The Borough Assembly adopted a resolution designating the borough’s top six federal legislative capital improvement project priorities for fiscal years 2009-2013.

Mel Stephens urged the assembly to amend the resolution to delete the Kodiak-Near Island ADF&G Research and Administration Facility from the list, maintaining it was not properly a borough project.

“It makes no more sense than to build a post office and rent it to the postal service,” Stephens said. “Borough money should be spent in more appropriate ways.”

Borough Assembly members disagreed.

“Kodiak can be a hub for fishery research,” Louise Stutes said. “Fishing is Kodiak’s backbone.”

Sue Jeffery echoed those sentiments.

“There is a need for fishery research,” she said, “so we have an understanding not only of the fish we harvest, but of the marine mammals and the entire marine ecosystem.”

In other action, contract no. FY2009-11 was approved for a collective bargaining agreement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1547.

The assembly approved contract no. FY2009-12 to upgrade KIB public safety radio systems with Aksala Electronics. Womens Bay Fire Station, Bayside Fire Station, Chiniak EMS First Responders, Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center, Kodiak Island Search and Rescue, Kodiak Island Borough Landfill and Kodiak Amateur Radio Emergency Services radios will be reprogrammed or replaced to make them compatible with Kodiak City and Coast Guard AES encryption systems.

The assembly passed Resolution No. FY2009-18 adopting the Kodiak Island Borough Strategic Plan for the years 2009-2013. This was the first all-inclusive update of the comprehensive plan since it was originally prepared and adopted in 1968.

The assembly passed Ordinance No. FY2009-14 repealing Section 3.10.130 Education Fund. The idea in 1996, when the anticipated Kodiak Island Borough share of the Exxon Valdez oil spill settlement fund was $20 million, was to establish a permanent education fund. It was estimated the fund would produce $2 million per year to assist educational objectives. Now that the actual settlement funds are less than $1 million, an education fund is deemed impractical.

Borough Mayor Jerome Selby made several appointments:

• Rick Lindholm to the Parks and Recreation Committee

• Alan Torres to the Service Area No. 1 Board

• Scott Bonney and Pete Malley to the Architectural Review Board

• Nick Szabo to the Solid Waste Advisory Board

The assembly voted a non-protest to the State of Alaska Alcoholic Beverage Control Board request for renewal of liquor license applications, with the exception of Kalsin Bay Inn due to unpaid taxes.

Solid Waste Advisory Board member Marion Owen updated the assembly on the board’s education outreach activities. SWAB has adopted a logo — Reduce, Re-use and Recycle — and the committee plans a presence at ComFish in order to get the word out to the community.

Madison Strong of Port Lions was named Student of the Month.

The next Borough Assembly regular meeting is scheduled Feb. 19.

Mirror writer Harry Dodge can be reached via e-mail at hdodge@kodiakdailymirror.com.