Petersburg’s Borough Assembly has a long agenda ahead of their meeting tonight — but exactly who will lead the proceedings is currently up in the air.

Vice Mayor Donna Marsh chaired the last two assembly meetings. But she’s traveling right now, and she’ll only be able to attend the meeting by Zoom – if at all. If Mayor Mark Jensen is also unable to attend in person, the remaining members might need to pick someone among them to chair the meeting. The assembly was barely able to reach a quorum at its last meeting, on July 1.  

The assembly is scheduled to take a second vote on two ballot propositions that could go before Petersburg voters in October.

One of those ballot propositions would issue up to $3,500,000 in general obligation bonds to finance improvements to local schools. 

The other ballot proposition would allow the borough to borrow up to almost $20 million from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. 

That loan would cover several public water and wastewater infrastructure projects across the borough – some of which, are mandated by the state. The loan program offers interest rates of approximately 1.5% over a 20 year period.

Both ballot propositions received unanimous assembly support at the last meeting. 

In new business, the assembly is scheduled to vote on an ordinance that would clarify a section of the Municipal Code that addresses derelict boats. It would reiterate that the owner of any derelict vessel taken away and destroyed by the borough is liable for all costs associated with the disposal. 

The borough is also looking to fill a vacant seat on the Public Safety Advisory Board – at least, until a new board member is chosen by Petersburg voters in the October 1 Municipal Election. At tonight’s meeting, the Mayor – or Mayor Pro Tem – can appoint an interested Petersburg resident to the seat. To date, the Borough has received one letter of interest – from John Havrilek.

Petersburg’s Borough Assembly will meet this evening at 6 p.m. in the Assembly Chambers. KFSK will broadcast that meeting live and post the recording in our Borough Assembly Archive.

You can also join us for Borough Business — a call-in show with borough officials — at 12:30 p.m. today, right after Midday Magazine. If you’d like to participate, the number to call is (907)772-3803.

Editor’s Note: This story has been corrected to reflect the correct dollar amount of general obligation bonds the borough will consider issuing.