Wrangell’s municipal government is considering new codes of conduct and trespass laws on public property. The move comes after threats, including death threats, were allegedly made against several officials on borough-owned property.

While the situation is under investigation, Borough Manager Mason Villarma says they want to be able to respond to similar incidents in the future.

Here’s Villarma at a meeting earlier in the month.

Recently, there’s been a community member that made some threats against a … series of borough officials, and we didn’t have a whole lot of tools within our municipal code to act upon it.

The assembly had its first read of a consolidated “Code of Conduct and Trespass On Public Property” chapter at their meeting on September 22. They voted unanimously to move it forward to a second reading, public comment and potential adoption at their Oct. 13 meeting.

The standards of conduct within the code “identifies conduct that may result in removal, exclusion, restricted access, conditional access, or other protective action,” according to meeting materials.

Villarma explained to the assembly that it would allow employees to request that people who violate the code leave borough property. If the individual fails to do so, officials could request police remove them on the grounds of trespassing.

Depending on the extent of the threatening or harmful behavior, the borough may impose a probation period on the individual, barring them from returning to the property where the event occurred for a period the borough decides.

During the first read of the code ordinance, Assembly Member Dan Powers expressed concern over protecting residents’ constitutionally protected First Amendment right to express their opinion. But he ultimately supported considering a new code.

Here’s Villarma during an interview following the assembly meeting.

This has nothing to do with people’s freedom of expression or speech or representing their opinions. In fact, that’s all very much encouraged. But if there are serious threats, in this case death threats, made to particular members that serve the public, we need to be able to take measures that are appropriate for those circumstances.

Villarma pointed out that there had been a code of conduct on the books at one point, but it was removed for some reason before his tenure as manager. He assured the assembly that they fully intend to protect people’s rights, but also have a duty to protect their

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Franki Gablehouse said she “made the difficult decision to withdraw my name from the school board race,” according to an announcement she posted on the Wrangell Community Group Facebook page at about 8 p.m. Monday.

“Right now, Marlee needs me, and my 100% focus needs to be on her — her education, her growth and supporting her in the ways she needs most,” Gablehouse said, referring to her young daughter.

“Because I’m withdrawing late and ballots have already been printed, my name will still be shown on the ballot,” she said of the Oct. 6 municipal election.

She added, “Please do not vote for me. If I were to win and then decline the seat, the school board would need to appoint someone to serve until the next election in October 2027.”

In deciding to drop her bid for a seat on the school board, Gablehouse endorsed one of the two remaining candidates: “Please vote for Jayme Howell for school board.”

Howell and incumbent John ReDuyter are the two remaining candidates in the race for a three-year seat on the board.

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Mechel Meek, who lives aboard a 48-foot motor yacht at Wrangell’s Heritage Harbor, has met boaters of all kinds. She says she believes those connections make her well suited to serve on the local port commission.

Meek is running for a three-year term against incumbent Antonio Silva in the Oct. 6 municipal election.

Here’s Meek on her prior political experience.

I’ve never done any public office. I’ve never even thought of it before. But this is such a small community, and I love it here, and I wanted to be more invested in this community.

The nearly 51-year-old moved to Wrangell in the summer of 2024, when her husband Gene Meek took a job as the Wrangell Police Chief.

They had been living in Soldotna, on the Kenai Peninsula, before moving here. Having lived in an RV there, Meek says her family had no issues transitioning to boat life. They found a boat in Douglas, then motored it to Wrangell to set up their new liveaboard home.

In Soldotna, they owned land where she had a small Japanese quail farm.

She continues to keep quail in Wrangell out on her son’s property and sells the eggs at the monthly community markets.

Meek says that community participation and listening are important for public officials.

She says that there are some small projects that could easily be tackled at Wrangell’s harbors. For example, she says the parking lot at Shoemaker Harbor is just a giant mud pit. Her opinion is that scraping it up a bit to flatten things out would be the easiest way to fix it.

We can make our harbors better without throwing a ton of money at them. I think that we can be fiscally responsible and make them better at the same time.

She also says that one of the handicap parking spots at Shoemaker is directly in front of the oil disposal container, making it unusable.

Little things can make big changes for the people who use the harbors. I know I’m not the only disabled person who uses the harbors. There are quite a few.

Meek says the community is what she loves most about Wrangell and that she’d like to see the community take care of the harbor together.

Adapted from original article by Larry Persily for the Wrangell Sentinel

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Antonio Silva was appointed to fill a vacancy on Wrangell’s Port Commission in February 2025, then elected that fall to a one-year term. He is now seeking election to a three-year term, running against Mechel Meek in the Oct. 6 municipal election.

