PUBLIC SERVICES DEPARTMENT REPORT TO

Northwest Arctic Borough

Mayor & Assembly

 

April 12, 2005

 

 

Capital Projects

 

Buckland Water & Sewer Project   The Department received a call from the City Administrator, Darlene Hadley asking if it the Borough would be able to assist the City of Buckland with project management.  We have responded that  our department might be able to provide limited oversight with regard to financial issues, but that it would be unlikely that we could provide the full range of project management services without identifying budgetary supplement and hiring additional personnel.

 

On another note, the Director traveled out to Palmer, AK to inspect an un-used steel bridge on the old Palmer/ Anchorage Highway.  This bridge was identified as an option to building new bridge in Buckland, as the community desires.   The State of Alaska had originally committed to build the bridge but has since cancelled its commitment based on the high cost of a new bridge.  The new concept is that the bridge in Palmer could be disassembled, shipped to Buckland, and re-assembled on a new foundation, and that there may be a cost savings with this approach.  Staff is currently researching the availability of this bridge, and developing preliminary cost estimates  for the proposed concept.

 

Kivalina Relocation / Erosion   A soils investigation sub-contract  in now in place, and drilling at three sites near Kivalina is expected to begin within three to four weeks.  The bad news is that previously defined federal funding from a program called “Tribal Partnerships” may now require a local match in order to access.  An attached communication from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers gives more detail.  USACE has requested a clarification on this issue.  For the moment, the scope of work for further study in Kivalina has been limited.

 

Public services submitted a funding request to our U.S. Congressional delegation  for interim erosion protection in Kivalina. The request proposes to use the HESCO Bastion Concertainer system to protect shoreline in Kivalina.  The project is proposed in three segments or phases.  The funding request is for $ 3.2 million.  The Kivalina City Council has passed a Resolution requesting the Borough to seek funding and if successful, to  implement the project.

 

Borough Office Improvements  We are now out of money in the Borough building fund.  Second floor storage space is near complete but in need of additional work.  The overflow office space and Emergency Operations Center are not yet developed.  Request for additional funding is included in the 2nd reading of the  budget revision currently before the Assembly.

 

Northwest Arctic Borough Infrastructure Project  A contract with Financial Engineering Company is currently in effect , and work has begun on the feasibility study.  The first reporting milestone is the end of April.

 

 

PUBLIC SAFETY

 

Public Safety Commission  The Public Safety Commission has not met during this reporting period.

 

Fire Department Development  The Department has once again applied  for the FEMA Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant Program.  Once again, this year, we are requesting funding for 120 sets of Bunker Gear with the addition this year of  four community siren packages.  The total grant request is for  $267,623 in federal funds, match by $14,085 in local funds.  The match will come from the Department budget.

 

Local Emergency Planning Committee  The LEPC has not met during this reporting period.

 

Trailstaking  We have received the official correspondence offering a trails grant to the Borough.  Your packet contains a resolution to accept these grant funds, which will pay for materials, shipping, and logistics to construct two new shelter cabins, one near Shungnak and one near Kivalina.

 

Public Works


Water/ Sewer Problems  The department has purchased pipe and supplies for the repair of the Kivalina Washeteria.  A freeze up during March damaged the facility and it has been closed since that time.

 

The City of Deering ran out of raw and potable water early in April.  The problem in Deering is a lack of adequate storage capacity. Deering is able to pump raw water from the Inmachuk River only during June through early October.  Increased consumption of water has caused the community run out two years in a row.  The Borough has been coordinating with Maniilaq Association, and the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to resolve the issue.  A new storage tank planned for summer of 2007 will alleviate this problem eventually.

 

Residents are currently “harvesting” ice from the river  and transporting it to town.  At home, they melt, then boil the water to sterilize it.  This action will likely cause the community to run out of propane (the predominant cooking fuel)  before the event is over.  Maniilaq and the Borough are collaborating to implement a potable water airlift to Deering  to supply elders and infants with safe drinking water.   Maniilaq is providing containers, water, and sterilization services and the Borough is providing air charter service.

 

Attempts to find water beneath the river ice have so far been unsuccessful.  The City will attempt to collect and transport “overflow” once the weather warms a bit.

 

The loss of water has also caused a failure of the sewer system. Residents are now using honey buckets until water and sewer systems are returned to normal operations.  A honey bucket collection and disposal plan is being developed, approved , and implemented.

 

Deering’s  capacity to deal with this problem has, of course, been hampered by  this years’ lack of state support to municipalities.

 

Bulk Fuel

The Bulk Fuel Consortium meeting was held at the Borough offices on March 30, 2005.  The event was attended by all  non-AVEC, and non-school district bulk fuel operators from Kiana,, Noorvik, Selawik, Buckland, and Deering.  The group agreed in principle to form a bulk fuel buying group. An advertisement for bid is planned to be published by April  18, 2005.  Once bids are received and opened, members of the buying group will need to make formal commitment to the arrangement and arranged for financing.  This action should reduce the  cost of fuel bulk operators.  The rise in the market price of crude oil, however, will likely result in fuel prices being higher than ever before experienced.   This will tend to disguise any savings we are able to effect.

 

OTHER

 

Kivalina Financial Crisis    Kivalina Mayor Oran Knox. Sr. met with borough staff and Mayor Schaeffer on March 29th to negotiate an MOA for the Borough to take over City of Kivalina operations.  Mayor Knox, though authorized by City Council Resolution to negotiate and sign an MOA,  did not execute this document, but chose instead to return to Kivalina and hold further consultations with his Council members.    As a result, a public meeting was organized and scheduled for April 8th at 1PM.  Mayor Schaeffer and Director Bolen traveled to Kivalina to appear at this meeting upon Kivalina’s request, but upon arriving found that the meeting had been re-scheduled for 7 PM Friday evening.  Notice of this change was not given to the Borough.  As a result,  Ross and Tom returned to Kotzebue, and the community meeting was then cancelled.

 

Although an offer was made for the Borough to return the following week, we have had no contact from Kivalina.   Mayor Knox has since resigned his Council Seat.  It is uncertain at this time what decision will be forthcoming regarding assistance to the City of Kivalina.