Hub city of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta; Bethel City Council and municipal government.
Bethel, AK 99559, USA
The body overseeing the Y-K Delta's only fuel lifeline hasn't been able to meet in a year
Commissioners Stacey Reardon and Victoria Sosa have resigned from the Bethel Port Commission, which its own minutes show has lacked quorum at all 12 scheduled meetings over the past year. Port fee increases and the FY27 port budget sit on the Aug. 17 agenda.
by Maggie AlaskaNews3d ago2 min readAI
Bethel weighs fixes or demolition for three problem properties
Bethel's City Council will hold a Sept. 1 nuisance hearing on three long-chased problem properties, deciding whether to order fixes or demolition, part of a backlog of dozens.
by Alaska News1w ago2 min readAI
Bethel weighs a climbing fee to force action on empty buildings
A draft rewrite of Bethel's nuisance code would require owners to register vacant buildings within 30 days and pay annual fees rising from $100 to more than $1,000. The Planning Commission returns to it Aug. 13 after asking for more detail.
by Alaska News1w ago1 min readAI
Bethel weighs buying road salt before the river freezes
Bethel's City Council weighs buying $55,000 of road salt before freeze-up, a bulk order the off-road Kuskokwim hub must land by barge before the river ices over for winter.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago1 min readAI
Bethel's free bulky-item pickup ends this month
Bethel residents can still use their one free annual bulky-item pickup through the city's Clean Up and Green Up program, which runs through the end of July. Those who miss the deadline must haul large items to the landfill themselves.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
Bethel's lifeline dock is shifting — and its port commission can't get quorum
Army Corps inspectors found Bethel's City Dock — the fuel and freight lifeline for the roadless Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta — shifting and eroding, as the Port Commission takes it up after 11 months without quorum.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
Bethel's safety and taxi commission is down to two of six members
Bethel's Public Safety and Transportation Commission will drop to two of six members this week, thinning oversight of the town's taxi industry and public safety needs.
by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago1 min readAI
Bethel wants to charge owners who let buildings sit empty and rot
Two draft Bethel policies would charge owners escalating fees for vacant buildings and fund demolition of hazardous or fire-damaged structures, waiving the cost if owners commit to rebuilding.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI
A shifting wall threatens Bethel's freight lifeline
The Army Corps says a shifting sheet pile wall at Bethel's City Dock needs engineering evaluation, raising concern for the port that supplies the roadless Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI
Bethel hauled water and sewer deliveries shift early for Independence Day
The City of Bethel's holiday policy moved hauled water and sewer deliveries one day earlier than normal on Independence Day, affecting all three route groups including the Wednesday/Saturday group. Residents who blocked tank access risked a skipped stop, and the main utility office was closed for the weekend; after-hours emergencies reached 907-545-4695.
by Alaska Newsadded 1mo ago1 min readAI
Bethel moves to repay firefighters shorted on their pay
Bethel is set to approve back pay for its firefighters after a review found they missed earned Kelly Days while paid at a reduced rate, using existing fire department funds.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
One Bethel gym burns through $419,000 a year in energy. An audit says it doesn't have to.
An energy audit found Bethel's YK Fitness Center spends $419,000 a year on energy, mostly heating oil at $5.77 a gallon, and could save $51,000 annually with low-cost fixes.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readAI
Many Bethel homes still haul water. This money starts to change that.
Bethel won full principal forgiveness on $3.4 million in state water infrastructure loans, including design of a storage tank and pumphouse that would begin piping water to residents who now haul it.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago1 min readAI
America's taxi capital is a roadless Alaska town
Bethel, Alaska, has more taxis per capita than any U.S. city because it's roadless — and its transportation commission is now weighing cab fares that residents depend on.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
Bethel lands $3.4M for water — and won't pay most of it back
The Bethel City Council will vote July 14 on four State Revolving Fund loan applications totaling roughly $3.38 million for water infrastructure, all carrying 100 percent forgiveness after disbursement, with only a combined $16,897 administrative fee deducted by the state.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min readAI
Bethel's mayor files to run for her city council seat again
Bethel Mayor Rose "Sugar" Henderson filed a letter of intent to run for a city council seat in Bethel's Oct. 6 municipal election. Full candidacy filings close Aug. 20.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1w ago1 min readAI