Ketchikan Gateway Borough
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Ketchikan weighs $63,750 more to design a tank for Ravenwood's low water pressure
The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly votes Monday on adding $63,750.10 to the design contract for a water tank and booster station meant to address low water pressure at the top of the Ravenwood neighborhood.
Upper Ravenwood sits high enough that the borough's Fawn Mountain tank can't keep usable pressure there when demand spikes, the state Department of Environmental Conservation said in a 2021 notice. During those periods, it said, there's a risk of back siphonage, and firefighting is hampered.
The borough plans a booster station and a storage tank, 100,000 gallons in earlier plans, which would also improve fire flows to the Herring Cove area. The borough first identified the project around 2006, while designing earlier phases of the South Tongass water system, according to the agenda statement.
Most of Monday's amendment would pay for two things: a control panel for the booster station, at $37,678.60, and $24,311.50 for what staff call electrical integration services, to tie the station into the SCADA system that monitors and controls the borough's water treatment plant. R&M Engineering-Ketchikan's subconsultant, RMC Engineering Services, would do the work.
Staff called the integration work highly specialized. The control panel is a long lead-time item, they wrote, with components for secure communication with the existing system.
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South Tongass Volunteer Fire Department Station Four Open House
South Tongass fire crews move back into rebuilt Station Four in Ketchikan
South Tongass fire crews moved back into rebuilt Station Four on Sept. 21, more than two years after an April 2024 fire destroyed it. The blaze destroyed four vehicles including two engines and an ambulance, with a second ambulance suffering serious smoke damage.
Storm Drain Pipe Replacement Bids Open
Ketchikan's storm damage estimate tops $4 million as the state steps in
Ketchikan's storm damage estimate has topped $4 million, with a collapsed harbor storm drain added to the Ward Cove substation, and the state is helping pay.
Ketchikan Superior Court retention election for Katherine Lybrand
Ketchikan Superior Court Judge Katherine Lybrand seeks retention
Ketchikan Superior Court Judge Katherine Lybrand, appointed in 2022, is seeking voter retention in November 2026 after handling criminal, family, and probate cases across the First Judicial District.
Public Comment Deadline for Ketchikan Gateway Borough Planning Commission Case 26-043
Ketchikan planners to rehear parking variance for KIC's planned shelter after notice error
Ketchikan planners will rehear KIC's request to build a four-story shelter with one parking space instead of 24, after some neighbors weren't mailed notice.
Latest
Two hurt after vehicle loses control on ice and hits a guardrail in Ketchikan
Two people were hurt when their vehicle lost control on ice and hit a guardrail on Ketchikan's Revilla Road. No impairment is suspected, troopers said.
by Walter AlaskaNews20h ago1 min read
NOAA closes out its $5.2 million Rainier overhaul at Ketchikan Shipyard
NOAA closed out a $5 million repair order for the survey ship Rainier at Ketchikan Shipyard, clawing back $392,172 in unused funds.
by Melinda Communities.News1d ago1 min read
Geoduck divers get two more days near Ketchikan under a smaller Southeast harvest target
Geoduck divers get two more days near Ketchikan this week. Southeast's harvest target is about 40% below last year's, and two areas are still closed.
by Bill AlaskaNews3d ago1 min read
Troopers say they suspect no foul play in death of 75-year-old Saxman woman
Ann McEachern, 75, died Saturday at her Saxman home after medics could not revive her. Alaska State Troopers say they do not suspect foul play.
by Walter AlaskaNews3d ago1 min read
Southeast seiners and gillnetters have until Nov. 13 to shape December task force agendas
Got thoughts on how Southeast's seine and gillnet fisheries are run? Fish and Game wants task force topics by Nov. 13 for December meetings in Ketchikan.
by Bill AlaskaNews3d ago1 min read
Ketchikan mayor asks PeaceHealth to account for summer crowds in ER remodel
Ketchikan's mayor asked PeaceHealth to mind cruise season in its ER remodel. Nearly a third of summer Priority Care clinic patients had outside addresses.
by Walter AlaskaNews4d ago2 min read
Committee drops visitors bureau chief from Ketchikan's planned tourism board
A Ketchikan committee cut the visitors bureau chief from the city's planned tourism board, with a member saying the board may someday review the bureau's work.
