected to have a monetary impact of more than $5 thousand in one fiscal year.

Several ordinances were introduced for public hearing on 7-2.  Among those is one accepting $100 thousand from the State to do work on Jacob’s Ladder Drive, toward Grey Cliff.  After some discussion, Ordinance 2013-20, repealing the 2-term limit for assembly members, was introduced by an 8-1 vote.  There will be two land-sale ordinances at the 7-2 meeting, and one transferring $1673.76 to the general fund from the residuals from the Lowell Point Fire Service Area after it’s abolishment.

Our next meeting will be June 18.  Among the ordinances up for public hearing are two dealing with the anadromous fish protection (stemming from Ordinance 2011-12).  Ordinance 2013-18, sponsored by the Mayor and Assemblyman Smith, repeals a large portion of 2011-12, and amends KPB 21.18, as a result of the conclusions of the Anadromous Fish Task Force.  The other, Ordinance 2013-12, sponsored by Assemblyman Wolf, would basically repeal Ordinance 2011-12 in its entirety, and make other revisions.

As always, I can be reached at 224-6784, or smcclure@borough.kenai.ak.us.  The borough’s website, www.borough.kenai.ak.us contains all meeting information, information on the municipal land entitlement selections, and much more!!  The Seward Annex Office in SeaView Plaza is a great source of information, as is the Seward Bear Creek Flood Board office, also in SeaView Plaza.

Do you love a great dinner as much as the ocean? There’s still time to book your ticket for our June 8 World Oceans Day cruise to Fox Island this Saturday! Call 907-224-6355 to reserve your seat – they’re going fast!

Plants for $1.00 & $2.00 on sale at the Senior Center.                                                           

The center is open Monday-Friday from  9:00AM-4:00PM.

Hundreds of Alaska Shopper’s Guides piled up on the lobby counters and filled the trash cans at the Seward Post Office last week. This familiar scene has repeated over the years, delivered to patrons who obviously do not want it. What a waste of trees and other resources!!!

These mass mailings to Post Office boxes are very difficult to stop because current USPS regulations may prevent opting out of mail delivery in certain, mainly rural, areas. Unfortunately, if your PO Box is not closed, the Post Office must deliver it to “Current Resident” as addressed whether or not you opted out.

But if you would like add your voice, visit https://www.yellowpagesoptout.com to opt out. After entering 99664 zip code, you can choose to receive (0r n0t receive)  the Kenai Peninsula Area local pages, the Nome-Seward phone book, or the Alaska Shopper. Or call Alaska Communications Customer Service at 907-563-8000. Press 1 then 3 to talk to a representative and tell them that this waste must stop.

Ask them to instead send a small prepaid postcard to each PO Box holder well ahead of time asking each which directories they would like to receive. Or figure out some other way to target those who want the directories.

Thanks for your help. If they get enough negative feedback, maybe they will listen.

Submitted by Carol Griswold

PS  Today, the counters and trash cans were full of more Shopper’s Guides and the Great Lander Bushmailer. What a waste of paper and resources!

I would like to thank the Seward businesses that contribute to the Seward Businesses Scholarships for the generous scholarships. I have been attending AVTEC Industrial Electrical program this year and now with your help and your generosity, I will be able to attend KPC for the Industrial Instrumentation course this upcoming fall. This would not be possible without this help.

Thanks, Sam Rininger

Fifteen years of fighting ice and snow on the sidewalk and entrance to the Providence Seward Medical and Care Center is finally coming to an end. Today demolition work began to remove the old sidewalk. In about three weeks, the new, heated sidewalk with improved accessibility and better drainage should be completed.

Temporary access for now is through the Emergency entrance off Lowell Canyon Drive. Park as usual in the large parking lot and follow the signs to walk to the south entrance.  The front entrance should be available by early next week.

