[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6479039,"mediaKeyId","5707360-9ff5abbb6c7ec90eeb69e7fbd73c8899","parentId",5707360,"title","Diesel spill at Point Higgins Elementary prompts extended cleanup; students’ return awaits health sign-offs","audioSeconds",967,"startMs",2930000,"endMs",3897000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5707360-9ff5abbb6c7ec90eeb69e7fbd73c8899&start=2930&end=3897","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5707360-9ff5abbb6c7ec90eeb69e7fbd73c8899/thumbnail_2930000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6479039/Ketchikan-Gateway-Borough/Alaska/Diesel-spill-at-Point-Higgins-Elementary-prompts-extended-cleanup-students-return-awaits-health-sign-offs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479039-4bf35bea0e95819e1737a3613c1bb2b0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771222428&Signature=KkCjvp0J03mI6mecAHRgXvymIqckq8DeUkoslGDKyhQJsifXzjj2yaM8rS4gqBewFWCg4A6mRzjQhfwjtbqQISozTckCwlMZabZtU1ZG~AOqDqCMzA5ic1yhb3Z43RcdTHR8cfPjzpGRbb1oMu58XkBRA9mvc-dAj4gNlvb3970RMPCXhF9RBX~kcPh7BSAzBjQQo1LDZNC0fYANPthj1RlQBqo-lko5T-AGXptaKHS8aP1cuqo674W9QTwNX74VeNOA~2cjcVZ-KfdSv1KjMq1JwOcC~0LAIdE~Nmooad6-29esBg49jnSQ255vUmlA8184HVYhVW4QJa0Si75GaQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Ketchikan Gateway Borough","date","2025-09-02T00:00:00Z","article","A diesel fuel leak at Point Higgins Elementary School triggered a multiagency containment and cleanup that has removed contaminated soil and installed booms and absorbent materials, borough and school officials told the Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly on Sept. 2.

Superintendent PJ Ford Slack said district staff and borough responders have worked together to protect staff and students while environmental testing proceeds and cautioned that the district must follow Department of Environmental Conservation and Department of Health procedures before reopening. \"We do not have a start date yet. I am hopeful it's next week, but we need to check off the … boxes for the Department of Health,\" Ford Slack said.

The borough's emergency manager and South Tongass fire chief, Steve Radeen, briefed the assembly on containment and recovery operations. He described a staged cleanup that moved from downstream properties up to the main retention pond, where contractors are consolidating contaminated soils and absorbent materials for removal. \"It was approximately 2,700 gallons of discharge,\" Radeen said when asked for the estimated volume of fuel released.

Radeen and staff said contractors on site include Nortek, Republic Services, Alaska Commercial Divers and Full Cycle, and that work has relied on heavy equipment and timber clearing to access seepage areas. Nortek has overseen air and soil sampling while contractors set up containment booms and replaced absorbent pads; the U.S. Coast Guard inspected shoreline boom placement early in the response.

Assembly members pressed for details on recovered volumes and timeline. Radeen said initial conservative recovery estimates from a recent Friday ranged \"somewhere between 800 and a thousand gallons,\" and that more precise tallies require contractor reports. The borough placed a priority on recovering material ahead of forecast precipitation to limit downstream spread.

School officials described steps taken to protect staff and students while testing continues: limited staff entry, daily classroom monitoring and involvement of the school nurse during onsite checks. Ford Slack said the district had staged staff reentry for short shifts and would expand occupancy only after public-health clearance. \"They're looking at the eighth as the date that they've given as far as a tentative,\" Radeen said of Department of Health monitoring tied to placement of air canisters and occupied-room sampling.

Assembly and school officials emphasized that agencies remain cautious. Ford Slack said staff were instructed to report any health concerns and that the district would not proceed without DEC and Department of Health signoffs. The district has also been working with impacted contractors and the borough's insurance carriers; borough staff told the assembly they are paying response costs now and will seek reimbursement from responsible contractors and their insurers once fault is determined.

