Kodiak Island Borough Assembly protests new restaurant liquor license, approves rezoning and medical‑center design contracts

The Kodiak Island Borough Assembly on May 7 conditionally protested a new restaurant liquor‑license application, adopted a rezoning to permit a sewage lift station, and authorized several contracts for landfill remediation and hospital systems design.

Assembly Member Whiteside moved to file a protest to the Alaska Municipal Control Office application for Nuniak LLC (AMCO license number 60432) “subject to rescission,” a process he described as allowing the objection to be withdrawn once required conditions are met. Whiteside said he supports the applicant and said the protest was intended to ensure minor outstanding issues — including a small ADA compliance concern noted in staff materials — are resolved before the license is finalized. Mayor Jared Griffin seconded the motion, which passed unanimously on roll call.

The assembly also adopted ordinance FY2026‑24 to rezone Lot 21, Sub Lot 6 (listed in meeting materials as 2593 McCroken Way) from R‑1 single‑family residential to Public Use Lands to permit construction and operation of Sewage Lift Station No. 5. Administrative Official AO Garut said the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval 5–0. The measure passed 6–0.

On contracting matters, the assembly approved a change order to contract FY2026‑45 with Brecken Construction for landfill soil remediation. AO Garut told the assembly cold weather left remediation material partially frozen, so staff proposed allowing the material to thaw naturally and cover an additional mobilization fee; the change order amount is $7,313.77 and the motion passed on a 6–0 vote.

The assembly authorized contract FY2026‑59 with AMC Engineers for 100% design of the Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center reverse‑osmosis and steam‑generator systems at a cost of $73,090. Staff said the project was at roughly 35% design and that proceeding to 100% design under borough ownership was appropriate. The assembly similarly approved contract FY2026‑61 with AMC Engineers for 100% design of automatic transfer switches at a cost of $151,155; staff said that work aligned with the borough taking ownership of design at this project stage. Both motions passed by recorded vote.

The assembly rejected one hospital‑related design contract. Contract FY2026‑60 — 100% design of an air‑handling unit and an alternate rooftop unit for the Kodiak Community Health Center with HZA Engineering Solutions — failed after members voted no, following staff advice that the project was already at about 65% design and that transferring ownership to the borough at that stage would require costly redesign.

Administrative Official AO Garut reported several other staff updates: the new code‑enforcement officer Casey Anderson followed up at the Bells Flat dump site; HDR and the Alaska Department of Transportation provided an update on a PEL study and an updated purpose‑and‑needs report is expected; and spring cleanup collected about 105,080 pounds (roughly 52.54 tons) of yellow bags plus household hazardous waste items. Mayor Griffin used his remarks to urge residents to provide evidence‑based input during the upcoming budget discussions, saying, “we sincerely mean that we need your input.”

The assembly held two citizens’ comment periods and received no public testimony during either interval. The meeting adjourned after member comments and routine closing business.

Votes at a glance
- Protest AMCO license (Nuniak LLC, #60432): motion to protest subject to rescission (mover: Assembly Member Whiteside; second: Mayor Jared Griffin). Outcome: approved (unanimous recorded vote).
- Ordinance FY2026‑24 (rezoning to Public Use Lands for sewage lift station at 2593 McCroken Way): approved; vote recorded 6–0.
- Contract FY2026‑45 change order (Brecken Construction) — landfill soil remediation: approved; change order $7,313.77; vote 6–0.
- Contract FY2026‑59 (AMC Engineers) — 100% design, reverse osmosis/steam systems (Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center): approved; $73,090.
- Contract FY2026‑60 (HZA Engineering Solutions) — 100% design, air handling / rooftop unit: failed (motion defeated after roll call).
- Contract FY2026‑61 (AMC Engineers) — 100% design, automatic transfer switches: approved; $151,155.

Who spoke (attribution whitelist)
Jared Griffin, Mayor; Mister Whiteside, Assembly Member; AO Garut, Administrative Official; Cody Allen, E & F Director; Ted Hanson, Building Official. Quotations in this article are attributed only to these speakers and to the clerk for roll‑call actions where relevant.

Next steps
The protest to AMCO will remain in place until staff receive confirmation the applicant has satisfied the stated conditions, at which point the clerk will notify AMCO and the licensee that the objection has been rescinded. The planning and contracting actions will proceed under staff direction and as noted in project timelines provided in staff reports.