(Sage Smiley / KSTK)
Each year, Wrangell leverages millions of dollars in grant funds for infrastructure projects around town. At the Wrangell Borough Assembly meeting on Tuesday evening (October 24), the assembly will hold a public hearing on a list of priority projects for the coming year.
The list is used for a variety of grant applications, including the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Suggested priority projects are renovations to borough and school buildings, sidewalk and road projects, harbor replacements, and outdoor trail and playground projects.
At the Tuesday meeting, the assembly will also consider negotiated contract extensions for Finance Director Mason Villarma and Borough Clerk Kim Lane.
Villarma will serve as interim borough manager beginning November 1, as the current borough manager Jeff Good wraps up his time as Wrangell manager. According to the contract amendment, Villarma will be paid $10,000 per month for the position on top of his current salary as finance director. The contract amendment doubles his current salary.
Borough Clerk Kim Lane will serve as deputy interim borough manager beginning November 1 as well. She’ll be paid $2,700 per month in addition to her contract as borough clerk.
Both contract amendments will expire at the end of June next year. In the meantime, the borough is actively soliciting applications for a longer-term borough manager.
Wrangell’s Assembly will also consider a couple of big purchases and contracts.
One is a new vacuum truck for the community, which is used by Public Works and various utilities in town for repairs and maintenance work. A new truck will cost almost $522,000, and could take about a year to procure to the island.
The assembly is set to pursue reassessments of property values in town as well. Last year, assessed property values in the borough increased by almost 50% on average. The assembly will consider a $48,000 contract for updated assessments of all of the properties in the borough.
Wrangell is getting ready to enter negotiations with the local International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union (#1547). The assembly will appoint two of its members to represent the borough during negotiations.
Other agenda items include a borough proclamation in honor of Native American Heritage Month (November), recognizing the sovereignty of local tribal government the Wrangell Cooperative Association, and potential appointments to local advisory boards and commissions.
Before the regular meeting, Wrangell’s assembly will host a workshop and presentation on regional hydroelectric provider Southeast Alaska Power Agency (SEAPA).
KSTK will air the regular borough assembly meeting beginning at 7 p.m. on 101.7 FM and online at KSTK.org.
View the full agenda packet for the meeting here. Anyone wishing to speak at the meeting can sign up on the “Persons to be Heard” sheet located at City Hall before the meeting.
10/25: This article has been updated with corrected details about the nature of the CDBG program and to clarify some language about the departure of current borough manager Jeff Good.
Get in touch with KSTK at news@kstk.org or (907) 874-2345.
