The Wrangell sentinel., 1948-04-23
GUNDERsON TAKES OVER
AS MAYOR OF WRANGEL1


 It's business, approved Its financial report and reins Of city govern ment were handed over to the new Mayor, Geroge Gunderson by form CT 2-term Mayor Mrs Doris Barnes land to new Councilman Meredith Custard and reelected incumbents. Lennie Engstrom, Lee Ellis and Andy Barlow.
 A special meeting was then held by the new Council and the follow ing committees appointed by Mayor Gunderson, the first name appear ing on each committee is chairman of that committees:
 Harbor; Andy Barlow. Lee Ellis. Meredith Custard. Fire: Ellia C. Howard Baltzo, Barlow. Health and Police: Barlow, Ellis Lennie Engstrom. Streets: Peter MeCor- mack, Custard. Engstrom. Water and Sewer: Custard, Mccormack Barlow. Property and Equipment. Baltzo, Mccormack, Custard. Fin ance. Engstrom. Mccormack. Bait zo. Cemetery: Engstrom, McCOr- mack, Ellis. Utility Board. Mayor Gunderson, Custard, Baltzo. Mayor Gunderson has not yet appointed the three private citizen members who serve with Council members on the Board.
 Most of Tuesdays special meet ing was taken up with organizing a program to get Wrangell's new school addfffon undar .,ug+rvrtIor 1 lSupt. of Schools Geo Fabricius pre- scented a report on school finances for the past three years which showed the school had just broken even with it's budget MT. Fabricius also explained the difficulties of presenting a budget each year to the COacnil as the figures approved by the City Council are sometimes changed by the Commissioner Of Education if he has not the money for certain appropriations. Matter of teachers salaries was also brought up, Fabricius pointing out that Wrangell is one of the few schools in Alaska not paying above the set schedule. He said Wrangell's salaries were no induce ment to teachers in the states where salaries, generally, are as high and living cost cheaper. Any additional pay, over and above the Territorial schedule, must com out of city funds and Councilmen were not favorable 10 raises because Of lack of funds.
 (nity GIarIr letter from City Attorney How ard Stabler explaining first steps necessary in putting over the bona sale for the new school addition. IL was voted to retain Mir. Stabler's services, which he offered for $25O, to attend to the legal work. A let ter was read from Erickson, Kan gas & Hemkson, registered en- gineering firm of Ketchikan in which they asked consideration In the building of Wrangell's school addition. They suggested a con crete block construction Their ap- plication was filed for future re- ference but it was unanimously a. greed that hiring of an architect was the first necessary step. Clerk was instructed to insert notice in the Pacific Builder & Engineer, a trade journal, to ask any interested architectural firms apply, giving qualifications and references and they will be considered along with applicants now on file and the best bid accepted.
 One bid on the Fordson tractor advertised for sale recently by the city was received and accepted It was for $76.5O from Hans Ner- gaard
 A letter was read from Fair banks Morse Go. concerning $lI,- 242.OO due on a light plant motor. Council decided it would probably issue red warrants to pay off this sum but no definite action was taken.
 Councilman Ellis reported lum- Der was here to finish the two floats down at the new plane han gar. Construction is being pushed in order to complete the job as soon as possible.
 It was moved by Councilman Custard, seconded by Engstrom that the same election judges and clerks be appointed for the Primay election next Tuesday as served in the recent city election. The mott ion carried. They are c. Don Mil- Ter and Mrs. Wilma Mason, clerks, and Bill Vreeland, Oscar Carlson and Mrs. I. c. Bjorge, Judges.
 Mayor Gunderson read a wire from Earl McGinty, Engineer in the Federal Works Administration in Juneau asking that Wrangell send financial data on the town, in connection with proposed legis- lation in Congress for a Public Works program for Alaska. Clerk was instructed to supply McGinty