Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Operations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves body-camera contract, manager agreement and protests liquor license; schedules public hearing
Summary
At its June 18 meeting the Ketchikan City Council authorized a five-year Axon body-camera contract, approved a contract amendment for dam inspections, approved a manager employment agreement, advanced a firefighting-equipment lease ordinance to second reading, and voted to protest a liquor-license renewal for Bush Pilots Lounge.
Ketchikan's City Council on June 18 approved a slate of operational and contract actions, from police equipment to utility contracts, and scheduled a public hearing to consider a protested liquor-license renewal.
Budget and contracts: The council approved budget transfers totaling $75,000 to cover police software services and authorized Contract 26-41 with Axon Enterprise Inc. for $449,840 over five years to provide body-worn camera technology and related software. Council also approved an amendment to Contract 23-29 with Schnabel Engineering for periodic dam safety inspections and Lower Silvis Dam concrete inspection work (approximately $146,039) and authorized corresponding budget transfers.
Employment: Council approved the employment agreement for the city manager/KPU general manager (Abner Hogue) and directed Mayor Bob Severson to execute the contract; the motion passed on roll call 4-3.
Finance and procurement: On first reading the council approved Ordinance 26-20-32 to enter a lease-financing agreement to acquire firefighting equipment and to exempt the financing from certain procurement procedures; staff said approving the ordinance now helps lock an interest rate (reported at 4.88%) and that the second reading is scheduled for July 2.
Licenses and compliance: The council voted 5-2 to protest the renewal of restaurant eating place liquor license No. 6024 (Bush Pilots Lounge) under Ketchikan Municipal Code 5.20.050B citing outstanding fire-safety corrections and unpaid sales-tax remittance; the council scheduled a public hearing for 7 p.m. on July 2, 2026, and directed certified notice to the licensee.
Next steps: Several items will return for follow-up, including a staff report requested to investigate the State of Alaska press release regarding Gold Rush Jewelers and additional financial modeling and union outreach on the vacation payout policy discussed at length during the meeting.
