|
Helicopter reaches Kaktovik
with power plant technicians
ANCHORAGE (AP) - The Alaska National Guard says one of its helicopters was
able to reach Kaktovik today with technicians who hope to repair the
village's damaged power system.
Kaktovik lost power Sunday when a blizzard packing near hurricane-force
winds drove temperatures to 20 degrees below zero. With wind chill, the
temperature was about 60 below.
Some homes in the Arctic village of 300 have been without power since
Friday.
About a hundred people are now at the village's heavy equipment maintenance
building, which still has power.
Alaska National Guard spokeswoman Kalei Brooks says a Pave Hawk helicopter
and a cargo airplane reached the Kaktovik at about one-30 today.
The airplane was not able to land because of drifts on the runway but the
helicopter touched down in the village itself.
Brooks says the helicopter stayed just long enough to offload the repair
workers and about 600 pounds of portable generating equipment.
High wind warning issued
for downtown and Douglas
The Juneau Forecast Office has issued a high wind warning for downtown
Juneau and Douglas.
Meteorologist Brian Tassia
says Taku winds are in the forecast for late this afternoon and tonight.
Northeast winds 30 to 45 miles
per hour with gusts to around 60 are expected late this afternoon and
picking up to between 30 to 50 with gusts to 65 tonight.
The forecaster says the Taku
winds will result in a dangerous wind chill to 30 below in areas exposed to
the wind.
In addition, he says wind
blown snow from Monday may result in reduced visibility in the downtown area
and Douglas.
The winds are expected to
diminish somewhat Wednesday.
A wind advisory will be
in effect for elsewhere in the city and borough.
Meanwhile, a wind chill advisory has been issued for Skagway, Haines and Gustavus.
The wind chill in Skagway will be to 40 below and to 30 below in Haines and Gustavus.
Home Depot lease gets green light from Assembly
The Juneau Assembly has unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to negotiate the sale of ten acres of land to Home Depot.
The property is part of a thirty acre site near Costco that the city has been using as a gravel pit over the past twenty years.
An amendment added by Assembly member Randy Wanamaker last night directs the manager to also solicit other development proposals for the remaining 20 acres.
During public comment,
business owner Eric Forst testified to his strong support for Home Depot saying it's a rare opportunity when a major retailer wants to come to Juneau without being supported by a landlord or asking for enticements from local government.
Private development consultant Murray Walsh said the land should be put out for competitive bid.
In addition, Walsh said significant retail expansions particularly by national
chains could create a downward risk to the local economy.
He suggested that an economic analysis be completed before any decision is made.
Assembly member Marc Wheeler proposed an amendment requiring a socio-economic impact analysis to be paid for by Home Depot.
He said he didn't believe the city had ever been in the position before, to negotiate the sale of land to such a major business and he'd like more information.
Assembly member Randy
Wanamaker says the socio-economic study required for the large mine permit for the Kensington mine cost Coeur Alaska over $100,000 and took weeks and weeks of work and, even then, there was dispute over whether everything had been adequately addressed.
He said its not fair to pick out one business and require it to complete a study.
Wheeler's amendment was defeated on a 8 to 1 vote.
Terms and conditions of the sale will be subject to a public hearing before the Assembly.
Go ahead given for golf course lease
The Assembly last night unanimously approved an ordinance authorizing the city manager to execute a lease with Totem Creek Incorporated for the development of an 18 hole golf course on city-owned land on the west side of Douglas Island.
The 274 acre golf course has been in the planning and permitting stages for ten years.
Totem Creek Board member Peter Metcalf estimates the cost of construction at between $8 million and $10 million.
Totem Creek has five years to raise the money, otherwise, the lease will not go into effect.
The lease also allows for off-season recreational use like cross country skiing and jogging.
Juneau Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Chris Wyatt told the Assembly they support the golf course.
She said the project goes hand and hand with the organization's purpose and mission.
She said development the West Douglas area is an integral part of Juneau's growth potential and the golf course will enhance and spur responsible development.
The lease, which runs 35 years with an option to renew, will allow Totem Creek to purchase 300 acres of city-owned land to develop housing.
Assembly approves high school bonds
The
Assembly last night approved an ordinance providing for the issuance and sale of eight million dollars of general obligation school bonds
The amount is part of the $54 million approved by the voters
last year for the construction of a new high school in the Mendenhall Valley.
The bond proceeds will be used to fund the project costs for the first year.
The remaining $46 million in bonding authorization will be issued as $1.5 million as general obligation mini bonds in the summer of 2005 and $44.5 million as general obligation school bonds in early 2006.
