Seward

Seward plan for no city sales tax in winter, 6% in summer gets its first public hearing

Seward's proposed budget would let summer carry winter: no city sales tax October through March, 6% April through September. First hearing was Monday.

by Walter AlaskaNews3d ago3 min read

Follows: Seward council members question proposed property tax cut, float exemptions instead

Judge rules Indiana prison rules don't follow an inmate to Alaska

An Indiana prisoner held in Seward sued to get Indiana prison rules, like tablet email. A federal judge said those rules don't follow him to Alaska.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Seward planners approve Swan Nest Inn expansion to 12-room hotel

Seward's Swan Nest Inn can grow from five rooms to 12 and become a hotel. Planners also moved the Jesse Lee orphanage cemetery a step toward the tribe.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read

Seward moves toward transferring Jesse Lee orphanage cemetery to the Qutekcak Native Tribe

Seward takes a first step Tuesday toward transferring the Jesse Lee Cemetery, which holds burials from a former orphanage, to the Qutekcak Native Tribe.

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago2 min readFrom Apr 13

Sales Copilot takes first place at Techstars Startup Weekend in Seward

Sales Copilot won Techstars Startup Weekend in Seward, where six teams got about 50 hours to shape an idea, test it on locals and pitch it to judges.

by Melinda Communities.News1w ago2 min read

Seward police seek tips after political signs destroyed near Tony's Bar

Someone wrecked political signs across from Tony's Bar in Seward overnight Wednesday. Police want help finding them and say "we are better than this."

by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min read

Seward budget would add a second police sergeant using a job from the closed jail

Seward's budget would give police a second patrol sergeant by moving a job left over from the closed jail. Right now one sergeant oversees eight officers.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Seward council member asks for $75,000 to start making beach fishing spots accessible

A Seward council member wants $75,000 to start building beach access so anglers in wheelchairs and older anglers can get over the rocks to snag salmon.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Seward's harbor proposes higher travel lift rates and passing card fees to customers

Seward's harbormaster wants travel lift rates up 10% plus inflation in 2027 and 2028 and card fees passed to customers. One lift cable went from $12K to $35K.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Seward city manager floats cutting electric rates instead of property taxes in 2028

Seward's city manager pitched cutting everyone's electric rates in 2028 instead of property taxes, by dropping a $678,000 fee. It came to her that day.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Follows: Seward proposes a 6% summer-only sales tax and a property tax cut for fiscal 2028

Seward under flood watch as atmospheric river brings 3 to 4 inches of rain

Weather service issued a flood watch for Seward, Thursday evening to 4 pm Friday, with 3 to 4 inches of rain likely. It is at least the third such watch since July.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

State lenders want Seward's first water and sewer rate study since 1993 finished

Seward hasn't studied its water and sewer rates since 1993. A state loan program wants one done, and depreciation puts the utility funds' costs over revenue.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Seward moves city elections to November to share ballot day with borough and state

Seward's City Council voted to move city elections from October to November starting in 2027, putting them on the same ballot day as the borough and state.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Follows: Seward council takes up moving city elections to November, starting in 2027

Seward proposes a 6% summer-only sales tax and a property tax cut for fiscal 2028

Seward's proposed fiscal 2028 budget would swap the year-round 4% sales tax for 6% in summer, none in winter, and cut property tax by 1 mill.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago3 min read

Seward asks residents how to ease congestion between harbor, cruise dock and downtown

Seward wants ideas on easing navigation and congestion between its harbor, cruise dock and downtown, and is asking for them at an open house Tuesday.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read

Seward council takes up moving city elections to November, starting in 2027

Seward council holds a public hearing Monday on moving city elections to November, enabling a November 2027 vote.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Federal regulators give Seward cruise dock contractor another year to finish pile driving

Feds gave Seward's cruise dock contractor another year to finish its last 12 days of pile driving. The lone commenter wanted sound checks. The budget said no.

by Maggie AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Seward planning commission approves fourplex on Phoenix Road with conditions

Seward's planning commission approved a 4-unit fourplex on Phoenix Road for developer Phil Zimmerman, with parking, trash and landscaping conditions.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Seward planning commission backs letting 3- to 5-unit housing skip conditional use permits

Seward's planning commission voted 5-0 to let 3 to 5 unit housing skip conditional use permits if builders meet set rules. The City Council still must approve the change.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Seward and its chamber weigh a study of how much tourism money stays in town

Seward wants to know how much tourism money stays in town. At a work session, locals asked about J-1 wages, outside-owned rentals and empty winters.

