Politics

The costs of running the City of Bethel are rising. City council's proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2020 allocates $450,000 more for gravel road maintenance than in years past. The police department’s budget has increased by $1,194,003 in the past three years. The proposed budget for water and sewer has jumped $1,088,267 in just the past year. 

U.S. Attorney General William Barr is coming to Bethel and Napaskiak on Friday to talk with leaders about rural justice issues, including the public safety crisis and the high rates of domestic violence and sexual assault in Western Alaska.

Bethel City Council fired former City Manager Pete Williams weeks ago, but Williams' termination was still the topic of the biggest showdown at last night’s council meeting. Council member Leif Albertson introduced an action memorandum to consult an attorney about whether the firing was legal. It failed 3-3 with Vice-Mayor Raymond “Thor” Williams and council members Fritz Charles and Carole Jung-Jordan opposing. Albertson, Mitchell Forbes, and Perry Barr voted in favor of consulting an attorney. Mayor Fred Watson was absent.

Bethel has lost its opportunity to protest the marijuana retail license for ALASKAbuds. The last day to protest is June 3, but the council learned Tuesday night at a council meeting that they were required to provide seven days notice to the licensee. 

The budget, legal issues, search for a new city manager, and demolition of an old building are among the issues before the Bethel City Council on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, the Bethel City Council chose an executive search firm to look for a new city manager. The name of the search firm remains confidential until the regular council meeting next week, when the contract could be approved. 

Once council and the firm sign a contract, the firm will advertise the job, collect applications, and narrow down the field to a handful of applicants. That should take two to three months. Then it will be up to the council to review those candidates.

The City of Bethel could be on the hook for a lot of money. Bethel’s insurance company told the city council on Tuesday that the city is on its own if former City Manager Pete Williams files a wrongful termination lawsuit. 

Barbara Thurston, the executive director of Alaska Public Entity Insurance, said the reason the city would not be covered can be seen in the insurance contract the city signed.

"It requires that members consult an attorney before terminating an employee and following the recommendations of the attorney," Thurston said.