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PUBLIC SERVICES DEPARTMENT REPORT TO
Northwest Arctic Borough
Mayor & Assembly
JULY 12, 2004
Kivalina Relocation
Staff attended Senate Appropriations Committee Field Hearings convened by Senator Ted Stevens in Anchorage on June 28, 29, 2004. Hearings were in regard to a Government Accounting Office (GAO) report on Shoreline Erosion and Flooding in Alaska. The Report indicates there are 9 communities in Alaska facing conditions deemed to b “critical.” There are 4 communities that are further classified as be in “ eminent danger” due to erosion and flooding. Kivalina is one of the four. Borough staff has submitted written testimony to the Senate Appropriations Committee, and has followed this submission with supplemental testimony. Copies of both of these documents are attached for your review. Enoch Adams, Chairperson for the Kivalina Relocation Committee, testified in person at the field hearing. In person testimony was solicited primarily from communities identified in the GAO report as being affected.
It is the feeling of Borough staff that Congress, under Senator Steven’s leadership , will soon provide funding to address flooding and erosion problems in the identified “top four” communities. This means, Kivalina Relocation could see its first construction funding within the next year. It is likely that federal law will be changed, and /or new laws enacted which will make relocation funding available to communities which previously deemed to be ineligible by federal standards. In light of this development, we need to our “ducks in a row,” so as not to miss this opportunity.
Borough staff recommend that the Borough utilize its planning, platting, zoning, and land use regulation authority to take charge of this situation and lead the people of Kivalina to a relocation solution. Staff proposes to conduct a door-to-door survey in Kivalina to get a clear picture of what all Kivalina residents feel regarding relocation options. Once the community consensus has been identified, the Borough would lead the way by facilitating land transactions as well as identifying and securing funding to build permanent road access to a new community site. Denali Commission would then be approached to fund power line extension to the new site. Once access and power are available, relocation will be off and running. No doubt, there will be protests and complaints, but the Borough will need to exhibit strong leadership on this issue.
Helicopter support for this project appears to be most likely available in mid August. Our plan is to hire 3 men from Noorvik and 3 men from Selawik. The crew will be accompanied by a foreman and a cook. The project is anticipated tom take between six to ten days.
Noatak crews have works through June and July but have not completed the road project by the June 30, 2004 grant deadline. The road construction is approximately 300 yards from the new cemetery at this time. Crews experienced equipment break downs in May and June. The Borough expedited parts and sent a mechanic from Kotzebue on two occasions to make repairs. Although the Rasmuson Foundation grant has expired and been closed out, volunteer crews in Noatak continue to work and road completion is expected by the end of July.
Buckland Water & Sewer
The City of Buckland has signed a construction agreement with the Corps of Engineers for the Buckland Water & Sewer Project. The Agreement is currently awaiting signature by Corps Headquarters in Washington D.C. Alaska District Office of the Corps expects the signed document back from headquarters in late September. Design drawings for the project are currently under review by ADEC, the permitting entity for water and sewer work. Approval on Phase 1 work (sewage Lagoon) design is expected by late July. It is expected that Phase 1 of the project will be advertised for bid in early fall.
Borough Office Improvements
As a result of your last meeting in May, a painting contract was awarded to TRC, Inc. of Kotzebue. Painting has been substantially completed, and the Borough Office has taken on an exciting new look. A number of Change Orders have been authorized under this contract. Additional work has included:
· foundation repairs to replace water damaged foundation timber at the perimeter of the building.
· Installation of additional cabinets in the Break Room and Assembly Chambers,
· Installation of new porches at the side and rear entrances
· Installation of new windows on the second floor, as well as demolition of several window openings altogether
· Installation of a new sloped roof over an existing flat roof area at the east side of the building
· Construction of an all weather wood foundation for the newly acquired School District Shop Building (formerly behind the high school gym)
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Additional change orders are anticipated to complete other minor tasks, including electrical work, a foundation for the new parking garage, to be attached to the main building, and development of our 2nd floor storage area.
