City of Unalaska

Community Survey Will Help Develop 10-Year Plan for Unalaska

By City of Unalaska • Sep 6, 2019

The City of Unalaska Planning Department is conducting an online survey during the month of September to identify the needs of the community and inform the next decade of city land use and community development planning.

The survey can be found at the following link: https://arcg.is/1C0uDe

Unalaska Recovers $2.3 Million After Phishing Email Scam

By Hope McKenney • Sep 4, 2019

More than $2.3 million has been returned to the City of Unalaska, after a federal investigation into financial fraud targeting the local government.

Between May 15 and July 9, the city paid $2,985,406.10 to a fraudulent bank account as a result of a phishing email scam. City Manager Erin Reinders said the email sender represented themselves as a known vendor and requested a change in payment method.

When city officials realized the mistake in July, she said they notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), as well as the city's attorney and insurance company.

With Specific Impacts Still Unclear, Aleutians Brace For State Budget Cuts

By Hope McKenney • Aug 21, 2019

This week, Gov. Mike Dunleavy signed a bill that provides permanent fund dividends of $1,600, while maintaining vetoes on funding for programs like Medicaid and the Alaska Marine Highway System.

With the budget now set, communities across the Aleutian chain are bracing for the effects of statewide cuts — some passed by the Legislature, others imposed through the governor's vetoes.

Unalaska Will Have Fourth Of July Fireworks, Despite Death Of Longtime Pyrotechnician

By Zoe Sobel • May 30, 2019

This summer, Unalaska will have fireworks on the Fourth of July.

That news follows fears earlier this month that there'd be no holiday display after the death of Larry Mattingly, the city's longtime pyrotechnician. Mattingly was in his late 70s when he died in February.

Planning Director Bil Homka said the city is signing a $31,000 contract with a new provider, Utah-based Lantis Fireworks & Lasers.

Expensive Groceries And Health Care Contribute To Unalaska's High Cost Of Living

By Zoe Sobel • Jan 7, 2019

Housing is not the main culprit for Unalaska’s high cost of living. That’s according to a survey conducted by the City of Unalaska's Planning Department.

Through the national questionnaire from the Council for Community and Economic Research, Unalaska’s cost of living index was 7th overall – behind Manhattan; Nantucket, MA; San Francisco; Honolulu; Brooklyn; and Washington DC.

For Planning Director Bil Homka, the results were an eye opener.