Less critical details: Radeen said some locations had up to four feet of overburden where contaminated soils are being removed, while other areas lie close to bedrock and will need tree removal to access contamination. The National Weather Service briefed responders on a forecast that showed a window of dry weather before light precipitation later in the week.

Officials said cleanup and monitoring remain active; no formal reopening date has been set and any decision about students returning will follow additional sampling and Department of Health clearance.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Ketchikan Gateway Borough - Assembly - Regular","oneSentenceSummary","A diesel fuel leak at Point Higgins Elementary School triggered a multiagency containment and cleanup that has removed contaminated soil and installed booms and absorbent materials, borough and school officials told the Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly on Sept. 2.","taxTitle","Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska","taxId",27492,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6479022,"Votes at a glance: Sept. 2 Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly — grants, claims, consent calendar and liquor-license protest",99,4448000,4547000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5707360-9ff5abbb6c7ec90eeb69e7fbd73c8899&start=4448&end=4547","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5707360-9ff5abbb6c7ec90eeb69e7fbd73c8899/thumbnail_4448000.jpg","/articles/6479022/Ketchikan-Gateway-Borough/Alaska/Votes-at-a-glance-Sept-2-Ketchikan-Gateway-Borough-Assembly-grants-claims-consent-calendar-and-liquor-license-protest","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479022-cd653f01f633caa1b441efd104869390/orig.mp4?Expires=1771222428&Signature=bPYiJeG-T~x6nhzL0syf~2zJX5KoErmKCDSi-Vc-7bnB4DR9T5F6PjRdWS5mIJBxrE5MAGPk4REjkrzPerjSkD2zu662AYPobARslf3EhGmDd7MS~hUTqGEKXpkUd8DFvc9qnE9QH9~gLv~rpGBZQmpsR2GPIOpxsUYqeybiqOYTc7tAs0jdJqk3nYmKzA7YulCkRhiqfuyNVDy29QqS9jduxcRHTE5tlmSgN~llNNPUHLNkKQsbeWcIL2dH6z6T1evo1wWTyzG9IHaTVj2K7VYkg3CxYhMaosl7fxFRA3EsEWHumyDbtgmT98bdTOodxByykceVxPbyu8111kKMTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its Sept. 2 meeting the Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly recorded several formal votes, including an appropriation of federal grant funds, acceptance of claims, passage of the consent calendar and a quorum decision to protest a liquor-license renewal. Roll-call outcomes and key details follow.

Ordinance adoption — South Tongass generators
- Motion: Adopt Ordinance 20-83, appropriating $332,000 from the EPA Drinking Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Program for the South Tongass Water System Generators Project.
- Moved by: Miss Arntzen; Second: Bailey.
- Outcome: Passed, 7-0.
- Note: Staff said the project is intended to be 100% EPA grant-funded and not to affect South End ratepayers.

Acceptance of claims
- Motion: Approve presented claims totaling $2,656,471.34 and acknowledge interim financial statements for May and June 2025.
- Moved by: Miss Bowling; Second: (record shows second).
- Outcome: Passed, 7-0.

Consent calendar (single motion)
- Motion: Approve consent calendar items as listed in the meeting packet.
- Outcome: Passed, 7-0.
- Items included (summary): approval of Aug. 18 minutes; introduction of Ordinance 20-84 (editorial updates to KGBC Titles 1 and 2) and Ordinance 20-85 (procedure for planning approval of deed split lots); introduction of Ordinance 20-87 appropriating $50,000 from nationwide opioid settlement proceeds for distribution by grants; Resolution 3139 (best-interest finding for acquisition of USS 2402 Lot 11 near Mountain Point Water Treatment Plant); award of contract to Copper Ridge LLC for Romaine and Roosevelt Water Main replacement project ($440,500); assembly review of alcohol license renewal for Cape Fox Tours LLC; and the voter information guide for the 2025 regular borough election.

