Tuesday, January 20, 1998
Phillips
seeks two-year budget cycle
Speaker of the House Gail Phillips has introduced legislation that would put the State of
Alaska on a two year budget. Phillips says the move would make it easier for
freshmen lawmakers to learn the legislative and budget process, and would save state
agencies time and money in testifying their budget needs each year. Phillips also
says as long as there is no way to drive to Juneau there will be a Capital Move, as
residents up north just don't get the ferry system. She also says the Capital
Building is a beautiful, vibrant place to work, even if the offices are crowded. Phillips
made her comments on this morning's Capital Chat program with Chris Burns.
Local
phone competition still a lawsuit away
G-C-I says it will fight a ruling that keeps it out of the local phone market here in
Juneau, as well as in Fairbanks and a number of rural communities statewide. The
Alaska Public Utilities Commission says the markets are too small to support more than one
local phone company. G-C-I calls the ruling ludicrous, but rival P-T-I says any
change would threaten rural phone service.
Boundary
struggle divides Haines residents
A merger between the city and borough of Haines may avert a legislative fight. The
city of Haines wants to annex 6 acres of borough land, saying the city has grown into the
space, but the borough opposes the annexation. The state's Local Boundary Commission
says they recommend the annexation, and their report goes to the Legislature this week.
Legislators representing Haines say they hope the groups can work out a compromise.
Faro shuts
down again
Low metals prices are being blamed for the shutdown of the Faro mine, located 150 miles
north of Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory. This is the second time in two years
that Anvil Range Mining has shut down the mine, which employs 400 people. The
shutdown is also bad news for Skagway, where ore is trucked and loaded on barges.
Skagway mayor John Mielke (milk-ee) says the ore trucks will continue rolling
through for three weeks, before putting 6 employees out of work.
New Fire
Chief settling in
Mike Doyle is the new chief of Capital City Fire and Rescue. Doyle is from
Littleton, Colorado, where he worked with the Littleton Fire Department for 24 years in
capacities such as dispatcher, paramedic, fire marshal and fire chief. Doyle says he
didn't come to town with an agenda, but wants to just spend time doing a good job getting
to know the staff and Department as a whole.
You, too,
can be a master gardener
If you ever wanted to be a Master Gardener, here is your chance. The University of
Alaska Cooperative Extension is offering a 40 hour course, beginning tonight, to people
with two years gardening experience here in Southeast. When the class is completed,
students are asked to donate 40 hours of their time to the Master Gardener Program.
The class meets Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays at the Bill Ray Center. Call
465-8749 for info.
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