Council gets through agenda without sleeping bags

By Sandra L. Medearis

The Nome Common Council waded through 284 pages of business in a surprisingly short time—less than two hours—Monday evening, Feb. 13.
The bulk of debate covered adjustments to budget amendments going through a fine-toothed comb. For the most part, the changes stemmed from mid-fiscal year adjustments to bring revenues or expenses either closer to actual at Jan. 17 or closer to projections.
The Council adopted all the budget ordinances coming up for second reading at the meeting. There was considerable discussion concerning the funding of a community service officer and a car for the person to drive that was suitable for transporting inebriates safely and preventing injury to the CSO. Covering this expense and other needs of the police department would require reallocation and supplemental funding. The Council unanimously approved an amendment for $40,000 to go with $25,000 provided by Norton Sound Economic Development Corp. “If we want Chief Papasodora to put an officer on the street, then we should supply the proper equipment for the gentleman—or lady—to do the job,” Councilman Randy Pomeranz said.
In other action, the Council:
• Voted to change the name of Bypass Road to Kruschek Road in honor of the late Greg Kruschek. Andersen urged the Council to vote the resolution Monday and then get the paperwork done without a delay until the next meeting.
• Passed into second reading and adoption at its next regular meeting an ordinance allowing the Council to compensate members of the Nome Port Commission, to codify the harbormaster position, to make optional whether the port director is a sworn law enforcement officer and to establish procedures for impounding derelict, delinquent and abandoned vessels and to provide for fines set by the port tariff.
• Received for consideration a revision of the Port of Nome Tariff 8 Rules and Regulations
• Donated $10,000 to the upcoming Nome-Golovin snow machine race. Kevin Knowlton, president of Lions Club, told the panel that economic times and weather made fundraising difficult this year.
• Refused to cut the Nome Recreation Center budget reallocation request by the $26,358 Chip Leeper, director of parks and recreation, sought for three new treadmills. Councilman Stan Andersen moved a budget amendment for the cut, but got only Councilman Louis Green Sr. to vote with him. Nome Police Chief John Papasodora spoke up, backing the purchase, saying the police force, including himself, used the weight room to stay fit for their jobs, and that it was a quality of life issue for the community. “The stuff up there is crap,” Papasodora told the Council. “The treadmills are junk.”
• Refused 5-1 to write a letter to the ABC Board opposing the renewal of the BOT liquor license based on money owed the City. He wasn’t against Jim West Jr., Andersen said in making the motion, but it was his and the Council’s fiduciary responsibility to try to collect, he added. “This is one of our only chances to get the upper hand,” he said. Councilwoman Mary Knodel observed that the City had not yet fully exercised its procedure to collect tax.
• Approved an appeal by former cab driver Preston Dixon to get a chauffeur’s license in spite of trouble with the law and Papasodora’s letter of opposition.
• Approved two fee waivers for the American Cancer Society’s use of Old St. Joe’s for Relay for Life activities.

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