Government

The city is adding staff at Unalaska's landfill and powerhouse in an effort to meet growing demand on local utilities. 

On Tuesday, the City Council voted unanimously to fund three new full-time positions at the Department of Public Utilities this fiscal year.

Councilor James Fitch, a former powerhouse employee, says that'll be $434,598 well spent.

"This has been a long time coming," said Fitch. "It really needs to be done to protect the safety of the people who work there and to protect the city's investment in that power plant and landfill."

The City Council has hired an architect for Unalaska's library expansion.

On Tuesday, councilors awarded a $163,451 contract to ECI Hyer Inc. of Anchorage — the same firm that drafted preliminary concept designs for the project last year.

The resolution passed unanimously after testimony from Director Roger Blakeley of the Department of Parks, Culture, and Recreation. He said the selection committee received six bids.

Each year, KUCB offers local candidates the opportunity to tell voters about themselves, their qualifications, and why they are running for office.  This year you'll see four names on the ballot for School Board and City Council.  Personal statements from the candidates can be found by following the links below:

Carlos Tayag has been a resident and active community member in Unalaska since October of 2013. Tayag moved to Unalaska from his hometown of Des Moines, Washington to continue his career in parks and recreation with the City of Unalaska’s Department of Parks, Culture, and Recreation, where he currently works as the Teen and Leisure Program Coordinator for the department. Tayag also serves locally on the board of directors for Unalaska Community Broadcasting and Unalaskans Against Sexual Assault and Family Violence (USAFV).

I started working in Alaska in 1994, and moved to Unalaska in 1996.  As a native Texan, I had always wanted to live in Alaska, with its truly wide open spaces.  Unalaska quickly became home in my heart, even though the initial plan was for two years.  I came for the land, but stayed because of the people.