The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly meeting on May 19, 2025, focused on two significant topics: a proposed community celebration for Independence Day and the funding of the Ketchikan Public Library.

Darlene, a community organizer, presented a request to use Howling School on Baranoff Avenue as the venue for a July 4 celebration. The event aims to unite families and local organizations through activities such as music, games, and car shows, reminiscent of the Plaza Fair. Darlene emphasized the importance of community engagement and safety, stating that local volunteers and vendors are eager to support the event. She highlighted the need for a suitable location after a previous site fell through, expressing hope that the assembly would approve the request to use the school grounds.

Assembly members discussed the potential overlap with existing July 4 events organized by the local chamber, noting the challenges posed by the influx of tourists. Darlene clarified that the celebration is intended to complement rather than compete with other festivities, and she assured the assembly that safety measures and permits would be in place.

The second major topic was presented by Pat Tully, director of the Ketchikan Public Library, who addressed concerns regarding the borough's financial contribution to the library's budget. Tully provided data showing that approximately 40% of the borough's population lives outside Ketchikan and Saxman, yet these residents account for a significant portion of library usage. She noted that while the borough contributes about 37% of the library's budget, residents outside the city check out 45% of library items. Tully offered to provide further data to clarify the library's impact on the community.

Assembly members engaged in a discussion about the library's usage statistics and the need for more detailed tracking of active library accounts. Tully acknowledged the challenges of collecting specific usage data while maintaining user confidentiality but agreed to explore options for better understanding community engagement with the library.

The meeting concluded with a commitment from assembly members to consider the requests and data presented, emphasizing the importance of community events and library services in Ketchikan.