Unalaska’s school board is pushing back against a proposed bill in the Alaska Legislature that would require them to give up their current health care plan and take part in a state-run plan.
Right now, Unalaska’s teachers are in a health insurance pool with city employees. In a presentation to the board, a representative for that current health insurance pool said a state-run plan for educators would likely cost the district more, and provide fewer benefits. The district would not have any control over the cost or design of health plans.
No. 1 Pohah ties into Unalaska's emergency mooring buoy. / Ben Matheson
Emergency crews successfully connected a ship to the city’s new emergency mooring buoy in a drill Tuesday morning. The exercise simulated a scenario in which the 377-foot No. 1 Pohah lost power. The Gyrfalcon and James Dunlap tugs connected to both sides of the No 1 Pohah and towed her to Broad Bay, where she connected to the buoy.
The drill was considered a success, but port officials are still working out the kinks of the new buoy. A 50-foot section of the heavy duty braided line appeared to be frayed. It held for the test, but port crews disconnected the section after the drill and brought it in to be examined. There is still a 100-foot line in the water that allows the buoy to function.
Public Safety officers were called to the scene of a car crash on Ballyhoo Road around 5 a.m. Wednesday morning. Deputy Chief Mike Holman says that Swan Taxi driver Hien Tran was responsible for crashing one of the company’s vehicles into two parked cars.
The City of Unalaska is handing over operation of its local TWIC office to an outside contractor.
"TWIC" stands for "Transportation Worker Identification Credential" -- a qualification that the Transportation Security Administration requires for all employees working in secure maritime facilities.
In 2011, Unalaska set up a temporary TWIC facility at the public library to make the credentialing process easier for dockworkers. Since then, the city has been using its own resources and staff to keep that office open for a half-day every week.
A glitch in one of Unalaska’s generators is still causing issues down at the power plant.
Public utilities director Dan Winters says a problem with the generator’s regulatory system triggered a power outage around 9 o’clock Wednesday morning. The generator slowed down suddenly, which caused an automatic shutdown.
Construction on the wastewater treatment plant could be delayed because of errors made by their contractor, Advanced Blasting.
The project is federally mandated. The new plant has to be up and running by the end of 2014, or the Environmental Protection Agency will fine the city up to $35,000 a month until the project’s complete.
Advanced Blasting of Anchorage was contracted to prepare the work site. City manager Chris Hladick says the company blasted almost two feet too deep into the bedrock. To fix that, workers will have to fill the empty space with compacted rock and concrete.
The crew of the 537-foot bulk carrier Jamaica Bay contacted the Coast Guard early Tuesday morning. They reported that a 37-year-old male crew member from China was experiencing severe abdominal distress and loss of feeling in his lower extremities.
