Several Petersburg residents told the borough assembly on Oct. 20, 2025 that they had learned only recently about proposed broadband towers that Title Network (a project connected with Tlingit Haida) plans to place on Mid‑Island and other sites, and they asked the borough to schedule more public engagement and consider local siting restrictions.

Micah Klein, a Petersburg resident, told the assembly the project was announced at a daytime meeting that many residents did not attend and requested a public evening presentation and a preceding work session so residents could prepare questions. Klein said one proposed site is borough land near the fire hall and another is in residential areas such as Pappke’s Landing; he raised health, aesthetics and tourism concerns and asked the borough to invite Title Network to a 6 p.m. meeting and to hold a work session so the community can “put our heads together and state what our questions and concerns are.”

Judy Omer, who said she has background in holistic kinesiology, said the Title Network project stems from a $50 million federal grant the Tlingit Haida organization received in 2022 and warned that the towers could be leased to other carriers and upgraded later. She said communities across Alaska are raising ordinance-based objections and urged Petersburg to craft protections for schools, childcare centers and assisted-living facilities. Jackie Tyson, a neighborhood resident, said one proposed tower location would be roughly 200 feet from her home and less than 50 feet from another property and asked the borough to adopt distancing rules, citing examples such as a quarter-mile buffer in some jurisdictions.

Assembly response: Assemblymember Jeff Mucci said he will place a discussion item on the Nov. 3 meeting agenda to consider a work session for Nov. 13 and possibly a public forum with Title Network. The mayor and staff said written materials submitted by residents will be included in the meeting record. No formal permits or siting rules were enacted at the Oct. 20 meeting.

Context: Speakers identified the project manager as Chris (or Cropley) and said Title Network describes the towers as broadband infrastructure. Residents and commenters said they want ordinance language and more transparent local process before towers are sited in residential neighborhoods.

Provenance: The item arose under “persons to be heard unrelated to the agenda” and during assembly member comments on Oct. 20, 2025.