City Seeks a Consensus on Census of Valdez Population
By Lee Revis
Editor, Valdez Star
CITY HALL - The Valdez City Council passed a resolution adopting the figure of 4,600 residents as the official population of Valdez at the city council meeting Monday night. The move comes as a rebuttal of the annual "Population Determination" put out by the State of Alaska last January, which estimated the population of town to be 3,749.
The city of Valdez was dubious of those numbers and set out to do an estimate of their own. One of the methods of determining population counts that the state allows is by what is called the "Housing Unit Method" according to Lisa Von Bargen, Director of Community and Economic Development for Valdez. "We actually did a 100% field enumeration," she told the council.
In laymans terms, that means that the city actually went out and verified whether or not every housing unit in the city was actually still standing and whether or not it was occupied. It also includes numbers of people living in what are called "group quarters", like the Senior Center and the college. Then using accepted averages for the sizes of housing units from the 2001 mail in census the city conducted in 2001, they were able to peg the number of residents in Valdez at 4,600. "We're not counting exact," Ms. Von Bargen told the council. "It's a best guess estimate."
The numbers are important to the City for a number of reasons, including the possibility that Valdez will be forced into a Prince William Sound Borough.
"This is a very big increase," said City Attorney Bill Walker. "I am so pleased with this."
He said a higher population count is important not only for the possible borough issue, but for voter districting issues and beyond.
Ms. Von Bargen did note that the city does need to consider a true head count at some point in the near future.
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Vandals Ransack College Early Sunday Morning
Vandals Ransack College Early Sunday Morning
By Lee Revis
Editor, Valdez Star
PWSCC - Prince William Sound Community College was brutally vandalized in the wee hours of Sunday morning leaving thousands of dollars in damage in its wake. "We have to juvenile males in custody," said Lt. Bill Comer of the Valdez Police Department.
Cops were first alerted to vandalism when the suspects set off the fire alarm inside the college sometime around 1:00 a.m. Sunday morning. Firefighters responding to the alarm found no fire, but brazen destruction all throughout the building. Plants were overturned, paperwork scattered everywhere in addition to mounds of broken glass from windows and display cases, destroyed drinking fountains and furniture. The damage was not limited to inside the building. All six of the college owned vehicles in the parking lot outside the building suffered one or more broken windows. "It was overwhelming," Comer said on Monday morning. "It was kind of unbelievable."
Six previously off duty officers and jailers were called in to process the scene which will cost the city quite a bit of money. "When a major crime like this happens it utilizes all our resources," said Comer during the early morning while police were still taking fingerprints and documenting the scene. "If we try to do it cheaper and quicker it costs you in the long run."
College personnel and volunteers in the community were given access to the building at around 4:00 p.m. Sunday to do a damage assessment and start putting the pieces back together in hopes of having the school ready for business as usual come Monday morning. "Community support was incredible," said Acting President Doug Desorcie after the school opened for classes on schedule Monday morning. "We were totally out at about 11:00 p.m. last night."
While the institution appeared a little frayed at the edges, it was indeed open for business Monday morning and all services, including the Wellness Center were abuzz with activity.
Actual estimates of the dollar value of the destruction are not yet fully known but will surely run into the tens of thousands of dollars. It is also still undetermined what, if anything, was stolen during the rampage. Damage assessments and costs for replacement and repairs of the vandalism are ongoing.
By Lee Revis
Editor, Valdez Star
PWSCC - Prince William Sound Community College was brutally vandalized in the wee hours of Sunday morning leaving thousands of dollars in damage in its wake. "We have to juvenile males in custody," said Lt. Bill Comer of the Valdez Police Department.
Cops were first alerted to vandalism when the suspects set off the fire alarm inside the college sometime around 1:00 a.m. Sunday morning. Firefighters responding to the alarm found no fire, but brazen destruction all throughout the building. Plants were overturned, paperwork scattered everywhere in addition to mounds of broken glass from windows and display cases, destroyed drinking fountains and furniture. The damage was not limited to inside the building. All six of the college owned vehicles in the parking lot outside the building suffered one or more broken windows. "It was overwhelming," Comer said on Monday morning. "It was kind of unbelievable."
Six previously off duty officers and jailers were called in to process the scene which will cost the city quite a bit of money. "When a major crime like this happens it utilizes all our resources," said Comer during the early morning while police were still taking fingerprints and documenting the scene. "If we try to do it cheaper and quicker it costs you in the long run."
College personnel and volunteers in the community were given access to the building at around 4:00 p.m. Sunday to do a damage assessment and start putting the pieces back together in hopes of having the school ready for business as usual come Monday morning. "Community support was incredible," said Acting President Doug Desorcie after the school opened for classes on schedule Monday morning. "We were totally out at about 11:00 p.m. last night."
While the institution appeared a little frayed at the edges, it was indeed open for business Monday morning and all services, including the Wellness Center were abuzz with activity.
Actual estimates of the dollar value of the destruction are not yet fully known but will surely run into the tens of thousands of dollars. It is also still undetermined what, if anything, was stolen during the rampage. Damage assessments and costs for replacement and repairs of the vandalism are ongoing.
"Genuine Offer" Makes Gasline to Valdez Closer
"Genuine Offer" Makes Gasline to Valdez Closer
By Lee Revis
Editor, Valdez Star
CIVIC CENTER- The year 2011. "That's when gas is going to market," said Ryan Colgan of the Alaska Gasline Port Authority at the end of a press conference held in Fairbanks Monday afternoon. "That's our goal."
