Tag Archives: Mike Tvenge

This week brought some confusion to the process of reopening businesses in Alaska. On Wednesday, a new state health mandate preempted local authority over how the reopening process would happen, but less than 24 hours later, the state returned control to local decision-makers. As of Friday, the state authorized restaurants, retail stores and other service businesses to reopen with some …

On Monday night Gov. Mike Dunleavy outlined a cautious plan to reopen some businesses like restaurants, and hair and nail salons. The governor did not give many details on what would need to happen before regulations are relaxed, but said things could start to loosen up as early as next week. City manager Mike Tvenge says local government is working …

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services announced the first confirmed case of COVID-19 on Kodiak Island Wednesday afternoon. According to a press release from the Kodiak Area Emergency Services Organization, “The individual is not acutely ill and is staying at home.” “Public health officials have made contact with the individual, and we’ll continue to monitor the condition to …

As of Thursday, Alaska has 235 cases of COVID-19, up nine cases from the day before. More than 7,000 COVID-19 tests have been performed statewide. Of those, 61 tests have been taken in Kodiak, with another 13 pending. By Thursday, the island received rapid testing kits, which are expected to reduce the amount of time for testing from days to …

On today’s edition of The Lowdown, city manager Mike Tvenge, borough manager Michael Powers and fire chief Jim Mullican sat down to talk about Kodiak’s coronavirus prevention measures and strategies. The biggest takeaways should sound familiar by now — practice good hygiene and stay separated from others as much as possible. “The only way to slow the coronavirus, like any …

The pipe leak near Mission Lake is fixed and fully operational as of Wednesday night, according to a city of Kodiak press release posted Thursday morning. An excavator dumps gravel back into the pit on Metrokin Way, originally dug to fix leaking sewer pipes. Mission Lake can be seen in the background. (Photo by Kavitha George/KMXT) “The leak is fixed, …

The city of Larsen Bay is set to get a new ambulance soon, after the Kodiak City Council voted unanimously to donate its old Medic 2 to the nearly 100-person community. Fire Chief Jim Mullican shows Councilmembers Laura Arboleda and Randall Bishop the newest addition to Kodiak’s fleet of ambulances after Thursday’s meeting. (Photo by Kavitha George/KMXT) At Thursday’s city …

Former deputy city manager Matt Van Daele says he’s proud of his time working for the City of Kodiak. (Photo by Kayla Desroches / KMXT) Mitch Borden/KMXT The City of Kodiak recently fired its deputy city manager, Matthew Van Daele. According to Van Daele, when he got to work last Thursday (5/03) he was notified of his termination, which took …

Kodiak’s fire station sits at 70 feet above sea level, which is in the city’s tsunami inundation zone. (Photo by Mitch Borden/KMXT) Mitch Borden/KMXT The Kodiak City Council is closing in on approving its budget for the fiscal year 2019, but at its regular meeting last night it voted to go with a version of the budget that reduces funding …

Katie Baxter, director of Kodiak Public Library was recently put on administrative leave. (Photo from KMXT’s archives.) Mitch Borden/KMXT Earlier this week, Katie Baxter, the director of the Kodiak Public Library was put on administrative leave. The City of Kodiak will not comment on its reasons for taking this action, but as KMXT reports some who have worked with Baxter say …