The regular meeting of the borough assembly is Tuesday, March 11, 2014 at 7pm.

The assembly will revisit the discussion of SEAPA, TBPA and Tyee and the future of energy in the region.

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In unfinished business, the assembly will have a second reading of an ordinance to disband the cemetery committee.

At the last meeting, Mayor David Jack noted that the committee has not met for some time. He also said the committee did the job it was initially intended to do and has outlived its usefulness for the time being.

In new business, the assembly will discuss the recommendation to transfer the operations and maintenance of the Tyee Hydroelectric Facility to the Southeast Alaska Power Agency, or SEAPA.

There resolution makes a few provisions for the transfer of Tyee.

  1. It recognizes the contributions the Thomas Bay Power Authority, TBPA, and the Thomas Bay Power Commission, TBPC, have made over the years in forging a relationship between Wrangell and Petersburg. It recommends that the TBPC be put into inactive status—and NOT be eliminated—in case it’s ever needed in the future.
  2. It asks that current TBPA employees be transferred to SEAPA and stay employed for at least two years. The positions will also stay in Wrangell, rather than be moved elsewhere.
  3.  Wrangell is currently paying 100% of the TBPA non-net billable costs. It asks that Petersburg share these costs retroactively back to July 1st, 2013.
  4. It asks that SEAPA absorb all of the unfunded liability from the PERS retirement system.
  5. It recognizes the importance of transparency among all parties—being Wrangell, Petersburg, and SEAPA. It asks that SEAPA keep electronic records for a longer period of time, that an assembly member sit on the SEAPA board, and that everyone strive for more open and honest communication. It further states that an assembly member should be considered for a SEAPA board seat before any other member of the community.
  6. It asks that Wrangell, Ketchikan, and Petersburg regularly review and update the Memorandum of Understanding as needed.

So, the buzzwords to listen for are continuity, fairness, and transparency.

There is no planned executive session following the meeting.

Tune in to KSTK for live coverage of the meeting starting at 7pm. You can also listen online at kstk.org.