Colgan spoke the monumental words after Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Jim Whitaker announced that the AGPA had made a solid, bona fide offer to the state of Alaska and the three major oil producers on the North Slope to purchase one to two billion dollars worth of natural gas per year for thirty years. That translates to approximately four billion cubic feet per day of natural gas. "The market will determine the value," said Whitaker. "A fixed price is not part of the equation."
The monumental announcement is one giant step forward in the plan to export Alaska's natural gas reserves via a new natural gas pipeline from the North Slope to tidewater in Valdez. From there it will be shipped to west coast markets via specially built ships. "We think this is an historical event," said Whitaker.
The offer to buy the gas and bring it to market still has several obstacles to overcome before actual construction on a gasline can begin. Last week, the authority filed an application with the state under the Stranded Gas Act, which will need approval of the state legislature. "Every project has a number of hurdles it has to cross," Whitaker said.
However, the greatest hurdle may come from the leaseholders on the existing wells on the North Slope. Exxon, ConocoPhillips and BP, the big three producers, are sitting on an estimated 100 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, which is present in the crude oil wells on the North Slope. Currently, natural gas is re-injected into the wells of crude oil as it comes to the surface during crude oil extraction. The big three are currently focusing on bringing the gas to market via a pipeline through Canada to Chicago and the Midwest markets. "Its clear that the obligation to produce will be in effect," said Whitaker.
The project is estimated to be able to generate $370 million in revenues annually to the state. Under the AGPA plan, 60% of that figure will go to the state directly, 30% will go to incorporated municipalities all through Alaska and the remaining 10% will be distributed to non-pipeline communities to help offset the costs of energy in those communities.
The cost of the $16.1 billion project will be financed with the $18 billion in loan guarantees passed by Congress for the specific purpose of bringing Alaska natural gas to U.S. markets in the lower 48. Until a genuine offer to purchase gas was made, the federal guarantees where not available to any entity wishing to develop Alaskan reserves of natural gas, including a route to Chicago through Canada. With an offer to buy gas on the table, the AGPA is in a position to apply for the federal loan guarantees.
"We were hoping to release that (news of the offer) Saturday here," said Valdez Mayor Bert Cottle after the press conference. Unfortunately, the written offer was not ready for release as of Friday evening. Reportedly, the board of directors for the AGPA, their attorneys and representatives from Sempra Energy were working around the clock last week in Anchorage in order to finalize the details of the offer.
Representatives from the Sempra, the AGPA and their attorneys Rigdon Boykin and Bill Walker held a public presentation in Valdez last Saturday to update the citizenry on the current status of the project.
By Lee Revis
Editor, Valdez Star
CIVIC CENTER- The year 2011. "That's when gas is going to market," said Ryan Colgan of the Alaska Gasline Port Authority at the end of a press conference held in Fairbanks Monday afternoon. "That's our goal."
Colgan spoke the monumental words after Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Jim Whitaker announced that the AGPA had made a solid, bona fide offer to the state of Alaska and the three major oil producers on the North Slope to purchase one to two billion dollars worth of natural gas per year for thirty years. That translates to approximately four billion cubic feet per day of natural gas. "The market will determine the value," said Whitaker. "A fixed price is not part of the equation."
The monumental announcement is one giant step forward in the plan to export Alaska's natural gas reserves via a new natural gas pipeline from the North Slope to tidewater in Valdez. From there it will be shipped to west coast markets via specially built ships. "We think this is an historical event," said Whitaker.
The offer to buy the gas and bring it to market still has several obstacles to overcome before actual construction on a gasline can begin. Last week, the authority filed an application with the state under the Stranded Gas Act, which will need approval of the state legislature. "Every project has a number of hurdles it has to cross," Whitaker said.
However, the greatest hurdle may come from the leaseholders on the existing wells on the North Slope. Exxon, ConocoPhillips and BP, the big three producers, are sitting on an estimated 100 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, which is present in the crude oil wells on the North Slope. Currently, natural gas is re-injected into the wells of crude oil as it comes to the surface during crude oil extraction. The big three are currently focusing on bringing the gas to market via a pipeline through Canada to Chicago and the Midwest markets. "Its clear that the obligation to produce will be in effect," said Whitaker.
The project is estimated to be able to generate $370 million in revenues annually to the state. Under the AGPA plan, 60% of that figure will go to the state directly, 30% will go to incorporated municipalities all through Alaska and the remaining 10% will be distributed to non-pipeline communities to help offset the costs of energy in those communities.
The cost of the $16.1 billion project will be financed with the $18 billion in loan guarantees passed by Congress for the specific purpose of bringing Alaska natural gas to U.S. markets in the lower 48. Until a genuine offer to purchase gas was made, the federal guarantees where not available to any entity wishing to develop Alaskan reserves of natural gas, including a route to Chicago through Canada. With an offer to buy gas on the table, the AGPA is in a position to apply for the federal loan guarantees.
"We were hoping to release that (news of the offer) Saturday here," said Valdez Mayor Bert Cottle after the press conference. Unfortunately, the written offer was not ready for release as of Friday evening. Reportedly, the board of directors for the AGPA, their attorneys and representatives from Sempra Energy were working around the clock last week in Anchorage in order to finalize the details of the offer.
Representatives from the Sempra, the AGPA and their attorneys Rigdon Boykin and Bill Walker held a public presentation in Valdez last Saturday to update the citizenry on the current status of the project.
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