Monday night’s City Council meeting commenced with two oaths of office.
Alex Le and Justin Stein are the two newest officers to join the City of Nome Police Department. Despite the addition of two officers, the police department is only now up to minimum staffing.
The council discussed applications for Port Commissioner seat G. Although several applications were sent in, Mayor Beneville did express some concern that there could be conflicts of interest for some applicants. Current occupant of the Port Commission seat, Derek McLarty, came to defend his case. Mr. McLarty was a planning commissioner previous to sitting on the Port Commission and said he feels he “… brings a bit of diversity and some knowledge of the port itself that is valuable.” The Council decided to reappoint McLarty to his seat.
Among the resolutions that passed were two resolutions regarding both state and federal lobbying services.
The Council voted on a resolution that will allow the City of Nome to continue to use the services of Wendy Chamberlain with the Legislative Consultants of Alaska to lobby for Nome in Juneau and Jay Sterne of Windward Strategies to lobby for Arctic policy on the City’s behalf in Washington, D.C.
Sterne was critical in obtaining a restart of the Arctic Deep Draft Port Study.
“He (Sterne) has a way as Wendy does in Juneau, he is erudite, he is knowledgeable, he is direct, he is passionate, and he loves Alaska and he loves Nome.”
Residents of Nome will be able to visit the Carrie M. McLain Museum for free. In a resolution to pass the Schedule of Rental Use Fees and Fines, Councilman Stan Anderson argued that if the museum were free it would encourage locals to use it and re-visit to see the visiting exhibits. The Council expressed concern that many in town were not even aware that the museum had re-opened after its renovations. The fees for non-resident use were lowered as well: $4 for adults, $3 for children and elders.
The Council’s regular meeting was preceded by a working discussion to discuss an unfinished resolution supporting Alaska Native Victims of Sexual Assault and Other Violent Crimes. Based on Lisa Ellanna’s recommendations, the Council amended and passed the resolution during the meeting. It was also decided that the most appropriate action moving forward, was to continue the conversation in a Town Hall forum.
This community town hall is yet to be scheduled, but the City Council is set to meet again on July 9th in Council Chambers.
Image at top: The Port of Nome. Photo courtesy of Joy Baker, Nome Port Director.
