The Wrangell Borough Assembly has a lot of pressing issues to discuss Tuesday evening.
This will be a final meeting for assembly members to approve selling the old Wrangell Medical Center to Georgia resident, Wayne Johnson. He said he wants to turn it into housing units. Wrangell’s Economic Development Board and Planning and Zoning Commission supports the sale. The property is expected to be sold for $200,000, which is far below the appraised value of $830,000. But the Borough Manager, Mason Villarma, said the sale will save the Borough around $100,000 each year in maintenance costs.
The medical center sale is contingent on Johnson purchasing the six adjacent lots for the appraised value of $316,800.
If there are no major protests for selling the six lots, then the assembly is expected to sell the properties to Johnson. The Borough hasn’t heard much opposition so far. But resident Kelly Decker did submit a letter opposing the sale. She said the city would be giving away the property to an investor who wants to build unreasonably priced housing.
Other agenda items
Assembly members will also discuss long and short-term tideland lease agreements to Channel Construction. The company wants to rent an additional six acres and the old mechanics building at the six-mile mill site. The company plans to construct two shops for equipment and construction. It will also store parts and work on repairs at the existing shop.
Other agenda items include committing close to $240,000 from the Port and Harbor fund to help replace the Shoemaker Boat Launch Ramp, proposing a new permanent job for a senior project manager and approving union pay negotiations.
One hotly debated topic that might come before the Assembly is whether or not boats moored in the harbor need to have insurance. Although the topic isn’t on the agenda, the Assembly is expected to hear from community members about it.
The Borough received a letter from Don Pickett who expressed his concern on why insurance should be a must for Wrangell harbors.
The Wrangell Borough Assembly will hold its regular meeting on April 9 at 6 p.m. in the Borough Assembly Chambers at Wrangell City Hall.
You can listen to the live broadcast of the Wrangell Borough Assembly meeting on KSTK-FM 101.7, or stream online at KSTK.org.
