Juneau’s City Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Juneau’s City Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

City urges governor to promote teleworking, safety at state offices

Assembly is also looking at initiatives to support local businesses

The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly sent a letter to the Governor Mike Dunleavy on Friday urging him to take more proactive steps in reducing COVID-19 risk for state employees.

“We voted to respectfully request that the governor institute policies and procedures to minimize the transmission of coronavirus in state office buildings,” said Assembly member Greg Smith in a phone interview Friday.

Smith praised Dunleavy’s actions in establishing protocols to prevent transmission of the coronavirus at businesses or travel, but said that the same steps had not been put in place for state workers. At least one confirmed case in Juneau had contact with a state office building.

“The message coming from the governor’s office has not been very accommodating,” said Assembly member Carole Triem in a phone interview Friday.

Many state employees were still working in the office unnecessarily, Triem said, doing jobs that could easily be performed remotely. The letter encourages Dunleavy to promote less contact, more teleworking, and better protocols to protect state workers and their communities.

The Assembly is also working to ease some of the economic damage done by the twin trauma of quarantine closing businesses and a truncated tourist season. Triem, along with Assembly member Wade Bryson and Mayor Beth Weldon are working together to pioneer multiple initiatives.

“We’re working on a small business relief loan program. We’ll probably introduce this on Tuesday,” Triem said. “The advantage we have at the local government level is that we can move really fast.”

The loans would be available to businesses with fewer than 25 employees and would likely be available in amounts from $25,000 to $50,000, Triem said, though that may be subject to change before the program is greenlit. The loans would be zero-interest, zero-collateral loans, and would come from the budget reserve fund.

“We’d be giving them cash right now so they can cover the payroll and bills. The details aren’t final and we’ll be discussing it in the assembly,” Triem said. “Sign a piece of a paper, and we’ll give you some money to stop the bleeding.”

Triem also said the Assembly was looking at options for rental assistance, working through an existing organization, and pushing back the due date for sales taxes.

“We hear you, and we feel for you, but help is on the way,” Smith said. “We’re going to look at all the options, see where’s the biggest need.”

The Assembly will view these options at the meeting Tuesday.

• Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757.621.1197 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Feb. 1

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears hockey senior captain Luke Bovitz (4) was selected to the 2025 Northern Lights All-Conference Team this week at the ASAA state hockey tournament. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Bovitz, Welch earn all-conference hockey honors

JDHS senior, junior honored before state tourney.

Students arrive at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé for the first day of the 2024-25 school year Aug. 15. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Students return unharmed to school after smoke detected at JDHS

CCFR gave the “all clear” for school to resume normal schedule.

Fireworks detonate just above a barge in Gastineau Channel during the show that began just after midnight on July 4, 2023. (Photo by Bob Gross)
City leaders consider alternatives to July 4 fireworks show after 2023 mishap raises safety concerns

Assembly members OKs same show this year if volunteer group willing, exploring other options for future.

Tim Ackerman begins the process of removing a dead seal’s pelt on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, on the Letnikof Cove shoreline. (Rashah McChesney/Chilkat Valley News)
Five headless seals have washed up on Chilkat Valley beaches in the last few months; here’s possibly why

Local marine mammal hunter weighs says the carcasses offer a glimpse into Alaska’s marine ecosystem.

Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people gather in Juneau for the opening of Celebration on June 5, 2024. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
New lawsuit seeks to limit Alaska Native tribes’ authority, stop Eklutna gambling hall

State challenges legal interpretation that allows tribes to exert authority over as much as 2.7M acres.

The Alaska State Capitol is seen on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in front of snow-covered Mount Juneau. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Gov. Dunleavy proposes new limits on Alaskans’ ability to record conversations

A new proposal from Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy would require all sides… Continue reading

Jamiann S’eiltin Hasselquist asks participants to kneel as a gesture to “stay grounded in the community” during a protest in front of the Alaska State Capitol on Wednesday focused on President Donald Trump’s actions since the beginning of his second term. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Trump protest rally at Alaska State Capitol targets Nazi-like salutes, challenges to Native rights

More than 120 people show up as part of nationwide protest to actions during onset of Trump’s second term.

A sign at the former Floyd Dryden Middle School on Monday, June 24, 2024, commemorates the school being in operation from 1973 to 2024. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire file photo)
Assembly ponders Floyd Dryden for tribal youth programs, demolishing much of Marie Drake for parking

Tlingit and Haida wants to lease two-thirds of former middle school for childcare and tribal education.

Most Read