This project qualifies for seventy percent reimbursement under the State's School Construction Bond Debt Reimbursement Program. However, the reimbursement under the State's Debt Reimbursement Program is subject to annual appropriation by the Legislature.
The remaining debt service, after state reimbursement and assuming the State fully funds the debt reimbursement program, will be paid from property taxes. The estimated total cost of the debt service, including interest at a rate of 5%, is $11,710,000.
The city and borough should receive reimbursement from the State of $8,197,000, assuming full state funding, leaving $3,813,000 to be paid from local taxes. T
CBJ officials say the maximum property tax mill levy needed to fund the local share, assuming full state funding, will be .09 of a mill or $9 per $100,000 in assessed value.
Lemon Creek zoning change okayed by Assembly
The Assembly has approved a zoning change that will allow the construction of a 50 unit apartment building in the Lemon Creek area.
The zone change reclassifies about 5 and a half acres of land adjacent to the Lemon Creek Correctional Facility and Churchill Park mobile home subdivision.
The Assembly voted 6 to 3 to
approve the zoning change from Industrial- Rural Reserve to Multi-Family Residential.
Mayor Bruce Botehlo and Assembly members Marc Wheeler and Jeff Bush voted no.
The Assembly has stipulated that the zoning will not change until the applicant provides a traffic impact analysis.
Fourth shift of officers "enhances" JPD's eight hour shift plan
The Juneau Police Department made the switch from 12 hour to eight hour shifts beginning Monday morning.
Captain Tom Porter thinks its going well. He adds its an adjustment for everyone, but believes the officers will give it an honest try.
He says it will be evaluated as it goes on.
There's a fourth shift of officers that works from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. and overlaps the afternoon and graveyard shifts. Porter says its an enhancement to the eight shift plan aimed at bolstering staffing during their busiest times. As long as staffing remains at current strength, Porter says they will continue the shift of additional officers.
In an attempt to maintain 12 hour shifts, Porter says they tried using an eight hour enhancement shift, but it didn't work. It was also tried unsuccessfully using a ten hour shift.
State seeking permit for temporary asphalt plant for road repaving project
A request in support of a state road project is before the Juneau Planning Commission this evening.
Community Development Director Dale Pernula says its a conditional use permit for a temporary asphalt plant on the state highway right of way. He says it will be near Eagle Beach and will be used to provide asphalt needed for repaving the highway from Point Stephens Road to Amalga Cove.
The commission will also take up a revision of its rules of order to make those consistent with the Assembly's rules of order.
The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in Assembly Chambers at City Hall.
Air National Guard hopes third try is a charm
ANCHORAGE (AP) - The Alaska Air National Guard for a third time will try today to get into
Kaktovik.
A refueling tanker and two helicopters will head to the village today to try and deliver technicians and equipment to repair the failed power plant.
The power went out for good on Sunday after intermittent outages.
The first mission made it as far as Barrow before strong winds prevented it from proceeding to
Kaktovik.
A second mission turned back early today after getting as far as Arctic Village and encountering whiteout conditions.
There are about 300 residents in
Kaktovik, which is in the northeast corner of Alaska.
The village lost power when a blizzard packing near hurricane-force winds drove temperatures to 20 degrees below zero.
Some homes have been without power since Friday.
The National Weather Service says conditions have not improved but should get better by tomorrow.
Alaskans donate more than $700,000 for tsunami relief
ANCHORAGE (AP) - The Red Cross in Alaska says Alaskans have donated more than 700-thousand dollars to help the victims of the tsunami in Asia.
The Alaska to Asia fund was established after Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich's office and municipal offices throughout the state were deluged with calls after the tsunami.
The fund was established on December 26th with a goal of 50-thousand dollars by January 7th. The Red Cross says more than 700-thousand dollars has been donated.
Donations can still be made at Wells Fargo banks statewide or going online at
www.alaska.redcross.org
Fair Share measure seeks to change oil taxation system
Dubbed the "Alaska Fair Share" bill, members of the Democrat minority in the Legislature have introduced the measure to end oil tax loop holes.
They say because of increasing tax breaks under the ELF, or Economic Limit Factor, Alaska's Production Tax rate has fallen from 13 point 5 percent in 1993 to seven percent now, and will fall to below four percent by 2013.
The minority lawmakers say eleven of the most recent 14 fields to come on line pay none, or almost none, of the state's 15 percent production tax.
The Alaska Fair Share bill provides for a more equal share for the state when oil prices are high, grants tax relief at low prices, and allows companies to avoid production taxes if they show relief is needed to make production "economically feasible."
Alaska Department of Revenue estimates from last year reveal corporate North Slope profits exceeded the state's oil share by over $1 Billion.