by Melinda Communities.News3w ago3 min read

Board of Fisheries will weigh Homer Spit net closures and a Kodiak trawl ban

Homer Spit nets, Kodiak trawlers and who gets the last Cook Inlet king are all on the Board of Fisheries' winter menu. Public comments are open now.

by Bill AlaskaNews3w ago3 min read

Coast Guard's Seward shipyard job on the Sitka cutter Kukui reaches $3.3 million

The Coast Guard's tab for work on a Sitka buoy tender at a Seward shipyard went up 18 times this year, from about $2.2 million to about $3.3 million.

by Melinda Communities.News3w ago1 min read

Water flows over Seward Highway near mile 13 north of Seward, Alaska 511 reports

Water is running across the Seward Highway near mile 13, north of Seward. The road's open, but drivers should slow down and not test the depth.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago1 min read

State approves Seward timber sale with a logging road along a recreation trail

The state will sell 55 acres of Seward spruce, hauled out on a road along a year-round trail the Forest Service says wasn't built for log trucks.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Seward requires wider paved streets and bans cul-de-sacs in new subdivisions

New Seward subdivisions need wider paved streets, a place to walk and buried power lines, but no cul-de-sacs. Developers pay; one critic says buyers will too.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min read

Seward canvass board counts 64 ballots in city council race

Seward's canvass board counted 64 ballots Friday from the Oct. 6 municipal election, with Robert Barnwell leading the five-candidate city council race at 33 votes.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Council advisers debate studying more charter leasing of commercial halibut quota

Charter operators want room to lease more commercial halibut quota. Commercial fishermen say deal first with the boom in bareboat rentals.

by Bill AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Seward shuttle operator warns rising costs could end free service

Seward's free shuttle operator warned the City Council that rising labor and vehicle costs could make the service too expensive to continue when the contract comes up for renewal.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Seward council approves $11.8 million in shore power contracts for cruise dock

Seward approved nearly $12 million for a giant battery and dock design so plugged-in cruise ships don't dim the lights in town. The EPA grant is paying.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Seward hospital's new rural health grants collide with a shortage of space

Seward hospital won a $1.1 million federal grant to add prenatal care locally but has no space, forcing a choice between a $250,000 office conversion or a $4 million to $6 million addition

by Melinda Communities.News1mo ago3 min read

Seward survey respondents favor a local cooperative to run the city's electric utility

Most Seward survey takers want a local co-op to run the city's electric utility. The math hinges on a hydro project Chugach Electric also wants.

by Melinda Communities.News1mo ago3 min read

Troopers say 16-year-old shot and killed a family member near Slipper Lake in Sutton

Troopers say a 16-year-old shot and killed a family member near Slipper Lake in Sutton on Saturday, then drove to Seward and called 911. The teen is in custody.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Visitors keep walking into Seward's industrial port

Cruise passengers in Seward keep wandering into the industrial port instead of onto the sidewalk. The city is paying $79,920 to sort out the signs.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Low water slows Seward's youth coho fishery, open through Oct. 5

Kids have four more weeks to catch a silver at Seward Lagoon, where low water has been holding the fish outside waiting on enough rain to get in.

by Bill AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Mat-Su kept the Long Trail sign, and the $300,000 that came with it

Mat-Su took $300,000 and kept the trail sign some members worried would invite federal control. The borough's own attorney said it would not.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Seward council approves five-year lease moving food pantry to senior center

Seward City Council approved a five-year lease moving He Will Provide Food Pantry from City Hall Annex to the senior center starting Jan. 1, 2027, gaining more space and a better kitchen.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Seward would allow rainwater catchment in new subdivisions, but only by waiver

Seward would allow rainwater catchment in new subdivisions only by waiver. A commissioner who wanted it struck called it a dry cabin at in-town prices.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readFrom Sep 1

Left lane closed at mile 117 of New Seward Hwy until about 4 p.m.

Left northbound lane of New Seward Highway at mile 117 is closed until about 4 p.m. Saturday after a minor incident.

by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read

More than 200 coho counted at Bear Creek weir near Seward

More than 200 coho have passed through Bear Creek weir near Seward, with freshwater fishing expected to improve over the next few weeks.

by Bill AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read

Follows: More than 100 coho have passed Bear Creek weir near Seward

Seward state park advisory board takes public comment at Sept. 16 meeting

Seward State Park Citizen Advisory Board meets Sept. 16 to hear public comment on park management, in person or via Teams.

by Maggie AlaskaNews2mo ago1 min read