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Juneau Daily News Online

Thursday, February 4, 1999  © Alaska Juneau Communications - KINY Radio News

Knowles announces budget gap plan
   Freezes hiring, travel and purchases
Governor Knowles today placed a freeze on hiring, travel and purchases to cut current spending by over 6 million dollars. GOP leaders wanted the reductions before considering Knowles' plan to impose an income tax and use Permanent Fund earnings to close the state's budget gap. Senate President Drue Pearce said it was a step in the right direction. The Governor said it was the first step. He'll deal with supplemental spending next week and then propose cuts in Fiscal Year 2000 spending which could include some consolidation of agencies.

Fire department talks continue
The issue of consolidating the five fire districts into one was updated by Capital City Fire and Rescue Chief Mike Doyle (left) on KINY's Capital Chat this morning. A meeting was held with volunteers last month after members of the Assembly heard complaints and concerns about how the new chief, who was hired last year, was proceeding with the ordinance approved in 1993 that mandated the consolidation. The volunteers believe its important to protect the identity and autonomy of each district. City officials say the overall goals in any consolidation are common policies and standards. The top goal identified during last month's meeting was developing a five year master plan. The Chief says he has not outlined a long term schedule yet for coming up with the plan. The chief said the individuality of each district was the most difficult for him to learn and identify, and talks between the various parties are continuing.

RIP replacement moving ahead at JSD
The recruitment and hiring process to replace Juneau School District employees who opted for early retirement is now swinging into high gear. Superintendent Mary Rubadeau says the jobs are now out on the street after completing the internal transferring process. She said teacher positions will be filled by the end of the year. Administrative and principal positions will close this month with hiring planned in March. The application and other information is available on the school districts web page which is http://www.jsd.k12.ak.us Fifty three teachers, administrators, principals and classified workers opted to take advantage of the latest round of the early retirement program.

New undersea cable goes into service
Long distance telephone company GCI turned on a one-hundred and twenty-five million dollar fiber optic cable this morning. The cable links Juneau, Anchorage, and Fairbanks with Seattle (right). GCI's David Morris says the voice delay associated with satellites telephone calls will be reduced and there will be a faster through-put speed with Internet applications.

One injured in Egan Drive wreck
One person was admitted to the hospital following a traffic accident involving two vehicles at the Vanderbilt Hill Intersection of Egan Drive at about 7:30 last night. No names were released. One person was admitted to the hospital and is reported in stable condition, according to the nursing supervisor at Bartlett. A fire department official said the injuries appeared minor. One driver who apparently ran a red light was cited. Damage was estimated at 16 thousand dollars. Police believed both vehicles were totaled.

DOT vows to keep roads plowed
Even though his budget is rapidly disappearing, State D-O-T Southeast Regional Director Bob Martin says he will do his best to keep Juneau roads clear. As for talk of reducing the amount of overtime for snow plowing in Juneau, Martin says the subject has come up in the capitol, Martin says but he plans to keep the plows going. Martin says DOT snow removal budgets are based on average snowfall years, and though Juneau is getting more than its share, other parts of the state are not, so the budget should balance out..

Comtech draws a crowd
Alaska Comtech 99 which opened yesterday at Centennial Hall wraps up with seminars tomorrow. Organizer Susan Favro reports good attendance at the trade show, although she doesn't have the numbers for the seminars yet. The trade show portion of Alaska Comtech 99 (left) wraps up tonight at 7:30. The annual event has grown substantially over the past 4 years and has attracted big name computer and software companies like Apple, Microsoft, Netscape and Dell, and the Alaska firms PTI, GCI and Internet Alaska among others.

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