The measure is supported by former Governor Jay Hammond. He says Alaska is being shortchanged.
Gara's not sure what Governor Murkowski has in mind. He initially opposed the idea, but later said there should be hearings. Gara adds he suspects there are many in the administration to do something very similar to what the minority is requesting.
There's a potential road block in the House with opposition from Oil and Gas Committee Chair Vic
Kohring.
House Oil Gas Committee Chair Vic Kohring has said he'll kill the bill, but Gara says he's confident Speaker Harris will exert his influence to ensure the measure gets a fair hearing.
Gara adds that Ways and Means Committee Chair Bruce Weyhrauch of Juneau has expressed interest in conducting hearings.
The legislation has been introduced in both bodies. Juneau Representative Beth Kerttula is among the sponsors.
Wasilla senator says capital building
idea will spur statewide "conversation"
During a press conference following the convening of the Legislature Monday, members of the Senate Majority were asked about the proposal to build a new capital building in
Juneau.
Senate President Ben Stevens said his membership has not talked about the issue and will address the matter once its presented to them.
He deferred further comment to Wasilla Senator Lyda Green who said some people she's talked to in the Mat Su Borough see it as an opportunity to see if there are other building sites across the state.
She added the proposal does open up that conversation and people from around the state who have an interest in making changes will join the conversation.
Anchorage Representative Norm Rokeberg has again introduced legislation this year asking the state's largest communities to submit plans for building a new capital building in their area.
Substantial change for Southeast subsistence fishing under review
KETCHIKAN (AP) - The Federal Subsistence Board will consider 15 proposals affecting fishing in Southeast Alaska at a meeting that begins today (Tuesday) in Anchorage.
One proposal aims to boost subsistence fishing opportunities for trout and coho salmon.
The proposal by Southeast Alaska Regional Advisory Council Chair John Littlefield would substantially change the federal subsistence harvest regulations for Dolly
Varden, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, brook trout and grayling.
Written comments by the state Department of Fish and Game oppose the plan citing fears of over harvesting.
Former prosecutor looks at
Renkes and coal deal
ANCHORAGE (AP) - Former U-S Attorney for Alaska Wev Shea has taken a look at
Alaska Attorney General Gregg Renkes and his role in a coal deal.
Wev Shea says in a letter to Governor Murkowski that Renkes may have
violated several provisions of the Alaska Rule of Professional Conduct.
That's the code of behavior that lawyers must uphold.
Renkes promoted a company called KFx to the state. Renkes had personal ties
to the company, and also held more than 100-thousand dollars in stock when
he helped broker a deal with Taiwan that would benefit KFx.
The Denver-based company is trying to commercialize a coal-drying
technology.
Murkowski says he's waiting until the investigation is complete before
deciding how to respond.
Accused serial rapist
pleads no contest
ANCHORAGE (AP) - A man accused of being a serial rapist has accepted a plea
deal after all.
Twenty-three-year-old Terral Wright yesterday pleaded no contest to three
counts of rape and one count of first-degree burglary in an Anchorage
courtroom.
Wright received a 20-year-sentence. However, eleven years of that were
suspended. Upon release, he will be placed on ten years of probation.
Wright was charged with raping three Anchorage women in their homes between
June and October of 2002.
Wright was caught when the third woman attacked recognized his voice as the
boyfriend of one of her friends.
Man accused of killing dog asks for
judge, not jury
ANCHORAGE (AP) - An Anchorage man accused of torturing and killing a dog
after breaking into a home has asked to go before a judge -- not a jury.
Twenty-year-old Tommie Earl Smith is accused of breaking into a stranger's
home, struggling with her until she escaped and then killing her German
shepherd.
Police say they found Theresa Keppler's home awash in blood where the
injured animal had run and tried to get away from its attacker.
Police say Smith used knives and a barbecue fork to kill the dog.
Smith pleaded innocent in June. He is charged with felony burglary,
misdemeanor assault, criminal mischief and cruelty to animals.
The trial is set for today in Superior Court. The judge is Philip Volland.
Anchorage hotel tax gains
favor
ANCHORAGE (AP) - An Anchorage hotel tax is gaining support from voters.
A new public opinion poll shows that voters support the idea of a hotel tax
to pay for a new convention center. But the poll also shows that voters
think they could end up footing the bill.
The ballot proposition is expected to be on the April ballot. It asks voters
to approve a hotel tax increase form eight to twelve percent to pay for the
convention center.
The Dittman Research poll shows if the election was to be held today, half
the voters asked about the measure said they would vote for it.
Copyright ©2005 Alaska Juneau Communications - KINY Radio)
|
