Houston Council meeting drama-free — almost

HOUSTON — Although the mood inside Houston City Hall Thursday wasn’t what you’d call warm and fuzzy, Mayor Virgie Thompson found it a little easier to smile.

“I‘ve got some positive news for you,” Thompson said with a grin before the City Council meeting began, holding out a sheet detailing capital budget projects she was confident would be passed by the Alaska House of Representatives that evening, thanks to the support of Rep. Mark Neuman of the Houston-area district.

Two budget items were highlighted in neon yellow: an allocation of $425,000 for a new tanker and other vital equipment for the Houston Fire Department and $56,000 for municipal road maintenance.

“We rallied last night,” said Thompson, who is facing a recall election scheduled for July 26. “A large number of us called in and talked to the Finance Committee and Rep. Neuman said it helped.”

Fire Chief Tom Hood is keeping his fingers crossed.

“The tanker is definitely going to help save property and lives,” Hood said. “Like I stressed to Mr. Neuman’s office when we applied for the tanker, this particular tanker has fought every fire from Meadow Lakes, Big Lake, Willow and Houston for the last 15 years, so it’s getting slightly wore out. It was a request three years ago and now it’s desperately needed. This was some of the best news I’ve heard in a long time. When Virgie called me today, I jumped for joy.”

This bright spot comes on the heals of another victory for the mayor and Deputy Mayor Jim Johansen that night — a 4 to 2 defeat of former mayor Rosemary Burnett in her bid to return to the council.

Burnett, who now serves on the Houston Planning Commission, was up against local emergency medical technician Alma Hartley for the seat vacated by former council member Natasha Schachle. The only two council members voting against Hartley were Lance Wilson and Ruth Blanchard.

Hartley, who lost to Johansen in the council election last October, said after her appointment that she was very happy to be able to serve the city in another capacity.

“I’ve always just wanted to help people in my community,” she said.

As a disappointed Burnett was making her way out the door, Hartley attempted to give her a hug, but she was rebuffed by Burnett.

“Don‘t even come over here,” Burnett told her, shaking her head.

Hartley said afterward that she just wanted to give Burnett a hug because they’d been on good terms in the past. “She told me she thought it was a set-up and that she had more experience than me and didn’t want a hug from me,” Hartley said.

As Burnett and Wilson talked outside council chambers, Burnett confirmed the account of the awkward exchange with Hartley. She said she’s happy she’ll at least still be able to serve the city on the Planning Commission.

“There’s a lot going on in this town and she’s just too inexperienced,” Burnett said. “The only reason they didn’t vote me in is because they’re scared of me.”

Burnett previously served on the city council for nearly 10 years after the untimely death of her husband. She stepped into the role as mayor last summer after Roger Purcell resigned that post on the eve of a recall election.

She lost her bid to remain on the council last fall when Paul Stout received 20 more votes.

Wilson, longtime Burnett friend Blanchard and Planning Commissioner Ralph Buzard are behind an effort to recall Thompson that alleges she was paid for hours in November she didn’t actually work. During Thursday’s meeting, the council unanimously passed a resolution establishing July 26 as the date for the special recall election.

Before the meeting, Thompson expressed frustration over the fact that the city already has spent $2,000 in legal fees regarding the recall petition and will spend a few thousand more to find out if residents think she should be removed from her council seat for receiving less than $100 for work she claimed while she was out of state.

“The whole thing just really steams me,” she said.

The mayor is compensated $1,500 per month for working at least 100 hours. Thompson has been criticized for only being available as mayor for 90 minutes every afternoon after she gets off work from her teaching position at Houston Middle School. She is now devoting certain evening and weekend hours to the job as well to ensure she is available as much as possible.

Thompson and City Treasurer/Human Resources Director Carolyn Grabowki have been caught up in allegations of fiscal mismanagement after former Houston Police Capt. Charley McAnally claimed in March the Federal Bureau of Investigation is looking into possible criminal behavior involving them.

The FBI has not confirmed nor denied such an investigation exists and McAnally was fired by the council last month for undisclosed reasons. McAnally reportedly is pursuing legal action against Thompson and the council for his termination. He recently was hired by the Mat-Su Borough to provide EMT and diving services in Willow, Burnett said.

Houston’s police emergencies are now being handled by Alaska State Troopers and Thompson announced she’s in negotiations with the city of Wasilla to once again restore its contract with MATCOM dispatch services.

“All agencies have been cooperative with the city,” Thompson wrote in her Mayor’s Report for April. “MATCOM also informed the city that if we were to use their services in FY2012, the cost would be $32,959. We can make payments on a quarterly basis.”

Thompson said that is a better offer than the $56,000 Wasilla was going to charge Houston for MATCOM last fall.

Guardian Security, which had been hired by the city of Houston to handle dispatch services after Houston and Wasilla severed MATCOM ties, is no longer contracted with Houston, Thompson said.

Thompson also announced that she and City Clerk Michele DeLong have applied for a “cops grant” from the state that would pay 100 percent of salary and benefits for one officer for the next three years.

“It has never been our goal to eliminate the police department,” Thompson said. “Over the last four years, it has cost the city over $400,000. It’s unrealistic to expect the police department to create its own revenue.”

Contact K.T. McKee at kate.McKee@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.