Submitted by Carol Griswold

Fourth Grade:   Anevay Ambrosiani*, Selma Casagranda*,  Lucy Hankins*,  Nicholas Katsma*, Samuel Koster*, Calysta Lohman*,  Kylie Mullaly*, Elsa O’Neill*,  Max Pfeiffenberger*,  Marisa Phasomsap*,  Katelyn Sawyer-Lemme*, Sequoia Sieverts*, Reanna Brewi, Lucas Brockman, Gunnar Davis,  Landon Davis,  Jared Dean,  Levi Deboard,  Emmalee Deland,  Hayden Elliott,  Malia Hewitt, Nick Kaiakokonok,  David Knafel,  Neil Lindquist, Amanda McHone, Nyla Muasau, Collin Mullaly, Charles O’Bradovich, Thomas Ooka,  Samuel Paperman, Clayton Petersen,  Angel Purigay, Tegan Retzer, Janelle Sagner,  Oceana Stansel,  Jacob Wendt, Onaangel Williamson. Fifth Grade:  Ian Beals*,  Lincoln Farris*, Tiernan McGrath*, Madelyn Moore*, John Moriarty*, Bjorn Nilsson*,  Joshua Park*, Connor Spanos*,  Jaden Vandyke*, Madison Athey,  Spencer Brown, Connor Degnan, Sophie Dow,  Ethan Forbis, Jack Gunter, Hunter Hollingsworth, Naomi Ifflander, Krysten Johnson-Gray, Braden Lane, Justin McMurray, Kamryn Pack,  Dax Robinson, Allison Rogers, Shelly Sewell, Priscilla Stoltz, Heidi Swearingen, Daisy Terry, Tatianna Tetnowski, Haley Unrein, Malaya Wallace, Gabriel Wood, Seth Zimmerman.  Sixth Grade:   Maggie Adkins*,  Bijou Burnard*, Faith Ivy*,  Chris Kingsland*, Sadie Lindquist*, Brendan McMurray*, Meghan Mullaly*, Karl Pfeiffenberger*, Jade Sagner*, Riley von Borstel*,  Haley Boor, Robert Chappell, Julianna German, Peter Hettick, Linnea Hribernick,  Ashley Jackson, Walker McKnight, Charles Mack, Faith Mitchell, Alexandra Toloff, Amanda Volker, Emilia Whitcome, Eldon Zinis    *Denotes 4.0 GPA

The Resurrection Bay Garden Club hosted its first annual plant swap on Saturday, June 1 at Seward Elementary School. Approximately 15 people brought dozens of plants to the free exchange, and most everyone left with more than they brought. Special thanks go to David Kingsland for his help and to Knot So Fast.

If you are interested in being added to the RBGC email list, please send an email to 4seadogs@gmail.com.

Longtime Seward resident Lonnie Scroggs Sr. died May 28 at Providence Seward Medical Center. He was 85.

Lonnie was born August 7, 1927 in Fairplay, CO to George and Mary Scroggs, the oldest of eight children. His adventurous parents sailed to Alaska in the mid 1930s to raise cattle and sheep on Sitkalidak Island. Lonnie and his siblings made the trip to Alaska in 1938 aboard the wooden steamship Old Yukon. George Scroggs died when Lonnie was 15 years old, forcing the young man to quit school and go to work to help support his siblings. Lonnie took his predicament in stride, saying he just did what he was told and let it go at that.

Lonnie married, had four children and divorced. He met the love of his life when he and Lottie worked at Seward Fisheries. Lottie worked the slime line and Lonnie was a manager. They married in 1976 and lived in a house in Bayview Trailer Court that Lonnie purchased in 1974. They sold the trailer court in 2010 and moved into an apartment above Thorn’s Showcase Lounge. Due to failing health, Lonnie resided at Mountain Haven long-term care facility for the past year.

Often presenting a tough exterior, Lonnie shared his soft heart and compassion with those he was close to. Lottie’s grandchildren, Brandon and Jordan Hargreaves, became as his own, fondly referring to Lonnie as “Poppie.”

He was preceded in death by his parents George and Mary, and daughter Terrie.Lonnie is survived by his wife Lottie, sons Rick and Lonnie Jr.; daughter Cathy; stepdaughters Shae Hargreaves and Patricia Bailey; 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be held June 8, 3 p.m. at Thorn’s Showcase Lounge. Lonnie’s ashes will be scattered on Resurrection Bay.

Test your knowledge of Seward’s History with Lee’s trivia test. If you don’t get them all, you will at least learn something from it!

Master gardener and green thumb Carol Souza has been busy all winter tending to her greenhouses full of annuals, perennials, hanging baskets, herbs, and garden vegetable starts. Due to the cold spring, she delayed opening her Weezingreens business until today, June 1st, to give these beautiful young plants a good start in their new homes.

WeezInGreens is open 9 to 6 pm daily or call 224-3947. To find this oasis of thriving flowers and greenery, turn off Nash Road onto Salmon Creek Road and watch for the signs to the big log house and greenhouses.

Happy Spring!

Submitted by Carol Griswold

Well-wishers stopped by the Seward Volunteer Fire Station at 316 Fourth Ave this afternoon to congratulate and thank retiring Chief David Squires for his 28 years of service to the community. Many remember his calm and steady demeanor during countless fires, emergencies, and rescue operations. He was a  frequent spokesperson and resource at City meetings, guiding policy to make our community a safer place to live. He was a tireless advocate for better safety equipment from fire trucks to air packs for the dedicated volunteers under his command. Always working with limited funding and resources, Chief Squires made do with minor upgrades to  the ancient fire station, his dream of a new station still in the future.

