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High school
schematic approved at 60 point 8 million cost
The long and winding road toward a new high school finally led to a vote
of the Assembly last night. (Monday). After unanimously approving an amendment recording the panel's intent to
limit the cost of the school to 60.8 million dollars, Mayor Sally Smith
read the final motion. The final vote approving the design was 8 to 1.
The lone no vote was cast by Deputy Mayor Ken Koelsch who had earlier
offered an amendment limiting the cost to 50 million dollars. The
amendment was
defeated 8 to 1.
Koelsch says he's not convinced that the school district's projected
higher student enrollments are accurate and is concerned about
overbuilding the school.
Koelsch said he's concerned that overbuilding will take
operating funds away from priorities like teacher salaries and reducing
student- teacher ratios.
Juneau voters will now have to approve the additional 10.8 million dollars
for the school in an election to be held as early as May 13th.
Superintendent Gary Bader, who advocated for the school board's 62 million
dollar schematic design, said he could live with the two percent or $1.2
million reduction. He said with construction belt tightening and some
reductions in overhead, he's confident it won't result in a lesser
facility.
In 1999, voters approved 50 million dollars in bonds for the new school.
The plan, at that time, called for the state and city each contributing 25
million.
Thanks to legislation passed by lawmakers during the last session, the
state will now pick up 60 percent of the cost. That will amount to about
35 million of the 60.8 million dollar school.
The city will contribute about what voters approved in 1999, in the
neighborhood, of 25 million dollars.
Cowan before Capital Chat microphones
Incoming Juneau School District Superintendent Peggy Cowan was a guest on
KINY's Capital Chat this morning.
She said she didn't think the district or the community will notice any
big changes since she has worked as a member of team with outgoing
Superintendent Gary Bader.
Bader is moving to the Department of Revenue to work as the state's chief
investment officer. Cowan takes over for Bader effective February 1st.
Assembly agrees to funding of Herbert
River land deal
One hundred and forty eight acres near the Herbert River will be turned
into park land thanks to a federal grant city money and future
contributions from Juneau residents.
The Assembly approved its r Land Committee's recommendation last night to
go forward with the purchase.
The land is owned by Juneau resident William 'Shorty" Tonsgard.
The Southeast Alaska Land Trust has received a $553,000 grant from the
federal government to buy the parcel. The city and borough will contribute
$125,000. A like amount will come from local donations, fund drives and
grants.
Agenda items approved by Assembly
The Juneau Assembly took action on several other agenda items at last
night's meeting.
Members voted to tear down the JAHMI Building and Colonial Park Apartments
to make way for a 40 space parking lot scheduled for completion by early
summer. The demolition and parking lot construction will cost about
$460,000.
To pay for the project, the Assembly transferred $611,000 from the
Downtown Covered Sidewalk and Second Channel Crossing Design projects.
Eighty thousand dollars is earmarked for construction of a restroom in the
open part of the parking garage facing Marine Way. The plan also calls for
construction of a small park in front of the restroom. City officials say
this will result in the loss of five parking spaces. Completion is
anticipated by mid-summer.
The pocket park located at Franklin and Front will be improved with a
$71,000 appropriation. Improvements include restrooms, lighting,
landscaping and other amenities. A police substation and visitor
information center is also under consideration on the site.
The Assembly approved a bid award for improvements to the Mendenhall
Wastewater Treatment plant. Arete Construction is the apparent low bidder
at just over $922,0000.
Another appropriation ordinance approved, designates $29 Million for
Bartlett Regional Hospital's Project 2005. Voters approved $20 Million in
sales tax for the project in the Fall of 2000.
Black ice cited as cause of accidents
Juneau Police investigated five accidents this morning. Sergeant Ben
Coronell, the shift supervisor today, said there were black ice conditions
on Juneau roadways.
Most of the accidents only involved vehicle damage. A woman who wrecked
her car on the Glacier Highway near Radcliffe, was taken to the hospital.
The Sergeant says she may have hurt her neck which was injured previously.
One of the other accidents was a roll over on Egan at Sunny Point
outbound. A caller said the vehicle was on its side.
Road crews are out, but Sergeant Coronell emphasizes the need to slow down
in view of the black ice conditions.
Quake shakes up Seward and Southcentral
A small earthquake occurred near Seward this afternoon and was felt as far
away as Palmer.
The Alaska Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer says the earthquake had a
preliminary magnitude of three-point-eight. It struck at 12-30 p-m and was
centered 35 miles northwest of Seward.
The quake was six miles deep and was felt in Seward, Anchorage and Palmer.
The center says there have been no reports of injury or damage.
Stevens committee looking into U. S.
Olympic organization
Alaska Senator Ted Stevens wants to know what's going on with the U-S
Olympic Committee.
There have been allegations of ethics violations, frequent turnover of the
top executive's post, infighting, a request from vice presidents for the
president to resign, and a report from Forbes magazine that says the
committee's overhead it too high and spending on programs is too little.
Stevens summoned U-S-O-C leaders to Washington for a hearing today.
Stevens, who chairs the Appropriations Committee, drafted the legislation
that gave the committee powers over the U-S Olympic movement 25 years ago.
International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge today
said he hopes the U-S-O-C issues are resolved as quickly as possible, and
he says the I-O-C is following the developments closely.
Salmon logo design gaining attention
A logo designed to market Eastern Aleutian Chain and Western Alaska
Peninsula salmon is earning international recognition. The logo has been
selected as one of about 600 logos to appear in the book ``Super Logos
Two'' which highlights accomplishments in graphic design.
Juneau spelling champ crowned
Dzantik'l Heeni 8th grader Gabrielle Vance will represent Juneau at the
Statewide Spelling Bee in Anchorage next month.
Vance squared off with Gastineau 5th grader Ben Rupe [ROOP] in the final
round. She correctly spelled castanets and arraignment to win the title.
Rupe will serve as the alternate in the event Vance can't travel to
Anchorage.
Vance competed in the statewide Geography Bee as a fifth grader at
Harborview Elementary and as a seventh grader at DZ.
Earlier in this school year, she won the Geography Bee at DZ for the
second consecutive year. She hopes to go to Anchorage in April for that
competition.
The Geography Bee winners must take a written test and the top 100 scorers
in the state are invited to Anchorage. Her test results are pending.
She is the daughter of Juneau attorneys Ann Gifford and Leon Vance.
Owl that haunts Alaska spotted in New
York
A rare owl that normally lives in places such as Russia and Alaska has
been sighted in upstate New York.
Bird watchers and scientists are flocking to Montgomery County, 35 miles
northwest of Albany, to get a glimpse of a northern hawk owl.
The northern hawk owl is native to the forest and tundra regions
stretching from Norway to Russia and Alaska to eastern Canada.
Experts say birds from the far northern forests will sometimes migrate
south in search of food during the winter.
The northern hawk owl is so named because it looks like a cross between a
hawk and an owl. It's one of the few owl species that hunt during the
daytime.
Alaska Juneau Communications - KINY Radio News) |
