City of Unalaska

Dozens of people gathered at the Burma Road Chapel last month for Unalaska’s second annual Juneteenth celebration, hosted by the city’s Department of Parks, Culture and Recreation.

The Unalaska City Council is again searching for a permanent city manager after candidate Abner Hoage turned down an offer for the position earlier this month.

The city’s solution is a project called DRIVE. It’s short for Developing Recycling Infrastructure and Vehicle End-Of-Life. The plan came together in 2024 and was approved by the City Council in January 2025. In December, the project got a major financial boost. Unalaska was selected for a $3.8 million grant from the federal Environmental Protection Agency to keep the work going.

The Unalaska Fire Department has a familiar face leading it again. Edward “Eddie” Athey took over as fire chief on March 25, returning to the same job he held on the island 20 years ago.

The Unalaska City Council will interview permanent city manager candidates next weekend. Three applicants have been selected to advance to the first round of interviews, according to a Tuesday press release from the city.

The four-day storm hit Unalaska on Dec. 26-29, bringing 100 mph gusts, elevated tides and a storm surge that swept the coastline. It damaged the airport’s runway and closed off Summer Bay Road for vehicles.

At its regular meeting Tuesday night, the Unalaska school board approved a proposed FY27 budget. It includes flat funding from the state, but a slightly larger ask of the city, which almost always grants the district its full request.

The city announced Tuesday that Edward “Eddie” Athey will take the helm of Unalaska’s Fire Department on Mar. 25.

Several sections of Unalaska's Summer Bay Road beyond the landfill remain closed to vehicles after significant storm damage in late December 2025. The city is working with the Ounalashka Corporation and the State of Alaska to pursue state disaster funding.

For this episode of Island Interviews, KUCB's Sofia Stuart-Rasi sat down with Cameron Dean, director of planning for the city, to learn more about the comprehensive plan and how residents can participate.