HomeMy WebLinkAbout1969-08-14 Council Minutes - Special MeetingI
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MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING KENAI CITY COUNCIL
9:15 A.M. August 14, 1969.
Present; Councilmen Bailie, Bielefeld, Hulien, Malone, McCann and
McCollum;. Mayor Morin, Acting City Manager, Nels Kjelstad, Fire -
Chief Wisecarver, Police Chief Heffner, Asst. Chief Doyle, City
Surveyor, Ken Wisdom, Water b Sewer Supt. Bruce Massey, Director of
Public Works, Red Jaynes and Mickie Norene.
Also present was James Fisher and Harold Galliett.
This special meeting was called to brief the Council on the status
of the fire.
Mayor Morin advised that the area had not been declared a disaster
area, but we would have Senators representing Alaska flying over
the area today and it is expected they will recommend to Governor
Miller that he contact President Nixon and request the area be de-
clared a disaster area.
Mayor Morin, with consent of Council will asethat all hunting be
banned in the Kenai area until such time the hazardous fire conditions
no longer exist.
Chief Wisecarver advised the fire did,not appear -to be headed for
Kenai at this time, but a change in the wind could bring the fire
downtown.
Asst. Chief Doyle explained the directions of the fire at this time.
Be advised he had worked on the blaze which threated homes in the
Thompson Park area all night. Chief Wisecarver worked the Beaver
Loop fire. Wisecarver explained that they had to pull out three dif-
ferent times because of the heat and smoke.
At this time one house and two trailers have been lost. The Fire
Department is well organized with the Military, BLM and City Forces.
There has been very little communication problems. While the City
Fire Department is working with the BLM, their prime responsibility
will be to save buildings. Chief Wisecarver advised he would take
what ever measures he deemed necessary to accomplish this. He also
explained that when an order is issued to take necessary action there
to normally no time to explain why the action was being taken, but
assured Council he was doing what he thought beat to protect his men:
sndtoquipment. At this time there have been no injuries. A few of
the men have burned eyes from the smoke, but will be ok as soon as
they have rested up.
Bruce Masse reported that both artesian wells were being used to
fill the pulp trucks.plus the float plane basin. Every effort is
being made to avoid using the City water system to fill the trucks.
The water in the city system should be reserved for fighting fires
which could break out of another nature.
Mr. Kjelstad reported on the location of the fire, the action which
had been taken and plans which have been made to protect the city in
the event the fire changes its course. He advised that the city depart-
ments are all well coordinated with each other and with the Military and
BLM.
All radios are manned and communications with each other has
been good.
There is no coordination between the City and Civil Defense.
Nels advised he will talk to these people.
Mayor Morin advised Mr. Kjelstad that he was the Civil Defense
Director of Kenai.
Police Chief Heffner advised that there had been no reports of any
vandalism.
Heffner praised the Fire Department for the fine job they are doing.
Mr. Jaynes reported that the Youth Corp kids were also doing a
tremendous job in assisting during this emergency. Ho+also advised
that the Public Works Department was well organized and in contact
with each other.
Mayor Morin suggested that we start trying to get our own BLM. The
one operating here now is dispatched from Idaho as Alaska at the
present time is part of their area.
Meeting adjourned at 10:10 A.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Mickie Norene,
Deputy City Clerk