Empire Archives is a series printed every Saturday featuring a short compilation of headline stories in the Juneau Empire from archived editions in 1985, 1995, and 2005. The stories include names, AP style, and other content of their eras.
This week in 1985, Tony Kaiser has owned land along the Mendenhall River for about 30 years. He has done little with the 140 acres he owns other than take some gravel from a spot along the river bank. Now the Juneau City-Borough wants to condemn him and his neighbor’s land for a riverside park, a move they oppose at the prices being offered. As one of the few undeveloped stretches of the river bank, Kaiser’s land is a key ingredient in the city’s plan for a greenbelt park along the river, said city parks director Jim Hall. Hall said efforts have been underway to preserve the river bank since the 1970s, when his department and area residents decided a river greenbelt was a top park priority.
Today the Juneau Assembly recently approved installing HESCO barriers along the riverside area it owns beginning at Dimond Park as part of a semipermanent levee to safeguard against annual glacial outburst floods.
Original Story: “City seeks riverside park land,” by Betsy Longenbaugh. 5/29/1985.
This week in 1995, teachers union members have voted overwhelmingly to support a bargaining position adopting the suggestions of an out-of-state arbitrator, the president of the Juneau Education Association said today. Union President Jim Berg said some votes are still coming in, but support is strong for the recommendations made by arbitrator Kenneth McCaffree of Bainbridge Island, Wash. Union negotiators will meet with the school district team next week to discuss the acceptance of the arbitrator’s recommendation for a two-year contract including 1) no across-the-board raise for the 1995-96 school year, individual raises for 1995-96 for increased years of experience and education, and 3) a 2 percent bonus for the 1996-97 school year. The bonus would not become part of the teachers’ base pay.
Today teachers are telling the Juneau School District they’re quitting because of low salaries, and the most recent contract offer to them proposes slashing salaries, cutting middle school prep in half and removing guaranteed prep minutes for secondary teachers.
Original Story: “Teachers want deal,” by Dan Joling. 5/26/1995.
This week in 2005, Gov. Frank Murkowski touted education funding and changes to the state’s retirement systems for new employees as some of the top successes in the Legislature this year at a news conference in Fairbanks on Thursday. But the contentious session, which went more than two weeks into overtime at a price of about $450,000, was panned as a failure by some lawmakers after the close of the special session Wednesday. Murkowski said the capital budget approved by lawmakers this year uses about $650 million in state funds. It is one of the largest capital budgets in the state’s history and is largely a result of high oil prices over the last year. Murkowski said the money will be used to build schools, roads and other necessary infrastructure. Others have said lawmakers spent too much of the oil windfall money and that changes to the retirement system to establish 401(k)-style investment accounts for new employees rather than sticking with the current defined-benefit pension plan will do nothing to reduce the state’s $5.7 billion unfunded liability.
Today the Legislature is trying to reverse course on retirement benefits for public sector employees by reviving a modified pension system, arguing the state’s high employee vacancy and turnover rate is costing more than paying better retirements will. A bill that passed the House during this year’s session will be considered by the Senate next year.
Original Story: “Governor claims success with PERS, budget,” by Timothy Inklebarger. 5/27/2005.
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at mark.sabbatini@juneauempire.com or (907) 957-2306.
