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library & Hus sura Junaau, Alaska ' « t. < ,. A m ST® ?,v ®Mad &uto(*ic <$dand Y' Yol. 19 No. « KODIAK, ALASKA, FEBRUARY 14,1959 PRICE 19 CENTS ' ‘ " — ' ■ ; - --■ - ■-- - — -■ - - - - - - - - - - --|-g| - - -- ■■ ■ - - - - -- - - -- - * Seeks to Hire Assessor To devaluate Property Calling for a revaluation, partic ularly of downtown property, with a view to establishing a more equitable tax to property owners, City Manager Bill Poland strong ly urged the hiring of a qualified to assesor for the coming fiscal year. Poland stated that there had been xm actual valuation of tax able property in Kodiak since 1953. At that time a man had been sent to Anchorage for a course of instruction in poperty valuation. Upon his return he valuated all real property and improvements within the munici pal boundries. "This was done at an approxi mate cost of $3,000,” Poland stated. “In the years between 1953 and 1958 independent local assesors were employed at a cost «f from $1500 to $2500 annually." During this time, he said, annual depreciation from the 1953 valua tion was figured and a limited amount of field work accom plished. In 1958 this was done by to City office force, with a very sheet term field evaluator, at a vest of $334. "The records are in very poor shape,” Poland continued. “Un doubtedly many tax inequities exist which would require the services of a qualified assesor to tenrect ” Poland then proposed the hiring •f an assesor who had worked for Anchorage and also Seward. “This man is well qualified and has proven himself so. Tue cost to the City will be $6,000 for three months work. This may seem fiie a lot of money, but actually it would be well worth it to have property assessed equitably and City hall records put in shape. “After such a revaluation, and a small amount of actual field work, the City office force would then be able to complete the tax rolls, at a cost of approximately one fifth of the former annual figure, for the next four years.” Poland concluded. In addition to the assessor, a local resident would have to work with him as an understudy, for future reference. The local asses sor would then work on a short time basis annually, as most of the work could be handled by the office force. The object in making the re valuation, it was pointed out, was not to raise taxes or increase revenue, but to tax on a more equitable basis. Instances of wide discrepancies in levying taxes on adjoining properties were cited. J The proposal was discussed at length, but no action was taken. A decision will be made at the next Council meeting. DEVEAU WILL ASSIST WITH NEW LEGISLATION Rep. Pete Deveau in a telegram to the Mirror, urges all those who would like to have legisla tion introduced into the House, contact him at Juneau. There are only 28 days left in which to in troduce a new bill, he said. Deveau states that upon receipt of a letter from anyone, telling what they have in mind, he will have it put in legal form, send it back, and if OK he will introduce it into the House. He stated that if the bill has merit, he will speak on it and seek support from other legislators. Deveau further stated that he is introducing a bill outlawing seine fishing in the State of Alaska. Council Changes Meeting' Night Meeting nights of the City Coun cil have been changed from Mon days to the second and fourth Thursday of each month. Metting time will be at 8 p.m. instead of 7:30 as heretofore. JESS BALLARD NAMES CRAB FESTIVAL COMMITTEES Jess Ballard, chairman of the annual King Crab Festival, which will be Vheld early • this spring, named his committee to formulate plans for the event. On the committee with him are Eldon Lester, Lou Veerman, O. K. Kincaid, John Gibbons, Art Brooks and A1 Hochberger. * * Leadership Contest Winners Announced Sharon Van Buren won first prize, a $100 Savings bond, in Ihe girls division of the Youth Leader ship Contest. First in the boys division was Adolph “Duffy” Jac* insky. who won a similar amount. Winners of the contest which i5 sponsored by the B. P. O. *2hs No. 1772, were announced this weak by Norman Dinwiddie, Chairman of the Lodge’s Youth Leadership Committee. Others who were declared win ners were Nancy Jennings and Jaaet Zieba, who won second and (IM prizes of $50 and $25 bonds ha the girl’s division; and Wayne Kraft snid Dennis Gilman, each whining a similar amount in the boy’s division. Dmwiddie stated the judges, Dr. Bob Johnson, Rev. John Molletti, and Cmdr. H. C. Ster ling reported that all contestants were very closely matched, which made judging very difficult. Hon orable mention went to Jeralynor Smith and Gail Zieba, who were very dose in total points to the winners. First and second place winners automatically become State en tries. Awards will be presented at the National Youth Week dnrezneiries at the Elks hall during first week in May. ~ **;—■• ./• ^ i + ■* 1 Chamber OK’s Ferry Study ADOPTS RESOLUTIONS ON HOSPITAL, LIQUOR LAW, SCHOOL OF FISHERIES Following a committee report, the -Chamber of Commerce went on record at its meeting Thurs day as favoring a feasibility study of the proposed ferry system between here and the mainland. A1 Hochberger, Dick Berg and other members of the committee appointed at ; an earlier meeting, reported favorably on the project. The idea has now been expanded, to include stops at Bruin Bay, King Salmon, Seldovda, Port Gra ham and possibly- other ports. - Bill Poland urged an enthusias tic effort be made to determine its feasibility, and the possibility that it be incorporated in the bill to go before the legislature on the Southeastern Alaska ferry system. Spokesmen favored private enterprise operating the ferry, but in a motion passed urged the State government undertake a feasibility study. John Gibbons, chairman of the legislative committee, introduced several resolutions which were voted on and passed. One resolu tion urged the defeat