By Sue Bergstrom for Valdez City News –
Residents of Aleutian Village met with City Manager Robert Jean, Municipal Attorney for the City of Valdez, Tony Guerriero and members of the Valdez City Council on Monday, September 21st to discuss the residents’ options and the City’s role regarding the eviction of residents of Aleutian Village Trailer Court. Council Members Ryan McCune, Nate Smith, H. Lea Cockerham, Jim Shirrell and Mayor Pro Tem Christopher Moulton, who is filling in for Mayor Larry Weaver while he is out of town, attended. Director of Community and Economic Development, Lisa Von Bargen and Public Information Officer, Allie Hendrickson were also in attendance. Barbara Sheinberg of Sheinberg Associates attended telephonically.
City Manager Jean opened the meeting by re-capping the tenants’ meeting held on Wednesday, September 16th. Mr. Guerriero spoke next. The atmosphere was informal and members of the community interjected questions, answers and remarks as the two men spoke. City Council was then given the opportunity to comment and ask questions.
When Aleut Corporation took over Allied Trailer Park from R. Bell, the City of Valdez held the lease to the property, which belongs to Alaska Department of Transportation. The City sublet to the trailer park. The lease was renewed for 55 years in 2005. Aleut Corporation took over the City’s lease on the property in 2008 with the stipulation that the electrical hookups were to be upgraded and the property connected to City water. This stipulation is also included in the lease with the DOT. The new electric and water lines were installed, but never connected to the trailers. City of Valdez is looking the status of these improvements.
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Guerriero stated that the lease with Department of Transportation requires the property be restored to its original, unimproved condition should the lease be terminated and that the lease cannot be terminated without the DOT’s agreement. Jean said Aleut Corporation informed The City they wanted to look at possible options for the property, but couldn’t do so until after October 20th despite having already sent eviction notices to the tenants. The Department of Transportation was sent a copy of the eviction notice prior to it being sent to tenants, but the City of Valdez was not. One tenant spoke up to say he had signed his lease on August 31st and received the eviction notice on September 9th.
Doug Desorcie spoke on behalf of Representative Jim Culver, who has offered to act as mediator between The City of Valdez and Aleut Corporation. He will contact the General Manager of Aleut Corporation, rather than Melvin Smith of Aleut Real Estate, LLC, to set up a meeting with City officials in early October. Another community meeting will then be scheduled. The City has redirected Barbara Sheinberg from the Valdez Economic Survey to gathering tenant information needed in order to facilitate ongoing plans. A page dedicated to the issue is being added to The City’s web site. Another community work session will be scheduled after the meeting with Aleut Corporation.
