Public, officials honor outgoing assembly, Mayor

The borough assembly on Tuesday certified the election of newly elected members Natalie Dawson, Craig Loomis and Kevin Forster and Mayor Tom Morphet.

Assembly members Debra Schnabel and Ben Aultman-Moore honored outgoing Mayor Douglas Olerud.

“I’ve seen you facilitate civil conversation long after everyone else has seemingly lost their patience and stamina. At the beginning of your term, just days after the slide I went to the community update at the American Legion where I saw you speak in a calm, articulate and emotionally available way,” Aultman-Moore said. “I thought that’s exactly what a Mayor should be. I think you’ve brought that demeanor and energy to whatever room you enter.”

Borough manager Annette Kreitzer gave Olerud an Alaska flag flown on his behalf over the State Capitol and donated by Senator Jesse Kiehl. Senator Kiehl and Representative Andi Story included handwritten congratulations with the flag.

Mayor elect Morphet gave him a homemade key to the city.

“Mayor Olerud, your term in office was not an easy one,” Morphet said. “You were elected in the midst of the COVID-19 (pandemic). Three months later you were called on to lead the community after the tragic landslides of December 2020 to bring the power of the government to try to heal and repair our valley after traumatic losses. Your energy, concern and compassion will not be forgotten.”

The assembly chambers, a packed room, gave a standing ovation to Olerud and outgoing assembly members Cheryl Stickler, Margarette Jones and Jerry Lapp.

Olerud thanked the assembly members he’d served with during his three-year term. He also acknowledged borough staff, singling out manager Kreitzer, clerk Alekka Fullerton and finance director Jila Stuart.

“Thanks to all three of you and everybody else on the staff. That’s all I have. I am going to turn this over to Mr. Morphet and everybody else and I’m going to go home and pack,” Olerud said of his planned vacation.

Accountability, public input changes

Morphet listed a number of potential changes he would be prepared to discuss and initiate including extending public comment to six minutes per speaker when an audience member wishes to donate their three minutes to another speaker.

He also said he wanted any borough staff or public officials to submit a report about what they learned and what was gained when traveling at taxpayers’ expense to conferences.

Assembly schedules workshop on property tax assessments

The borough assembly voted to schedule a workshop to discuss the recent spike in some property tax assessments after hearing concerns from citizens about the issue.

Property tax assessments went up by an average of 17% earlier this year, but some residents assessments increased by more than 50%. Mark Smith said a group of citizens had formed a taxpayers advocacy committee to inform citizens of their concerns and to work with elected officials to resolve the issue.

“This issue has rallied and unified all the citizens of a once bitterly divided community,” Smith said. “Standing before you tonight is one of many people who are committed to work with you to see local government work for us.”

Brenda Josephson asked the assembly to roll back property assessments to 2022 levels and abate all penalties and interest on property tax bills while the government works through the process.

The assembly voted to schedule a workshop on the topic for Nov. 2 at 5:30 p.m.