We, the citizens of Seward, salute you, Chief Squires. You have made a positive difference for our town. Thank you so much for caring. Sleep soundly and enjoy your retirement!

Best wishes,

Carol Griswold

Every year a number of Seward locals attend training at AVTEC, and we would like to congratulate our most recent local gratuates! From left to right, those pictured here include:

Cara Osenga, Business and Office Technology
Annie Hood, Business and Office Technology
Kay Arca, Business and Office Technology
Raul Ramirez, Facility Maintenance Construction
Sarah Glaser, Combination Welding
Jamie Fredrickson, Facility Maintenance Construction
Lee Hall, Refrigeration
Mary Ramirez, Refrigeration
Sam Rininger, Industrial Electricity
Anna Aase, Business and Office Technology

Not pictured:
Suzanne Lovingood, Business and Office Technology
Jake Stauble, Facility Maintenance Construction
Marissa Osenga, Diesel/Heavy Equipment Technologies
Andrea Hood, Business and Office Technology

We’re proud of you and wish you great success in your occupational endeavors!

     On May 21^st, Seward High School celebrated the graduation of its 2013 class.  Forty one students received their diplomas.  The evening before, during the awards ceremony, the graduates were awarded local scholarships worth more than $74,000.  The community support given for the graduating seniors is tremendous.  With the cost of going to college these days, scholarships can really make a difference.   We would like to thank the following scholarship donors for their generous and continued support:

 Individual Scholarships 

Active Abilities

Alaska SeaLife Center

American Legion Auxiliary

American Legion Post 5

Aurora Energy Services, LLC                                            

AVTEC

Claire Rose Scholarship/Y South Health

Icicle Seafoods

Jaffa Construction                                                 

Jim Martin Memorial Fund

Kawabe Memorial

Kenai Peninsula Administrators Assoc.

Luella James Memorial Fund

Moose Pass Sportsman Club

Qutekcak Native Corporation

Resurrection Bay Lions

Seward Arts Council

Seward Elk’s Lodge

Seward Emblem Club

Seward Police Officers

Seward PTSA

Seward Seahawk’s Athletic Booster Club

Seward Silver Salmon Derby/Chamber of Commerce

Seward Teen & Youth Center

Seward Volunteer Fire Department                  

Sons of the American Legion

Subway of Seward

Swetmann Memorial

Seward Businesses Scholarships

Apollo Restaurant

Carlile Transportation            

Dr. Michael Moriarty 

Harbor Enterprises, Inc.         

Harmon Construction

J&R Fisheries

Kruzof Fisheries LLC

Marathon Fisheries Partnership

Ray’s Waterfront                   

Resurrection Bay Auto Parts

Shoreside Petroleum  

Thomassen/FV Angelette      

Urbachs

SHS Staff Scholarship         

Gary Benson  

Stephanie Cronin

Penny Duncan

Cindy Ecklund

Martha Fleming

Ronn Hemstock

Sandy Pelischek

Al Plan

Kim Reierson

Jennifer Swander

Carol Thomassen        

Bethany Waggoner

Trevan Walker

Again, thank you to all of you that have invested in the futures of our graduates. 

Kim Reierson

Scholarship Committee

Seward High School

On May 8th, I received a call about a strange big bird in the street by the Seward High School. The next evening, I found a beautiful Sandhill Crane napping peacefully on the grass between an apartment building and the street in a busy neighborhood on Phoenix Road. It looked like a fabulous lawn ornament.

The long-necked, long-legged gray bird with the red forehead and golden eyes did not seem the least concerned about the surrounding asphalt, cars, or buildings. Over the next few days, many people reported it to the ASLC. No worries, they were told, as long as it looks healthy, it’s OK; just leave it alone, control the dogs, and enjoy watching it.

Eventually the majestic and mysterious crane disappeared. I hope it rejoined the other cranes on their migration north from central California along the Pacific flyway to the Cook Inlet area to nest.

Enjoy the photos even though I am quite a bit late posting.

Submitted by Carol Griswold

The Lowell Point Community Council, Inc. is requesting proposals for erection and completion of a 26’ by 30’ metal building extension to an existing metal building at 13915 Lowell Point Rd., Lowell Point, AK.

A site inspection and review of scope of work is scheduled for Noon on Monday June 3.  Plans will be available at that time.

Lowell Point Community Council, Inc., 13915 Lowell Point Rd., Lowell Point, Alaska

Sue Lang Secretary

Lowell Point Community Council, Inc.

907-224-5959

lpcc@arctic.net