With budget season underway, the Nome Common Council met Monday night at the Public Safety Building. In addition to discussing the city’s financial woes, council members discussed the continued lack of legal taxi service, heard comments on the city’s animal control contract, utility capacity and authorized a repair tied to the port modification project.
The meeting ended with word of a potentially significant development in Nome involving the U.S. Coast Guard Service.
Livestream replay
Timestamps are below each section.
Taxi service gap still unresolved
(5:52-8:48, 38:00-52:12)
One of the clearest concerns Monday was Nome’s lack of legal taxi service.
During citizen’s comments, Nome resident Leon Boardway urged the city to act, saying seniors and others with health needs are being left without dependable transportation.
“Just see if we could get everybody together for the senior citizens, and then there's handicapped people too. I imagine they could use that cab service,” Boardway told the council. “It's a problem that started a long time ago, you guys gotta fix it now.”
City Manager Lee Smith said, “There are no cabs running today that are legal,” while staff said former operators let their licenses lapse and no new applicant has completed the overhauled application process.
Council members discussed whether the biggest barriers are confusion over the city’s newly-relaxed rules, state requirements or practical hurdles such as obtaining the medical certification needed for a chauffeur’s license. The city already removed the cap on the number of taxi businesses allowed, but no one has submitted a new application according to City Clerk Dan Grimmer.
Council member Adam Lust suggested contacting taxi operators across Alaska to let them know “Nome is open for business”. Smith said the city is also exploring a longer-term on-demand public transit model, though some council members raised concerns about cost.
Council member Scot Henderson questioned why an operator hadn’t completed the new requirements, drawing shrugs from both Smith and Grimmer.
“One person, one entity, decides ‘I'm going to do this legally’. They literally have a monopoly,” Henderson said.
For now, council members said they want clearer public guidance on how to apply and what is required to operate legally.
Animal services dispute brought into public view
(4:20-5:35, 31:15-38:00, 1:04:48-1:09:02)
Animal control and vaccination services also drew discussion.
Emily Stotts, President of PAWS of Nome, asked the city to provide equal funding for pet license and vaccination clinics in town. Nome Animal House offers similar services in Nome.
After speaking during the first citizens comments period, Stotts left then returned for the second period and told the council she had been operating city animal services since June 2025 without compensation.
“I had asked for about $19,000 to bring me up to just under what the average is for people in the animal control position around the state,” she explained.
Smith said the city plans to bring animal services back in-house, with the Nome Police Department assisting and the city seeking to contract for quarantine and holding space. He said the current contract has ended and argued the city can provide the service more efficiently.
"Our cost per animal is outrageous on a contract," Smith said.
That prompted questions from council members, including whether issues with the current system could be addressed without shifting operations fully into city control. Several members, including council member Henderson said they wanted a look at the numbers before making a decision.
Utility report points to growth, repairs and fuel savings
(11:33-25:37)
The council also heard a utility update focused on power supply, infrastructure work and repairs.
Nome Joint Utility System General Manager John Handeland said a generator overhaul is expected to begin in April and last about six weeks. He also said upgrades have addressed a recent capacity issue tied to new developments on the northeast corner of downtown Nome.
Council member Kohren Green asked Handeland about the utility’s long-term capacity. Handeland said the utility still had ample room for the foreseeable future.
Handeland said repairs to turbines at the Banner Creek Wind Farm would add flexibility in conjunction with the utility's new Battery Energy Storage System. While one turbine remains down for repairs, Handeland said insurance has approved $900,000 toward the repair project, which will cost just under $1 million.
In a typical year, Handeland said functioning wind turbines can reduce diesel use by about 200,000 gallons. He also said the utility is exploring adding turbines near Cape Nome, but they would require outside funding.
“We're certainly looking, or I guess, turning the couch over,” Handeland said. “You’re looking for additional funds that could be available to support that.
The utility's long-overdue audits may be read before the council as early as Friday, March 27 at a meeting that hasn't formally been scheduled at time of publication.
Budget planning begins with schools and revenue options in view
(56:40-1:00:00)
Smith told the council the city has begun its annual budget process and is reviewing department requests. The city's Finance Director, Nickie Crowe, attended the meeting in-person and watched from the audience.
Smith said the city included a $2.7 million school contribution in its “working draft” and plans additional workshops with the council in the coming weeks. Nome Public Schools has requested $3.5 million from the city.
“We began our reviews of departments,” Smith said. “Now finance and myself will begin going line item by line item.”
He also said the council will hold a workshop on revenue options, including exemptions and potential taxes that may require public input.
Council members also noted that property assessment notices have been sent out, and some residents may see increases in assessed values this year, depending on market conditions. A review by the Appraisal Company of Alaska found a 2% increase to land values and a 7% increase in residential improvements.
“I just want the public to understand that they're probably going to be seeing a 7% plus increase in their property (tax),” Henderson said.
“There's no probably, they will,” Mayor Kenny Hughes retorted.
Port work moves ahead as mayor highlights Coast Guard interest
(1:00:15-1:04:15)
The council approved Resolution 26-03-01 related to repairs at the West Gold Dock. The contract, awarded to Resolve Marine, is valued at $249,228.32 according to the resolution.
The council also approved a second resolution recognizing April as the Month of the Military Child.
In his report, Mayor Kenny Hughes said a recent trip to Washington, D.C. included meetings with federal agencies, members of Alaska’s congressional delegation and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Hughes said the city’s main emphasis was currying support for the full Port of Nome Modification Project.
“There’s been a lot of support everywhere, at the highest levels, to build it out fully as designed,” he said.
Hughes also said there were discussions about homeporting a U.S. Coast Guard cutter in Nome. He said that could significantly increase demand for housing and infrastructure in the community.
The Coast Guard announced in February plans to build 11 new Arctic Security Cutters cutters. The 328-foot ships will be built in Finland and the United States, with the first delivery scheduled for 2028.
