Wrangell voters get to vote this Tuesday on two propositions and decide who will fill eleven municipal seats.
The first ballot proposition asks voters to approve a $3 million bond to repair the severe structural issues of the Public Safety Building. The bond would replace the external portion of the building, which has rot in the walls. The building houses the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles, courts, the jail and customs.
The Volunteer Fire Department and Search and Rescue are also located there, as well as an indoor shooting range that is planned to open.
Although the bond would be a 40-year loan, Borough Manager Mason Villarma said he would not raise taxes in favor of the proposal.
The other ballot proposition is to amend a section in the municipal’s Home Rule Charter. This will allow the city to pay borough assembly members for the meetings they attend.
Basically, voters would vote to remove the wording that says assembly members can not receive compensation. If it passes, the assembly will have to decide how to get compensated, which could take time.
Voters will also vote on eleven open seats in the municipal government. Mayor Patty Gilbert and Vice-Mayor David Powell are running against each other for the mayoral seat. Four candidates compete for two seats on the Port Commission: incumbent Chris Buness and newcomers Tony Guggenbickler, Antonio Silva and Eric L. Yancey. Three contenders are running against each other for two seats on the school board: Secretary Angela Allen, Dan Powers and Vice-President Brittani Robbins. Lastly, the borough assembly has two incumbents running unopposed: Bob Dalrymple and Jim DeBord.
Wrangell’s municipal election will be held October 1st at the Nolan Center from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Early voting takes place until 4 p.m. today, Sept. 30th at the Borough Clerk’s office in City Hall.
