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Votes at a glance: key assembly actions Oct. 6 — property, elections, contracts
Summary
At its Oct. 6 meeting the Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly adopted multiple ordinances and routine items, including surplusing a tax-foreclosed lot in Saxman, funding diesel-spill cleanup, and appropriating money for a special election tied to certified recall petitions.
The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly on Oct. 6 took several formal actions. This summary lists each adopted ordinance, major contract/consent calendar items, and vote outcomes recorded at the meeting.
Ordinance 20-86 — Tax-foreclosed property declared surplus and listed: The assembly adopted Ordinance 20-86 declaring Lot 10, Block 32, USS 1652 (Bear Clan Street, City of Saxman) as surplus and setting a listing price of $37,200. Assistant manager Cynna Smith told the assembly the borough acquired the parcel by clerk's deed on Dec. 3, 2024, after the taxpayer was four years behind in taxes; staff said the ordinance complies with Ketchikan Gateway Borough Code (KGBC) provisions and Alaska statute. The motion to adopt was moved by Assembly Member Arntzen and seconded by Assembly Member Thompson; the assembly recorded unanimous approval and passed the ordinance.
Ordinance 20-88 — Appropriation for Point Higgins diesel-spill remediation: The assembly adopted Ordinance 20-88, appropriating $2,400,000 from general-fund reserves to fund response, remediation and long-term mitigation for the Aug. 15 diesel spill at Point Higgins Elementary School. Finance Director Charlene Thomas presented the item; the borough will pursue reimbursement from insurers and may pursue costs from contractors if needed. The motion was moved by Assembly Member Bailey, seconded by Assembly Member Palmer, and passed by roll call.
Ordinance 20-89 — Special election appropriation: The assembly adopted Ordinance 20-89, appropriating $30,200 from general-fund reserves to cover special election costs tied to certified recall petitions and a November 18 special election (ballot printing, equipment programming, poll-worker pay, notices, and related expenses). The borough clerk explained absentee/early voting windows and the planned canvass and certification timeline. Assembly Member Otis moved the ordinance; Assembly Member Palmer seconded it; the motion passed.
Acceptance of claims and interim financials: The assembly approved presented claims totaling $7,610,287 and acknowledged interim financial statements for July 2025. The motion to approve claims was moved by Assembly Member Thompson and passed.
Consent calendar (approved in one motion): The assembly approved the consent calendar, which included: approval of minutes (09/15/2025), introduction of Ordinance 20-90 (amending FY '26 budget with a $125,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund grant for Lund Street Park improvements), Resolution 3147 (ratifying a Port Infrastructure Development Program grant application for $25,643,675 toward the Saxman Seaport AMHS ferry dock and terminal), contract award to JAG for dry-docking and passenger-vessel inspection of the motor vessel Oro Freeman, an agreement with the Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District for hot-lane transformer replacement design and inspection services, and a contract amendment with R&M Engineering for Roosevelt Drive water main replacement design and inspection services.
New business item 9A: The assembly approved a separate motion (reported above) to cancel the manager's authority to sign a lease with the Shellfish Growers Cooperative for failure to provide requested information; staff said the RFP was issued Feb. 28 and that multiple deadline extensions and requests for documentation had not produced the full packet required for lease execution.
How the assembly voted: The clerk recorded roll-call votes for each ordinance; items listed above were adopted. Where roll calls were recorded in the transcript, the assembly recorded unanimous or majority affirmative votes as indicated.
Ending: Staff will proceed with the cleanup work funded by Ordinance 20-88, prepare for the special election tied to Ordinance 20-89 and the Nov. 18 ballot, and continue standard contracting and grant activities reflected in the consent calendar. Assembly members requested follow-up details on insurance recoveries, reserve balances and next steps for the lease parcel at 8900 South Tongass Highway.