Silva says he’s running for the port commission because he wants to stay involved in planning for the downtown harbor rebuild. He also says he wants to continue speaking up for all fishermen who depend on the town’s harbors and marine services.

Silva says he wants to support sport and subsistence fishermen in addition to commercial harbor users. Here he is from his fishing vessel via WhatsApp.

My goal is to continue to encourage the ports to not forget about the little guys.

Now in his 13th year as a commercial fisherman,  the 40-year-old participates in multiple fisheries. They include halibut, pot shrimp and Dungeness crab, and trolling and gillnetting for salmon.

This is his first full year on his 46-foot gillnetter, the Danegeld. It’s his fifth boat; Silva started out with a 30-foot wooden troller “and then slowly moved up.”

When he joined the commission, Silva says he learned that it is an advisory council to the borough assembly. The commissioners make suggestions on actions they think the borough should take, although he says he feels that their suggestions are taken seriously.

Silva says he wants to stay involved in the borough’s plans to dredge and rebuild the Inner Harbor and other downtown floats, some of the other big port-related projects coming up in Wrangell.

I think Wrangell is on a great trajectory right now, making some fantastic decisions … with JAG coming in and the 6-Mile property getting put to use there, I think all of that is just fantastic.

He also supports the ongoing effort to push boat owners to ensure their vessels are operational, and to remove derelict vessels to make room for more boats.

He says that his time on the port commission has given him a better understanding of the cost of maintaining Wrangell’s port and harbors.

It’s interesting to see the budget and understand where money is coming and going.

Much of the Port and Harbors’ facilities were built with grant money and will eventually need work. He says any heavy maintenance or replacement could be costly and the borough needs to have sufficient reserve funds built up to cover the costs.

Adapted from original article by Larry Persily for the Wrangell Sentinel

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The Wrangell boys team took home first place in Division III at the Southeast cross-country championship meet in Juneau this past weekend, with the girls taking second place.

Continuing her winning season, Wrangell sophomore Jenna Meissner took first in the girls race, with a time of 20:32.2, finishing 21 seconds in front of Petersburg’s Arielle Tucker, running on the Treadwell Historic Mine Trail on Saturday.

In team scoring, Wrangell boys scored 11 points, outrunning Skagway with 21 points, and Craig at 29, followed by Petersburg, Kake, Hoonah, Klawock and Metlakatla.

In the girls race, Petersburg won the team scoring, with 11 points, with Wrangell in second at 19 and Craig at 26, followed by Haines, Skagway, Kake and Yakutat.

Teaming up with Meissner for the winning score, Wrangell senior Alana Harrison placed fifth and freshman Erica Jabusch finished 13th.

In the boys run, Craig senior Aulis Nelson took first, clocking in at 16:31.5. Wrangell senior and team captain Jackson Carney came in second, with a time of 17:59.5, a seasonal best.

Wrangell sophomore Ryder Ritchie also achieved a seasonal best, finishing fourth. Junior Carter Howell came in right behind his teammate, getting fifth. 

Next up for the Wrangell runners will be the state championships at Anchorage’s Bartlett High School Trails on Saturday, Oct. 3. The girls won state last year — the first time ever for Wrangell — with the boys taking second.

The top three teams and top 15 individual runners at Southeast qualify for the state championships.

“Both teams did really well. I am super proud of my whole team and what they accomplished at regionals,” Meissner said.

She is definitely looking forward to this weekend’s race. “I can’t wait to see what happens at state for us, especially because we have a couple of seniors who have contributed to the team in so many ways,” Meissner said. “We want them to leave their last season with state titles.”

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State and regional health officials are urging residents to protect themselves as influenza and COVID-19 cases begin to climb across the region.

“We have been seeing an increase in influenza cases as well as COVID in the community,” said Randi Yancey, manager at the SEARHC Wrangell Primary Care Clinic.

“We have received our supply of flu vaccines, including the high dose formulated for ages 65 and older, and began administering vaccines last week,” she said.

To make immunization accessible, the clinic has scheduled several public outreach events.

SEARHC has scheduled another flu clinic in Wrangell for Tuesday, September 29, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Appointments are required. Call 907.874.7000 or schedule online: https://searhc.org/community-flu-clinics/

Flu shots will also be available at the Wellness Fair on Saturday, October 17, at the Nolan Center.

The Alaska Department of Health recommends that everyone 6 months and older receive an annual influenza vaccine. With flu transmissions picking up statewide, medical providers stress that early immunization provides the strongest safeguard against severe illness, hospital visits and the risk of death.

