unalaska city council

Unalaska’s city manager fired the island’s director of ports and harbors Wednesday, despite threats of a forthcoming lawsuit.

Unalaskans interested in running for local office can file candidacy with the city starting Thursday.

The city received federal relief last week after the 2021-22 king and snow crab collapses — funding that’s only now reaching local coffers.

Unalaska’s Iliuliuk Family and Health Services provides a wide range of healthcare to the community, from obstetrics and routine primary care, to 24/7 emergency response. But representatives of the island’s primary clinic are worried some of those essential services could be jeopardized if they don’t receive enough funding through the city’s local grants program.

The City of Unalaska has a new plan to develop public parks, recreation and cultural infrastructure and programs through at least 2035. The city council unanimously approved the 121-page master plan on March 11.

Unalaska first responders and clinic staff helped save a man’s foot that was mangled in a fishing-related accident late last month. On Jan. 23, an unidentified crewmember on a commercial fishing vessel was entangled in fishing material. M. Lynn Crane is the board chair of the local health clinic Iliuliuk Family and Health Services. She said local EMS responded to the incident and transported the man to the clinic. She applauded the care providers’ quick response at last week's Unalaska City Council meeting.

Unalaskans will go to the polls Oct. 1 to vote on two City Council seats: Seat G and Seat F. This year, just one of those is contested. Incumbent Shari Coleman is facing challenger Abe Palmer for Seat G, and councilmember Alejandro “Bong” Tungul is running for reelection for Seat F.

The Unalaska City School District is set to get an extra chunk of money from the state this year.According to Superintendent Kim Hanisch, the district expects over $500,000 more in state funds than they originally planned. That comes after Gov. Mike Dunleavy recently chose not to veto a one-time boost for Alaska schools.

Brian Rankin won the race for School Board Seat B during a runoff election held in Unalaska Oct. 30 — he received 55% of the 140 total votes.

The Unalaska City Council will weigh the city’s internet service provider options at its meeting Tuesday night, after unanimously deciding to postpone the discussion earlier this month.