Northwest Arctic Borough Infrastructure Project
Since the last report, there have been two pieces of correspondence on this issue. They are attached to this report for your reference. On June 7, 2004, I met with Mr. Bill Allen, Director of Alaska’s USDA Office, and Borough consultant, Al Adams. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the rumor that USDA funds were available and close at hand for our infrastructure project. Mr. Allen confirmed that USDA was interested in the project concept, but that there is NO money. In fact, no one had officially asked for any money, i.e. no one had filled out any USDA applications for funding. Following the meeting with Mr. Allen, I met with Paul Glavinovich, geologist with NANA Development Corp. He shared with me information and mapping regarding the potential for natural gas in our region. This information is really quite intriguing, and warrants further exploration. Once an economic model for a power utility and electrical transmission system has been identified, the Borough will assist NANA Development in securing funds for exploration.
Additional contact was made with Mr. Frank Muncy of USDA, to inquire about applicable programs under which we might apply for study money. Mr. Muncy recommended that we develop a “white paper on our project for distribution to USDA, Denali Commission, and others.
The “white paper” will available as a separate handout at your July meeting.
Public Safety Commission
The Public Safety Commission last attempted to meet on May 12, 2004 but did not have a quorum. The Commission will meet again in August.
Fire Department Development
Fire Training was conducted in Kivalina on May 25-27, 2004. After a rocky start, due to fog and low turnout, the training got up on step and was well received. Volunteers trained with their new fire pump and hose reel wagon as well as with conventional and foam fire extinguishers. Trainers were State of Alaska certified fire trainers from Fairbanks. A similar training was held in Noatak on June 1-3, and was not well attended. It appears as though the training was in conflict with subsistence activities due to our early break-up. A third training session was held in Shungnak on July 6-8th. The training was extremely well attended. Enthusiasm was so high, trainers agreed to stay an extra day, and certified 20 people in first aid and CPR. Congratulations to Battalion Chief Billy Lee, for his efforts in ensuring success at this training event.
Once again, we were able to purchase a collection of fire fighting tools and
equipment for village battalions with our fiscal year end money. Thanks to the
Assembly for approving the budget amendment in May, which allowed us to makes
these purchases. This year, primary recipients of equipment will be Noorvik and
Kobuk. We have also ordered NABFD ball caps, as a means of building identity
and pride in our organization.
Local Emergency Planning Committee
The LEPC met on June 16, 2004, in a Special meeting to approve expenditure of last minute funding in the amount of $10,000 awarded to our LEPC (and others statewide) as a result of the long awaited “Reverse Sweep” of this years funds by last year’s Legislature. With a mere two weeks left to spend these funds, LEPC’s had to scramble to obligate theses funds. Our LEPC did this by purchasing computer and fax equipment, as well as entering a contract for Phase 1 of revising our draft Emergency Operations Plan.
EMPG Program
Staff continues its work on Homeland Security, fire departments, and a Hazard Mitigation Plan issues as a part of its EMPG requirements.
No activity in this area.
In the fall of 2003, ADOT was conducting routine testing of borrow material soils in Ambler, in preparation for a schedule ADOT project. Routine test revealed the presence of a type of naturally occurring asbestos in the soil samples taken from the Ambler borrow pit, which is owned by NANA Corporation. This type of asbestos, called crysotile, is common in many places in the U.S. Additional tests were conduct by ADOT in 2003 with the same results. NANA Development has subsequently done tests of its own, but has not made public the results.
The State of Alaska Health Dept. Epidemiologist was contacted and offered conflicting information regarding potential risks associated with crysotile asbestos. The medical community cannot agree on this issue. The Borough contacted the Division of Air Quality, Dept. of Environmental Conservation and expressed a desire to see some air quality testing done in Ambler. Fortunately, DEC already had plans to do testing in Ambler. Borough staff was able to expedite the shipment of a spare air monitoring device from Kotzebue to Ambler last week. DEC should have some data later this summer or early fall.
The Borough has been asked by the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium to organize a community meeting of all stakeholders and interested parties sometime next month. The purpose of this meeting will be to share all available information on this issue. The Borough intends to issue a formal recommendation for public safety of Ambler residents after consultations with appropriate public health officials. This statement should be published within two weeks. A copy of our correspondence to the City of Ambler on this issue is attached for your reference.
Public Services received an email inquiry from a NSB consultant regarding a concept which would have NAB purchasing diesel fuel from NSB through an agreement with Conoco. We have looked at this scenario, and initially there appears to be a number of problems with it. Please find attached copies of email correspondence for your review.