Rob Cone-Clark/Turnagain Times
Alaska West Express is building on their newly purchased property located at the port of Whittier. They bought the 1.5-acre property from Whittier resident and businessman Larry Gilman last August for $800,00. Gillman owns Custom Marine Services in Whittier. The stacked shipping containers will serve as covered storage and work space. Further development plans will require closing the portion of Blackstone Street seen just behind the containers and running adjacent to the Whittier Manor Condominium building. Alaska West is a subsidiary of Lynden Shipping, the Alaska Railroad's largest Whittier customer. Alaska West purchased the Gilman property and the Alaska Railroad purchased a property owned by Phil Johnson, also this past August, located at Smitty's Cove by the port for a purchasing price of around $460,000. The railroad is underway with major construction projects like realigning the railroad tracks to the port to increase “operational efficiency” for off-loading and on loading freight.
By Rob Cone-Clark
Turnagain Times Whittier Correspondent
Vandergriff wins run-off election for city council seat
Jerry Vandergriff held onto his Whittier City Council seat, defeating Larry Bussman in a run off election. Vandergriff received 72 votes to Bussman's 58. The council counted 17 absentee ballot votes during a special meeting Nov. 10, following the run off election held Nov. 3. Vandergriff went into the special meeting leading 62-51. With the victory, Vandergriff continues for a second term (three years) as city councilor on Seat D. Vandergriff was appointed city councilor one year prior to his first term.
With a full council, the city can now move forward to nominate and vote for a vice mayor and mayor at the next regular meeting Tuesday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m.
Currently, Vangergriff is the vice mayor and councilor Lester Lunceford is the mayor.
Council Quashes Nuisance Enforcement
In a Nov. 4 action, the city council voted to leave the municipal nuisance ordinance without administration. The council adopted the law in 2006. It was written to addresses citizen concerns on matters of health, safety, noise, property values and any other offense against the “peace, dignity or security of the community.”
The code directs the city manager to designate a nuisance abatement officer. The officer is to receive citizen complaints about potential nuisances around town. The city manager's choice is subject to council approval.
Via a resolution, the city administration asked the council to confirm Matt Abbey as Mark Earnest's selection. Abbey told the council, “Somebody needs to be the abatement officer for the city...I just fired off a nuisance letter to the owners of the Buckner Building last week and identified myself as the nuisance abatement officer.”
Before voting, the council held a discussion. Councilor Shawnee Philips asked if the officer had to be a department head. Councilor Shannon Tolman said that the officer used to be the city safety officer. Councilor Juan Cardenas asked if, other than the Buckner Building, an abatement officer was even necessary.
Mayor Lester Lunceford said, “I'm open for suggestions. This could be a temporary fix for just right now. Matt already issued one letter for the Buckner Building.”
Citizen Diane Peret added from the audience, “For right now, rather than just pass it off, put him in the position. Stop shutting things off. It needs to be done now, do it!”
The council then voted with Mayor Lunceford, Councilors Becky Cotner and Mary Brenneman supporting the appointment and Councilors Tolman, Cardenas and Philips voting no.
The appointment failed by lack of majority support. The newly re-elected councilor, Jerry Vandergriff, was absent.
Ports and Harbor Commission Meeting Scheduled
Ports and Harbor Commission will hold a regular meeting Saturday, Nov. 21 at 11 a.m. in the city council chambers.
