The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly on Tuesday narrowly voted to commit resources to an ongoing lawsuit to keep the Tongass National Forest exempt from the 2001 federal Roadless Rule, a move that will put the borough at odds with local Alaska Native entities that are opposing the exemption.
The December case, filed by the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council, the Organized Village of Saxman, Ketchikan Indian Community and 19 other entities, alleges that federal agencies failed to follow procedures required by the Alaska National Interests Land Conservation Act and the National Environmental Policy Act.
Borough Attorney Glenn Brown during the meeting described the December case as another instance of litigation over the Roadless Rule and the Tongass National Forest, using the term âprocedural swashbucklingâ to characterize the ongoing legal disputes over the land.
BORO settles on vax resolution ketchikandailynews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from ketchikandailynews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Borough Assembly approves amended COVID-19 vaccination resolution
Posted by Maria Dudzak | Dec 23, 2020
The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly on Monday approved an amended resolution regarding COVID-19 vaccinations.
There were two separate COVID-19 resolutions up for consideration. The first, proposed by Borough Mayor Rodney Dial, asked businesses not to deny services based on a person’s COVID-19 vaccination status or refusal to provide that information. That resolution failed Monday night due to lack of motion.
The second, proposed by assembly members Judith McQuerry and Austin Otos, encourages citizens to get the COVID-19 vaccine. They argued vaccinating the Ketchikan community would help the economy reopen, while also recognizing an individual’s right to choose.