KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
Two new council members and a new city mayor were sworn in at last night’s Kodiak City Council meeting. Council member Pat Branson took over the city mayor seat from Carolyn Floyd, who has held the position for 18 years. Terry Haines and Randall Bishop replace Branson and another 18-year veteran, Tom Walters, on the council. Branson, Haines and Bishop all ran uncontested this year. After the election results were certified, Walters and Floyd were presented with gifts for their nearly two decades of service and received supportive comments from the council and members of the public.
Before stepping down as mayor, Floyd proclaimed Kodiak as the Isle of Lights and encouraged residents and business owners to hang energy efficient LED lights from November through February.
Two ordinances were introduced and will be discussed further at a future meeting. One is an amendment that introduces a new fine schedule for businesses that violate an already existing ordinance that disallows them from operating on city property. The amendment stems from an incident in September when Rhonda Maker, a business owner in the downtown mall, received a $300 fine for having merchandise outside her business while it was being delivered to a customer. The other ordinance would authorize a new lease between the City of Kodiak and the Brother Francis Shelter. The shelter is looking to expand their facilities- which are on city land- and in order for them to receive grant funding from the state they need to show that the city approves of the expansion.
The council also voted to cancel all regular meetings in November and instead schedule a special session for November 17th.
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