Unalaska, AK – The City Council met for a short meeting last night during which they decided to fund a public reception for the upcoming Museums Alaska/Alaska Historical Society 2009 Annual Conference and not to fund a book project. The Museum of the Aleutians is hosting a conference in mid-September for over 200 historians, museum professionals, and volunteers. The council will spend about $4,400 for a community reception to all the visitors to meet community members and learn more about Unalaska. Mayor Shirley Marquardt says it's a good way to let people know more about our community. Though the council elected to fund one public relations event, they chose not to fund another.

The city of Unalaska was invited to be part of the publication North to the Future - Volume IV. The hardback coffee table book features communities and organizations around Alaska. Inclusion in the book costs anywhere from $5,000 to $27,000, depending on the number of pages you want to be featured on. Marquardt says Unalaska spent about $15,000 to be included in a previous volume that was distributed to state and national legislators, the governor's office, and other organizations.

"So it was a good chance to get this out to the folks we have to deal with on a yearly basis for our projects and to gain the interest in the community," the mayor said. "Once you gain interest in your community with the legislators it's much easier to go to them then and ask for money for your projects because they understand you, they get you. So I think it was really very helpful."

The council decided not to be included in this volume since the previous version came out late last year.

The council also set their priorities for the late September Washington, D.C. lobbying trip. Council members will request funding for the Carl E. Moses boat harbor, the Ballyhoo Road paving project, and the new water treatment plant.

The city's lobbying efforts will also continue this week with the Legislative Fly-In. The City will bring multiple state legislators and representatives from other branches of state government to Unalaska this week to tour the city and learn more about the community. Everyone is invited to two public receptions with the legislators.

"We're going to have a really good group of legislators as well as the director of DEC [Department of Environmental Conservation], which is also a very good thing because we have upcoming projects with the water, waste water, and the landfill and we're definitely going to need their help with those. So I really encourage people to come out and talk with these folks. You can talk about local issues and you can talk about statewide issues. Because they really are here to listen to what you have to say," said Marquardt.

The first reception is with the House Energy Committee Thursday at noon in the council chambers. The second is with the legislators who are attending the fly-in. It will be Saturday from 6 to 7:30 pm at the Grand Aleutian.