of the bill introduced in the legislature put ting the State in the wholesale liquor industry. The bill was read and vehemently denounced by spokesmen. Another resolution fa vored the immediate construction of the mental hospital, utilizing the $6% milliori offered by the Federal government for the pur pose. Another resolution called for the establishment of a school of fisheries in Alaska. Possible site would be Kodiak. A resolution urged the establish ment of the fur seal industry in Alaska. Purpose is to provide em ployment to Alaskans. Furs are now being processed in St. Louis, Missouri, and have been for gen erations. Continued to page 4 I 1 Arrests Provide Busy Court Week Several persons were arrested and appeared in court this week. Their names, charges against them and their dispositions as reported by the police department is as follows: Irene Hall for dis orderly conduct. $150 fine. L. V. Lancaster for speeding. $35 fine. Allen E. Kamps, a minor, on a drunk charge. $60 fine and $100 fine suspended. Charles F. Rush, a minor, on a drunk charge. $25 fine, suspended; $25 bail forfei ted. Clarence A. Sims, on a drunk charge. $25 bail, forfeited. James T. Deshazo, on a charge of op erating a motor vehicle while under the influence of liquor. $100 fine, $50 of which was sus pended and drivers license sus pended for 30 days. Laura B. Johnson, on the same charge. $100 fine with $50 suspended and her drivers license suspended for 4* months. - - * - y V i; Legislators Urge HS’s For Island Villages JUNEAU Uf)—Kodiak’s three man legislative delegation has urged the Department of Educa tion to begin freshman high school classes in the villages of Afognak, Ouzinkie arid Old Harbor. The requests were made in letters to Don M. Dafoe, Commis sioner of Education, by Sen. A1 Owen and Reps. Peter Deveau and Henry Haag. The Democratic lawmakers said there is “A growing need for advanced educational facilities be yond the grades” now offered at -the villages. “At the start of the next school year would seem an excellent time to establish the first year of the high school in the villages,” their letters to Da foe said. “A start in this direction would be in keeping with the progress made by these people in improving their economic condi tions and general activity.” The Kodiak delegation voted with the majority on all roll calls during last week, as the only major piece of legislation that cleared was the lawmaker's own salary bill. They drew their first pay check Wednesday, each of the 60 legislators getting $680 in per diem expenses at the $40 a day rate approved in the bill signed by acting Gov. Wade. The first $250 check on the $3000 annual salary will not be cleared until late this month. Rep. Deveau lost a motion in the House Thursday in his attempt to reduce the residence require ments in a divorce action. The House passed a bill cutting the length of residence from two to one year. A proposed amendment by Rep. Deveau to further reduce it to eight months was defeated. The bill now goes to the Senate. Sen. Owen introduced a memor ial in the Senate, urging the post office department to accept com Plans Out for Jail Acquisition Plans of the City Manager to secure the abandoned Federal jail to house the City library met a snag this week. The building will not be available to the City at the present time if ever, it was learned from two sources. A letter from Hugh J. Wade, Acting Governor, advised the Council that the General Services Administration has agreed to post pone action on the disposition of the Kodiak jail until Congress acts on the omnibus bill to transfer such properties to the State. Similar information was recei ved from John P. Gifford, Re gional Property Coordinator, Division of Surplus Property of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. , He stated that G. S. A. had re ceived requests from two State departments to hold action in abeyance pending transfer to the State.---. “ petitive bids for va surfafct midi contract for points between Sew*1 ard and- Nicteoleki, orf Umhakr Island of the Aleutians. " • ’ ‘ The present contract, for service on the Expansion, expiry June.; 30. Owen said he understood boats supplying Shemya might be inter ested in bidding for the contract.r. ; . ’ - : , Doypi at Alaska -King f rab, Hans Eide;*accountant, has been ill. Don Eliason of San Juan Packing in Seattle! 'arrived last week to help with Eide’s work for a coupk1 of weeks. The superintendent, Emil Nor ton, says everything is running smoothly. They are in full pro duction. They froze and canned about 13,000 crab this week. & At King Crab, Inc., the wind curtailed their operations some what Crab and shrimp wore re ceived up to Wednesday. B4U Olsen is the new foreman for the night shift The third shrimp peeler is now being installed. The CELTIC and the MCKINLEY from Seattle arrived this week. They will drag for shrimp.. ■t . The EXPANSION tied »p at the City Dock Thursday noon end left 4 p.m. yesterday for the Westward. They will be back in ten days. A new 19 foot smoke stack has been installed atop the City dock, office—it is hoped this will etmi nate blowbacks and backfiring of. the office heater. Over at A1 vine’s Marine Repair, they have finished repairs on A1 Fenner’s boat, the CHIGNIK 12, which was burned awhile back. • ; j ;i They are now working on Tiny Cichoski’s SKIPPY and helping Johnny Ketelnikoff ready gear on, his new boat, the. .LEADING LADY. r * The Foss barge 95 with the tug ADELINE FOSS brought in duel this week for Standard Oil Com pany. The RUTH L, with skipper Dale Kramer, refueled, at Stan dard. He made three trips this week from Jap Bay to Ouz^kie Packing. There’s just the usual traffic* at Union Oil dock, according to Jack Hinckel, consignee. START SHOOTING FILM Shooting for the film on %me King erab industry on Kocbak Island twill begin February 20, according to an announcement by Roy Rickey, Chairman r,korr'»X*u» /\f r' . ... .