by Walter AlaskaNews6d ago2 min read
Ketchikan resident urges hospital committee to back a PeaceHealth-paid ombudsperson
A Ketchikan resident wants a PeaceHealth-paid patient ombudsperson. Another said with low turnout, the town gets the hospital care it didn't vote for.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read
Corps proposes raising and rebuilding Ketchikan's Bar Harbor breakwaters
Army Corps plans to raise and rebuild Ketchikan's deteriorating Bar Harbor breakwaters, protecting moorage for 520 fishing boats. Public comments on the draft plan are due Nov. 21.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read
Ketchikan viaduct repairs slip to 2030, the second delay since August
Ketchikan viaduct repairs slid from 2027 to 2028 and now 2030, and a draft state plan would spend $10.25 million designing a partial Water Street replacement.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read
Ketchikan Assembly to certify results electing Bolling, Ortiz and Arntzen Tuesday
Ketchikan Borough Assembly meets Tuesday to certify Oct. 6 election results, seating Bolling, Ortiz and Arntzen. The library takeover measure failed outside city limits, so it did not pass.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read
Helicopters will keep a remote Unuk River gage running below British Columbia mines
Interior ordered helicopter flights to service a USGS gage on the Unuk River, which watches the water coming down from three British Columbia mining projects.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read
Ketchikan Assembly to vote Tuesday on Ward Cove substation disaster declaration
Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly votes Tuesday on keeping its Ward Cove substation disaster declaration in force. Repairs could cost up to $1.59 million, more than KPU and the city have on hand.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read
Appeals court upholds conviction for threat during Ketchikan bail hearing
Alaska Court of Appeals upheld Michael Henderson's conviction for threatening a witness during his son's Ketchikan bail hearing. The jury found the threat real, and he's serving 18 months.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read
AIDEA board to vote on a $75 million company to invest in undersea internet cables
Alaska's internet leans on four undersea cables, two of them 27 years old. AIDEA could put up to $75 million toward replacing them, and maybe reaching Asia.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read
Ketchikan Shipyard workers rejoin union after new operator said old contract didn't apply
New operator, same union. Ketchikan Shipyard workers voted 27-7 to rejoin their union after the yard's new operator said their old contract didn't carry over.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min readFrom 
Flood watches and gusts to 55 mph hit southern Southeast as an atmospheric river arrives
Southern Southeast faces up to 6 inches of rain and gusts to 55 mph Thursday into Friday, with flood watches from Ketchikan up to Petersburg.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read
Petro Marine seeks state water quality sign-off to rebuild its Ketchikan fuel dock
Ketchikan's only fuel supplier, by its own account, wants to rebuild its aging Tongass Narrows dock. First it needs DEC to sign off on water quality.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min readFrom 
Weather service lifts Petersburg dense fog advisory early; more fog possible Wednesday
Petersburg's fog lifted hours early Tuesday. It could be back by Wednesday morning, and a flood watch starts Thursday. Southeast doesn't do quiet weeks.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read
Atmospheric river could drop 3 to 5 inches of rain on southern Southeast in a day
Southern Southeast could get 3 to 5 inches of rain in a day starting Thursday. Rivers may hit the tops of their banks. Mariners: check those bilge pumps.
by Alaska News2w ago2 min read
State posts logging plan for 365-acre timber sale near Coffman Cove on Prince of Wales
The state posted a logging plan for a 365-acre timber sale near Coffman Cove on Prince of Wales Island. The plan and a comment deadline aren't public yet.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read
Ketchikan lost jobs in 2025 as Southeast Alaska set employment and wage records, report says
Southeast Alaska hit record jobs and wages in 2025. Ketchikan went the other way, losing 23 jobs even as its wages rose 5%, a new regional report says.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min readFrom 
Ketchikan planners may redo approval for KIC shelter after some neighbors weren't notified
Ketchikan's planned permanent shelter got its parking variance in September. Now the borough may redo the vote because some condo owners were never notified.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read
Board of Fisheries committee to take up remote testimony and process changes Oct. 21
A Board of Fisheries committee meets Oct. 21 on remote testimony and process recommendations. Its chair has "struggled with" virtual participation.