While annual influenza doses have arrived in town, updated coronavirus boosters have not yet reached clinic shelves.

“We have not yet received a supply of this year’s booster and do not have an estimated timeframe as of now,” Yancey said. “SEARHC will provide updates to communities as this vaccine becomes available.”

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The chamber of commerce is currently operating without a director as board members weigh budget constraints, the events workload and the future direction of the organization.

Board President Sylvia Ettefagh told directors during a Sept. 14 meeting that leadership has not committed to hiring a full-time executive director following the departure of Lora Lee Mason on July 30. 

She said board leadership is reviewing the chamber’s budget to determine what can be done about filling the position.

The chamber spent more than it took in during the fiscal year that ended June 30.

The board has previously discussed director burnout and event oversight responsibilities.

The chamber last year relinquished control of planning and organizing Fourth of July events and games to community volunteers, as well as also turning over control of the annual pumpkin patch event held in October. It continues to manage the July 4th fireworks and royalty ticket-sales contest that raises money for the fireworks and chamber operations.

Those workload concerns resurfaced during the Sept. 14 session.

Board member Jake Harris emphasized that the chamber’s primary mission is to promote businesses and economic development.

To keep operations running through the fall, board member Angie Flickinger proposed hiring a part-time coordinator to manage programs through the end of the year. Under her proposal, the board could then assess whether funding allows the arrangement to continue long term.

The board concluded there is sufficient room in the current budget to move forward with hiring a temporary, part-time coordinator.

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Wrangell Mayor Patty Gilbert is running unopposed for a third two-year term. She brings 16 years of public service experience to the mayor’s seat.

Gilbert is 78 years old. She previously served six years on the then city council and six years on the borough assembly before stepping into the mayor’s office four years ago. A former educator, she spent 23 years teaching math, physics and chemistry in Wrangell schools.

Here’s Mayor Gilbert.

My approach is when there’s a problem, you face it head-on, no matter how difficult it is. I have always lived by the motto that every problem has a solution.

She says a central priority for her remains aging infrastructure, particularly failing underground water and sewer lines that break too often. She says her guiding policy has been tackling at least one road a year.

Beyond road repairs, Gilbert says the borough has completed some street and sidewalk rehabilitations, public stair replacements and generator upgrades at the power plant. Repairs to the Public Safety Building and school building roofs are next on the work list.

Economic diversity also anchors her platform. She says she advocates supporting established merchants, creating steady employment and investing municipal funds safely to generate interest on bond and grant proceeds.

Gilbert points to livestreamed assembly meetings as proof the administration has expanded public transparency, along with redesigned online resources and regular updates from Borough Manager Mason Villarma.

We have a skilled and dedicated municipal workforce. They are problem solvers. They could MacGyver their way through anything. I’ve seen them in action.

Looking ahead, Gilbert says she wants to ensure the town’s future is guided by the people who grew up here. She says she regularly encourages younger residents — including many former students who now run businesses and raise families in town — to step into civic roles on the assembly, the port commission and the planning and zoning commission.

Adapted from original article by Jonathan Dawe for the Wrangell Sentinel

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School Board President John DeRuyter was originally elected to the school board three years ago after spending two years on an advisory committee. Over the past year, he stepped into the president’s chair formerly held by David Wilson.

DuRuyter is now seeking reelection to another three-year term. He is one of three candidates competing for a single open position on the ballot.

He says his platform is centered on academic achievement, expanded vocational opportunities and strong fiscal stewardship.

Here’s DeRuyter on the school board’s recent wins.

I am very excited about moving forward with the significant successes we’ve had this last year. We have a superintendent who is so engaged with our community, our students, and our faculty, and who sees academic excellence at all levels as the goal.

DeRuyter says some of those wins include the district’s high 2025 statewide testing scores. Including district students ranking first-place statewide in mathematics and sixth in reading. The tests covered grades three through nine.

As his first term draws to a close, he says he wants to keep the momentum going.

He credits a collaborative school culture for helping produce those outcomes, praising the administration, teachers and families for working together toward higher academic standards.

According to DeRuyter, a major factor behind those improvements has been aggressive pursuit of grants, led by Superintendent Joshua Garrett.

He says the grants provide resources to strengthen foundational courses in mathematics, science and language arts. While also allowing them to introduce new classroom tools like emerging artificial intelligence technologies.

A comprehensive public education must support students aiming for four-year degrees as well as those pursuing creative arts or career technical fields, he says.

DeRuyter says he also wants the district to establish stronger bridges into vocational trades. This could help students graduate as certified electricians, welders or qualified candidates for regional apprenticeships.