Liquor-license protest
- Motion: Protest renewal of alcohol license number 714SF (Salmon Falls Resort) due to delinquent sales tax and notify AMCO; urge AMCO to withhold renewal until taxes are paid.
- Moved by: Keith Otis; Second: Commissioner Thompson.
- Outcome: Passed, 7-0.
- Note: Finance staff reported unpaid sales tax and a lien; the applicant did not appear at the hearing. The clerk will notify AMCO. The applicant may appeal the assembly’s decision to superior court within 30 days.

Other
- The assembly recessed into an executive session on compliance with a settlement in Superior Court case IKE-25-00217-CI and took no official action when it returned to open session.

This summary records motions and outcomes as read into the assembly record on Sept. 2. For motions adopted by roll call, the assembly used the stated yes/no/aye votes; clerks will file findings and forward required notices to state agencies where applicable.","Key assembly votes included adoption of Ordinance 20-83 ($332,000 EPA grant), acceptance of claims totaling $2,656,471.34, approval of the consent calendar (including a $440,500 contract award) and a protest of Salmon Falls Resort’s liquor-license renewal over unpaid sales tax.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":46,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6479027,"Assembly adopts $332,000 EPA grant for South Tongass water-system generators project",419,4316000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5707360-9ff5abbb6c7ec90eeb69e7fbd73c8899&start=3897&end=4316","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5707360-9ff5abbb6c7ec90eeb69e7fbd73c8899/thumbnail_3897000.jpg","/articles/6479027/Ketchikan-Gateway-Borough/Alaska/Assembly-adopts-332000-EPA-grant-for-South-Tongass-water-system-generators-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479027-ee3282807327e8a4e472c0f755abd222/orig.mp4?Expires=1771222428&Signature=bFhfCC~G-ob-3BqQCNocEji5xW9hPrejtPUICgz2qpqbhyM1Ag3wRkwIeA0zXJYtXwe5CrP4C0smbXofW7XGHxk1YZw~44ttvtOLYYTZxkLAlbVAARAepePDz-GNa3rk8Jgdkend6GFv48y63VMSik-XY4gpgkD5kO9cxw04V6HtbkpcX~viTB4yhy5nGLuDckc4I2YpcqAVMRqeTP6xKouTJAZHs9kYwpmPTPZ~L~qzW3Ost8chSK6Sn7sXJtR1qjW00a5K1k~DIA1QUIlyNMj4k5Qh5NOcMt52mO3Qjm6if7zPdqg-aGtFv8yVjHUpAhdtPhfeUJkRIszeADRZeg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly voted unanimously Sept. 2 to adopt Ordinance 20-83, appropriating a $332,000 Environmental Protection Agency Drinking Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Program grant for a project to add standby generators to the South Tongass water system.

Charlene Thomas, the borough finance director, said the generator project was identified during the water-system master planning process and that the grant agreement was executed in 2025 after a lengthy paperwork process following the original 2023 authorization. \"This project was identified as a critical weakness of the South Tongass water system,\" Thomas told the assembly.

Assembly member Miss Arntzen moved adoption of the ordinance; the motion was seconded by Mr. Bailey and passed on a roll call vote: Arntzen — yes; Bowling — yes; Otis — yes; Thompson — aye; Bailey — yes; Matson — yes; Palmer — yes.

Thomas said the borough will pursue design services immediately and begin procuring generator units and site and electrical work; she added that the intention is to fund the work wholly with the EPA grant and that the appropriation is not expected to increase South End ratepayers' bills.

During questions, staff said frequent winter power outages in the South Tongass area have reduced water production capacity in the past and that loss of generation can create supply deficits when tanks are not full. The finance director said construction procurement will start once design contracts are in place.

The ordinance had been introduced Aug. 18 and set for public hearing; no public testimony was offered at the Sept. 2 hearing.