by Bill AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read
Ketchikan voters decide council races, $25 million bond and library
Ketchikan voters decide four City Council seats, a $25 million electric-utility bond, three Assembly seats, two School Board seats, and whether the borough takes over library operations Tuesday.
by Alaska News3w ago3 min read
Ketchikan Indian Community asks judge to halt Shelter Cove timber sale before contract award
Ketchikan Indian Community and two conservation groups asked a judge to halt the Shelter Cove timber sale before the Forest Service awards a logging contract.
by Maggie AlaskaNews3w ago2 min readFrom 
Loring board weighs dock grant options with $60,625 on hand and an $8.5 million cheapest fix
Loring's service area has $60,625 in the bank. The cheapest dock fix engineers priced is $8.5 million. The board meets Friday to talk grants.
by Melinda Communities.News3w ago1 min read
Ketchikan Assembly to take up $347,000 for new South Tongass ambulance after 2024 fire
A 2024 fire took both of South Tongass' ambulances. Ketchikan's Assembly takes up $347,000 in federal money Monday to replace one, plus a heart monitor.
by Walter AlaskaNews4w ago1 min read
Southeast Alaska gillnetters caught less salmon this year but expect higher pay
Southeast gillnetters caught less of every salmon species than average this year, but prices are way up, so the paycheck should be bigger. Not a bad trade.
by Bill AlaskaNews4w ago2 min read
University of Alaska Southeast students received about $1.47 million in Pell Grants last school year
UAS students got about $1.47 million in federal Pell Grants last school year. It's need-based aid for undergraduates, and it never has to be paid back.
by Walter AlaskaNews4w ago1 min read
Ketchikan hunter treated for hypothermia after overnight search
A Ketchikan hunter activated his satellite SOS device Wednesday evening and was found with hypothermia after an overnight search that resumed Thursday morning.
by Walter AlaskaNews4w ago1 min read
Boater swims to Admiralty Island after fishing vessel sinks, rescued by Coast Guard a day later
His fishing boat sank near Murder Cove, his life raft leaked, so he swam to Admiralty Island in a survival suit. A Coast Guard helicopter found him a day later.
by Bill AlaskaNews4w ago2 min read
Ketchikan Borough Assembly weighs removal process for appointed board members
Ketchikan's Planning Commission voted 6-0 to censure Darlene Dollimont-Svenson and ask her to resign over remarks about KIC. She apologized but didn't resign.
by Walter AlaskaNews4w ago3 min read
Ketchikan Gateway Borough staff propose allowing housing on commercial waterfront land
Ketchikan Gateway Borough staff want to let housing onto commercial waterfront land and relabel seven parcels. The Planning Commission picks it back up Oct. 13.
by Walter AlaskaNews4w ago2 min read
Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly sets Oct. 5 work session on school activities funding
Ketchikan students, coaches and parents told the borough school activities are turning pay-to-play. The Assembly takes up whether it can help Oct. 5.
by Bill AlaskaNews4w ago2 min readFrom 
Ketchikan accepts $6.9 million to replace Bar Harbor floats, Mountain Point launch
Ketchikan is getting $6.9 million from the state to replace two tired Bar Harbor floats and rebuild the Mountain Point boat launch. Work runs into 2029.
by Walter AlaskaNews4w ago2 min readFrom 
Ketchikan Indian Community gets $900,000 to revive its fleet for subsistence trips, training and charters
Ketchikan Indian Community is putting 23 boats back to work with a $900,000 federal grant: elder-led subsistence trips, youth training and halibut charters.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Weather Service cancels Ketchikan wind advisory early after gusts fall short of forecast
Ketchikan's windstorm came in under budget: forecasters warned of 50 mph gusts, the airport topped out around 36, and the advisory ended three hours early.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Alaska prisons seek contractor for mental health care, with video visits allowed in Nome, Bethel and Ketchikan
Alaska's prisons want a contractor for mental health care at four facilities. In Nome, Bethel and Ketchikan, clinicians might visit in person only monthly.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
Ketchikan man, 78, dies after his vehicle leaves North Tongass Highway near Mile 13
John Olson, 78, of Ketchikan died Saturday after his vehicle left North Tongass Highway near Mile 13. Troopers haven't said what caused the crash.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read