Our community has a reservoir of skilled tradesmen.

Explaining that connecting experienced craftspeople with student vocational training will help expand specialized coursework and overcome staffing limits.

Adapted from original article by Jonathan Dawe for the Wrangell Sentinel

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Tuesday, September 22, 2026 Location: Borough Assembly Chambers
6:00 PM

1. CALL TO ORDER
   a. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE led by Assembly Member Powell
   b. ROLL CALL
2. CEREMONIAL MATTERS – None.
3. PERSONS TO BE HEARD
   a. CORRESPONDENCE from Trident Seafoods regarding Wrangell Fire Department
4. AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA
5. CONFLICT OF INTEREST
6. CONSENT AGENDA
   MOTION ONLY: Move to Approve the Consent Agenda, as submitted.
   a. Minutes from the September 8, 2026 Regular Borough Assembly meeting
   b. Final Plat of a replat of Lot A-1 A and Lot A of the Prunella Subdivision and Lot C-1 of WCA
   Replat, creating Lots 1, 2, and 3, of the Zimovia WCA Replat No 2., located within USS 3823 and
   3753, owned and requested by Wrangell Cooperative Association
   c. Final Plat review of a subdivision of Lot 13, USS 2589, according to Plat No. 29-20, zoned
   Waterfront Development, creating lots 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D, owned and requested by Brett
   Martin and Michael Duman
   d. Easement Vacation request by MiCony LLC to vacate utility and sewer easements along Peninsula
   Street affecting Lot A-1, Block 84, GPV Tidelands Replat, according to Plat No. 2023-2
   e. CORRESPONDENCE: School Board Minutes from the June 19th Regular and July 9th Special
   Meetings
7. BOROUGH MANAGER’S REPORT
   a. Borough Manager’s Report
   b. Library Report
   c. Economic Development Report
8. BOROUGH CLERK’S REPORT
   a. Borough Clerk’s Report
9. MAYOR AND ASSEMBLY BUSINESS
10. MAYOR AND ASSEMBLY APPOINTMENTS – None.
11. PUBLIC HEARING – None.
12. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
13. NEW BUSINESS
    a. RESOLUTION No. 09-26-2077 OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE CITY AND BOROUGH OF
    WRANGELL, ALASKA, AMENDING THE FY2026 BUDGET TO APPROPRIATE $2,000 FROM BIRD
    FEST FUND RESERVES AND $87,978 FROM INDUSTRIAL CONSTRUCTION FUND RESERVES FOR
    ADDITIONAL FY2026 EXPENDITURES
    b. RESOLUTION No. 09-26-2078 OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE CITY AND BOROUGH OF
    WRANGELL, ALASKA, AMENDING THE FY2027 ANNUAL BUDGET IN THE PORT FUND BY
    APPROPRIATING $50,000 FOR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH DAMAGE TO THE CITY DOCK
    DOLPHIN
    c. Approval of a Professional Services Agreement with PND Engineers for the Wrangell Harbor
    Basin Project
    d. ORDINANCE NO. 1106 OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE CITY AND BOROUGH OF WRANGELL,
    ALASKA, REPEALING AND CONSOLIDATING TITLE 10, CHAPTER 15 (“TRESPASS ON BOROUGH
    PROPERTY,” AS ENACTED BY ORDINANCE 1048), AND REPLACING IT WITH A SINGLE,
    CONSOLIDATED CHAPTER 10.15 ENTITLED “CODE OF CONDUCT AND TRESPASS ON PUBLIC
    PROPERTY,” FOR THE PURPOSE OF UPDATING AND HARMONIZING THE WRANGELL
    MUNICIPAL CODE
    e. ORDINANCE NO. 1107 OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE CITY AND BOROUGH OF WRANGELL,
    ALASKA, AMENDING SECTION 1.20.050 – MINOR OFFENSE FINE SCHEDULE IN CHAPTER 1.20
    – GENERAL PENALTY, IN THE WRANGELL MUNICIPAL CODE
    f. ORDINANCE NO. 1108 OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE CITY AND BOROUGH OF WRANGELL,
    ALASKA, ADDING CHAPTER 13.24 – NAMING OF PUBLIC FACILITIES, TO TITLE 13 – STREETS,
    SIDEWALKS, AND PUBLIC PLACES, OF THE WRANGELL MUNICIPAL CODE
14. ATTORNEY’S FILE – Available for Assembly review in the Borough Clerk’s office
15. EXECUTIVE SESSION
    a. Executive Session: Manager Performance and Goals Review
16. ADJOURNMENT

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