Infrastructure was the hot topic at last night’s city council meeting.

An ordinance that would fund the Fender System Repair Project at the City Dock and adjust the budget for the new city employee 8-plex housing unit passed four to one. Council Member Dennis Robinson opposed the measure on the principle that the city should not be involved in the housing business and that the cost of the project was too high. Council Member Katherine McGlashan disagreed with Robinson, arguing that there was value in attracting public sector workers like teachers to the town and pointing out that much of the project was covered by a state grant.

A resolution awarding Lakeview General Contracting a project that would replace the windows at the Lear Road duplexes for $63,000 was considered. Despite being a small project, the window replacement provoked some debate from council. Robinson expressed concern that the contract was not being awarded to Wolverine Supply, who offered the lowest bid at $60,000. City Engineer Tyler Zimmerman explained that the city administration recommended going with Lakeview because Wolverine did not meet the city’s standards with regard to treatment of siding.

The motion ultimately passed five to zero.

Additionally, a resolution adopting a wastewater facility plan passed unanimously.

Public Works Director Nancy Peterson offered a presentation on wear-and-tear on Unalaska’s roads and how damage can be minimized. She recommended instituting regulations limiting the use of chains on dry pavement. That could more than double the life on the pavement, which in turn could save the city millions of dollars in repaving costs. She also recommended improving the drainage along the roads and restricting overweight vehicles, which could reduce the number of potholes in the area.

Peterson also discussed feedback that the city has received from industry stakeholders at a meeting last week. Those representatives pointed out that safety should be the primary concern when determining chain usage and that they would prefer that the city to encourage voluntary compliance. Council Member Zac Schasteen commented that industry has already been made aware of their impact on the city’s roads and that the situation has not improved substantially.

Council Member Dennis Robinson also suggested a road tax levied per container, which would place some of the cost road maintenance on industry.

McGlashan and Council Member Dave Gregory also voiced their support for implementing new regulations for the purpose of road maintenance.

Council also met in executive session to receive an update on litigation by the Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency over wastewater discharge. An executive session for the annual review of City Manager Chris Hladick’s performance was postponed after Council Members Gregory, Robinson, and Schasteen failed to provide their evaluations by the deadline.

Council Member Roger Rowland was absent from the meeting.