Assembly Reschedules Meeting Due to Holiday

Jay Barrett/KMXT
The Kodiak Island Borough Assembly is holding its bi-weekly regular meeting tonight (Tuesday), because the Independence Day holiday is falling on its usual Thursday meeting day.
One rather hot-button issue will be before the assembly – a proposed smoking ban in public places.
The proposal, made by Assemblyman Aaron Griffin, would put on October’s ballot a smoking ban question for borough residents to vote on. The ordinance advancing the ballot question will be introduced at tonight’s meeting.
Public comments will be allowed at the beginning and end of the meeting, but since it is the first reading of the ordinance, no comments will be taken when the smoking ban question comes up. Assemblymembers will be free to debate the issue, of course. If successfully introduced, there will be a second reading, which includes a public hearing. That’s required before a vote to place it on the October municipal election ballot.
A contract for maintenance, repair, snow removal and road sanding for Service Area No. 1 will be revisited during unfinished business. Two weeks ago the borough management recommended a contract be granted to a company that was NOT the lowest bidder. Borough Manager Bud Cassidy said at the time the low bidder does not have a track record of doing such work. Assemblymembers asked Cassidy to come back with a more documented reason for rejecting the low bid.
There will be two public hearings tonight. One regarding a new liquor store license application by the Olds River Inn, and the rezoning of Lot 21 of Seaview Subdivision from Business to Industrial. Votes on the issues will follow.
The meeting is tonight at 7:30, in the borough assembly chambers. KMXT will broadcast it live.