Ordinance 20-83 now moves into implementation planning; staff said procurement of design services will begin within months and construction and equipment procurement will follow.","The assembly unanimously approved Ordinance 20-83 to appropriate a $332,000 EPA Drinking Water Infrastructure grant for standby generators at South Tongass water facilities; finance staff said the grant fully funds the project and will not affect South End ratepayers.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6479034,"Assembly votes to protest Salmon Falls Resort liquor-license renewal over $97,000 in unpaid sales tax",1210,4449000,5659000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5707360-9ff5abbb6c7ec90eeb69e7fbd73c8899&start=4449&end=5659","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5707360-9ff5abbb6c7ec90eeb69e7fbd73c8899/thumbnail_4449000.jpg","/articles/6479034/Ketchikan-Gateway-Borough/Alaska/Assembly-votes-to-protest-Salmon-Falls-Resort-liquor-license-renewal-over-97000-in-unpaid-sales-tax","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479034-a43fb2906e818e49e7a50ef16faf5fc7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771222428&Signature=mTgSV6D94gCva~ePsxBngPbzkfun0JDKubthZjqLIBRhopwkOSfWj8k-CjNKGr0q6AKrHciUIYAP6lDna8e6B7cfFKCcIJPIyH522Nft~2HXB30~t6JVdBITJ6HUXGk1mIj1mrfDxzsbHGvj-U7H7jhd3tG1qrZXlUzoLM1I~qGBuNKweMCG1gpV-KOp7P1QKpQkF4hw-3LotdTZzD19dezXkntpnz0B-MY9KWjL0jSp0QA-NdMnnnxl-ceEH9S6sboyrQs5UxTbLo8iqtDA6wGsX8Er5KOjW2go~E0SPqKWo5wMjU0JURDksYiKSZMo1~TUI305iYqTErO9ui6ZKw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly voted 7-0 on Sept. 2 to protest the renewal of alcohol license number 714SF, issued to Salmon Falls Resort, after borough finance staff presented evidence the operator was delinquent on sales tax.

Charlene Thomas, the borough finance director, told the assembly that amendments to the resort’s sales-tax returns revealed unpaid sales tax for two quarters that now total about $93,000, and that penalties and interest have increased the balance to approximately $97,000. Thomas said the amount is sales tax only and does not reflect transient-occupancy tax liability.

Clerk's office staff said the applicant was notified and that the liquor-license renewal application had been submitted to the Alaska Alcohol & Marijuana Control Office (AMCO). The applicant did not appear at the hearing.

During the quasi-judicial proceeding, assembly members discussed prior outreach by staff and the borough's past practice of warning businesses that have delinquent tax accounts that the borough may protest a liquor-license renewal. \"When we have a business that also has a liquor license attached and they are delinquent in their sales tax, then we will mention that we can protest their liquor license, and they will come forward and they'll pay,\" the clerk said.

Assembly member Keith Otis moved to protest the renewal under borough code; the motion, seconded by Commissioner Thompson, directed the clerk to notify AMCO and urged AMCO to withhold renewal until the sales taxes were paid in full. The motion passed 7-0: Palmer — yes; Arntzen — yes; Bowling — yes; Otis — yes; Thompson — aye; Bailey — yes; Matson — yes.

The clerk will record findings of fact that the business is delinquent in sales tax despite months of outreach by borough staff. The clerk also noted a county-court notice of default and sale under deed of trust for the company’s properties scheduled for Nov. 7; the clerk said the business and corporate bookkeeping are not locally based and that staff last received an email in March from the applicant.

Under borough code, AMCO will receive the assembly's protest and the applicant may appeal the assembly decision to the superior court within 30 days.","The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly voted unanimously to protest the renewal of Salmon Falls Resort’s liquor license after borough finance staff said the business had $97,000 in unpaid sales tax and had not remitted 2025 returns; the clerk will notify AMCO and urge withholding renewal until taxes are paid.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Diesel spill at Point Higgins Elementary prompts extended cleanup; students’ return awaits health sign-offs

Votes at a glance: Sept. 2 Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly — grants, claims, consent calendar and liquor-license protest

Assembly adopts $332,000 EPA grant for South Tongass water-system generators project

Assembly votes to protest Salmon Falls Resort liquor-license renewal over $97,000 in unpaid sales tax