Congratulations to the Winners of the 2011 Alaska Municipal League Awards!
Revenue & Finance:
Lucinda Mahoney’s B.E.S.T. Project
As an answer to Mayor Dan Sullivan’s budget challenge to reduce the Municipality of Anchorage’s spending and increase revenue, Lucinda Mahoney launched the B.E.S.T. (Building Efficient Services Today) project that involves a number of cost saving initiatives that leverage technology, consolidate resources, and streamline business processes. A few examples include: electronic timesheets and absence management, online pay stubs and online notification of public notices. Mahoney, under the direction of Mayor Sullivan, issued an RFP to review current maintenance operations to identify strategies by which the city can be more efficient. Recommendations are expected by the end of the year and to save the Municipality yield savings over the long run.
Education & Local Government:
Ketchikan Gateway Borough: Downtown CPV Shuttle, Shelter Construction & Bus Painting
The Ketchikan Gateway Borough’s Transit Department decided to showcase the community’s local resource, Salmon, to locals and visitors. They called on Ray Troll, local artist to paint Gillig bus with a Salmon theme. This bus educates it’s passengers on both a local artist and the salmon that is Ketchikan’s economic engine and way of Life. The second phase of the project was to provide shelters for visitors that are waiting for this bus. Ketchikan used 98% of Alaskan material and labor to complete this project and is working on 12 more shelters that embody the spirit of Ketchikan. Results of this project have seen tripled ridership and protection from inclement weather for thousands of visitors and locals while highlighting local resources.
Public Works:
City of Bethel: Creative Ideas for Savings & Effectiveness in Water & Sewer
The City of Bethel hired journeyman plumber Bill Arnold in 2008 to be Utilities Maintenance Foreman and oversee a crew of four. In the 3 years that he has worked, the city has saved several thousands of dollars. The city did this by no longer heating their ground water before adding the necessary chemicals, moving thermostats made to measure the temperature of the water or sewer from the outside of the pipes (where they were measuring air temperature) to the inside of the water and sewer pipes (where it would measure the actual temperature of what was flowing through it) and removing the raised arch pipe and installing the pipe flat on the ground to restore high pressure. This was a $1.3 million United States Department of Agriculture – Rural Development water and sewer infrastructure project that will save the City of Bethel millions in years to come.
Just a Darn Good Idea:
Ketchikan Gateway Borough: Building a Healthier Community with Group Memberships
In January of 2011, the Parks and Recreation Department of the Ketchikan Gateway Borough introduced a Group Membership Fee for anyone in their community for the Gateway Recreation Center and the Mike Smithers Community Pool. The Group Membership allows 10 people to sign up for only $150 each to take advantage of a wide variety of fitness activities. These Memberships have brought community members together to support each other in their fitness plans, which reduces personal injuries, keeping medical costs down for individuals and employers and boosting one’s overall wellbeing and health. These Group Memberships not only helped the community but also benefitted the General Fund on the Borough by offsetting the annual budget by $181,500.
Municipal Official of the Year:
Dustin T Parker, Mayor
In his early years, Dustin Parker expressed his desire to serve his community and country by saying when he grew up he wanted to be the president of the United States. In high-school he volunteered as the radio announcer and disk jockey for the local public radio station KSKO. In this position he also provided management for the station. At 22 years old, he was appointed to the City Council and only a year later he was elected mayor. His goals, which he fulfilled, on his letter of interest to the Council was bringing a unified sense of community to the council, determination to push through any obstacle, seeing the fulfillment of his hopes and dreams for the community accomplished, and providing his generation’s perspective as they settle into the community as young adults. Whatever his future holds, his community knows that he will succeed with flying colors and do his family and community proud.
Municipal Employee of the Year:
Rich Koch, City Manager
Rick Koch has been the City Manager for the City of Kenai since 2006 and has over 20 years of professional local government executive experience. In 2011 his significant accomplishments included receiving “credentialed” status from the International City/Council Managers Association, leading the City to its second All-America City designation, an appointment to the Alaska Natural Gas Development Authority, working with community members such as the Friends of the Library, and library staff to create a showcase library, and working directly with City employees to address escalating health care costs by finding cost-effective solutions by establishing a voluntary employee Wellness Program.
Vic Fischer Local Government Leadership Award:
Bruce Botelho, Mayor
Mayor Bruce Botelho has shared his education and experience with the community and state in which he was raised with unflagging enthusiasm and dedication. After receiving his law degree, Mayor Botelho became Alaska’s Assistant Attorney General in 1976, Deputy Attorney General in 1992 and Attorney General in 1994 through 2002 under Governor Hickel and Knowles. He was elected to Juneau Assembly in 1983 and as Mayor from 1988-1991 and after “retiring” was elected again in 2003, completing his fourth term in October 2012. He also serves as a commissioner on the Alaska Rural Justice and Law Enforcement Commission and the Alaska Municipal League. Mayor Botelho has been instrumental in major policy and legislation including: development of Port Dues, passage of comprehensive mining ordinance, passing of an employment rights ordinance guaranteeing that decisions on hire, recruitment, and promotion would be based solely on merit. He is also very active in community and civic affairs such as: Tongass Futures Roundtable, the Foraker Group, Juneau International Folkdancers, the Juneau World Affairs Council and the Boy Scouts of America. He also provides many hours of Pro Bono service as an attorney for those who cannot afford counsel.