Wrangell Interim Borough Manager Mason Villarma visited Juneau last week with other local officials. He said much was discussed between Wrangell officials and the state leaders during the trip.
“We talked a lot about the supplemental appropriation in ’24 for the $5 million for the dam renovation,” he said. “So working on trying to get that across the finish line is number one priority, the public safety building’s up next and kind of keep on going down from there. But presented the CAPSIS list essentially and working through those.”
He said they talked with the state Department of Natural Resources about putting in an emergency access road. The access road would be from Pat’s Lake to where the state Department of Transportation ends its jurisdiction, at a cul de sac in Wrangell. The new road could be used if another landslide blocks off the southern part of the island again.
He said they also talked about tidal cleanup at the site where a deadly landslide hit on November 20 of last year.
Villarma said that if the borough or the local tribal government, Wrangell Cooperative Association, fails to receive funding for the clean-up effort, they want to resolve the issue with the state Department of Natural Resources.
“Bluffs” will soon be pinned in
Villarma also said the local delegation met with the state Department of Transportation about a few projects planned in Wrangell.
Most notably, they discussed a project to contain the bluffs region. It’s a rocky cliff area where boulders jut out for about a two-mile stretch along Zimovia Highway. Two minor landslides occurred there last week.
Villarma said DOT has a contractor to pin in the “bluffs” soon. The Borough is waiting to know exactly when that project will happen.
Borough officials also met with Sealaska about prioritizing a couple of initiatives to bring forth Alaskan Indigenous culture to the community and share some of the values they presented in Juneau.
“Maybe bleed a little bit of the Heritage Institute here in town and some other potential offerings,” Villarma said. “So working on some cool initiatives there.”
Villarma said the hallmark of the visit was when Governor Mike Dunleavy honored Wrangell Mayor Patty Gilbert.
Villarma said there was a gathering before the State of the State address, where Gilbert gave a wonderful speech that represented the community and first responders.
