01/28/1988 Work SessionKodiak Island Borough
Present: Lonnie White, Presiding
Ann Barker
Jack McFarland
Wayne Stevens
KODIAK ISLAND BOROUGH ASSEMBLY
Work Session Notes
January 28, 1988
7:30 p.m. - Borough Conference Room
Alan Austerman
Ken Gregg
Tom Merriman
also: Jerome Selby, Mayor Gaye Vaughan, Clerk
The assembly met with the following representatives of the KIB School
District: School Board Members Suzanne Hancock, Bill Oliver, Dave
Herrnsteen and Cheryl McNeil, Supt. John Witteveen and Asst. Supt.
Dennis Nicholson to discuss the following items.
K -HI -C Witteveen noted that the boat is out of water and only needs
to be painted prior to being put back into service. The high school
fisheries and marine science class (13 students) will be using the boat
during March, April and May. This is a 1972 42 ft. Delta. The
assembly would like to have use of the boat for pilot project for raising
King Crab in certain Kodiak bays. The project would be headed by
Dr. Shirley of UAJ. Witteveen thought this would be a good project
and should have student involvement. Hancock though the high school
could use the boat the first semester next year, leaving it free for use
in the spring.
FORWARD FUNDING LEGISLATION The school board has adopted a
resolution supporting forward funding and requested the assembly to
adopt a similar resolution. To be on Feb. 4 agenda.
OLD HARBOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION One classroom will be an
added alternate when bidding. Old BIA school will be torn down rather
than used by city. Drawings for new school are nearing completion.
Construction estimates are over available money and student enrollments
are down from estimated enrollments. Nicholson noted that this building
will be expandable. Assembly questioned Mayor on labor force available
in Old Harbor and he noted that Old Harbor has larger labor force than
Larsen Bay, however, a lot of them fish.
CLASS SIZE AND MORE TEACHERS Witteveen noted that there are 25
new students at Main and East since January 1. The board policy is to
keep classes at about 20 students. Two new teachers have been hired
for Main and East, but five more will be required for next year. If the
budget and foundation formula stay at this year's level, the school
district will have a $350,000 increase for extra teachers, aides, and
custodian at East. When asked about growth potential in the schools,
Witteveen noted that the high school has 525 students, but can
accommodate 700. The junior high can accommodate 150+ more and has
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Assembly Work Session Notes
January 28, 1988
450 now. He also noted that there are currently students at Main
speaking nine different languages and next year there will have to be a
bilingual program at East.
PARKING LOTS Dave Herrnsteen complained about the condition of the
parking lots around the schools and the borough building and the
driveway /road between the junior high parking lot and the armory.
Mayor Selby noted that that area is a utility easement and not a
dedicated road. He added that there is a contractor to plow the
parking lots, but the weather has been part of the problem with melting
and freezing cycles. Those present felt the borough needs to get an
agreement with the National Guard for some kind of upgrade on the
road.
PORT LIONS AND LARSEN BAY SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
The assembly visited the school construction sites this past Wednesday.
They expressed concern over sub - contractors being brought in from
Anchorage rather than Kodiak. It was noted that the Larsen Bay
project is running very tight on the budget and the Port Lions school
is one month behind schedule due to ground water and the gymnasium
fire.
NEW STUDENT FACILITY Witteveen and Herrnsteen explained the ideas
being discussed by the high school student council in regard to a new
student facility with possibly a roller rink, banquet facility to be used
in conjunction with meeting rooms and /or auditorium, student lounge,
restaurant. The students are to be responsible for this facility and the
school board would like to be separated from it.
The school board left the meeting and the assembly continued to
discuss the following items.
FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM Vickie Case and Colleen Caulfield
addressed the assembly about researching the flood insurance program
for the Kodiak Island Borough. Ms. Caulfield did not feel the assembly
had done enough research when it addressed the issue in 1979 and
defeated a proposal to join the program. She felt the borough was not
adequately providing information to the public on this issue and the
residents would stand to loose federal assistance money should a
tsunami hit. Mayor Selby pointed out certain conditions of the program
which would jeopardize existing property values and the ability to
rebuild after a flood. The assembly will research the subject and
discuss it again at a later date.
ANIMAL CONTROL Randy Covey reported on the current "on call"
program. He noted it is harder to control with no patrol and that the
areas with the highest complaints are Woodland Acres, Beaver Lake
Loop, and Monashka Bay. He expressed his disappointment that the
assembly would begin a good program then cut it back as they have.
He believed he spends the same amount of time and effort on animal
control for less money. When asked about the effectiveness of the
ordinance, he responded that it seems to be working fine. The
assembly directed the clerk to file the task force recommendations.
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Assembly Work Session Notes
January 28, 1988
H&H ENTERPRISES Tim Hurley told the assembly that he believed he
had been unfairly charged for inspeciton fees on Woodland Acres,
Fourth and Fifth Additions. He objected to the billing process whereby
bills were one year apart coming from the borough. Some of the
charged inspection fees were as much as four months after project was
completed and accepted. He pointed out specific errors on the bills.
In settlement of his $13,331 bill, he offered $10,000 and added that he
will forget the proposed agreement for payment for the excess capacity
on a lift station. A resolution to this effect will be before the assembly
on February 4.
GARBAGE RATES Louis Lowenberg addressed the assembly on the
proposed garbage rate issue and suggested a task force investigate this
prior to assembly action. He noted that the proposal would increase
pickup loads to $12.00 and wondered why anyone would pay it when
they could easily dump in any dumpster. The assembly discussed
various alternatives of rates and collection and felt "band- aids" could
be initiated now such as billing apartments as residential units and
requiring a dump fee when building permits are issued. Lowenberg and
Ken Gregg agreed to serve on a task force. The clerk will contact
others interested in garbage to serve on the task force.
JOBS BILL The mayor noted that there is $1.6 million listed for
appropriation for rural areas of District 27. He felt such projects as
Chiniak tsunami shelter, Ouzinkie landfill and Larsen Bay spit errosion
were viable projects. The assembly will meet with Senator Zharoff on
Friday and with Rep. Davidson on Saturday.
REGENTS APPOINTMENT Retired Kodiak College Director Carolyn Floyd
has been nominated by Senator Zharoff and Rep. Davidson. The
assembly felt they should be taken to task for not discussing it with
them first, but they would support Carolyn at this point. They will
meet with her to discuss the importance of the Fish Tech Center.
SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET REVIEW AND TEACHER NEGOTIATIONS
Alan Austerman is finding that he does not have the time to serve on
both of these committees. Tom Merriman volunteered to serve on the
budget review committee.
PACKET REVIEW The agenda packet for the regular meeting of
February 4 was reviewed with minor changes. A resolution in support
of the Native Land Exchange will be withdrawn until the assembly has
an opportunity to hear the state's argument against the trades.
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