Dipnetting is the talk of the town these days, and Kenai’s City Council was no exception this week.
Courtney Stroh talked to the council Wednesday about her Caring for the Kenai project. She and a group of local youth have been canvassing the beaches, talking to dipnetters about respecting our community and helping clean up after them.
Stroh said the fish waste has been overwhelming since the fish — and dipnetters — spiked on July 16. But she’ll continue her efforts, and wants to be part of any discussions of how to better manage the fishery this winter.
“There must be a better way,” Stroh said.
In the first of many thank yous, every council member present praised Stroh’s work. Council members Mike Boyle, Brian Gabriel and Joe Moore were absent.
Mayor Pat Porter asked if she could send Stroh’s remarks to the governor, and asked Stroh for a list of students helping with her work, so that the city can thank each of them.
Councilmen Bob Molloy and Terry Bookey agreed with Stroh that it could be overwhelming, and thanked Stroh for helping solve the problem.
“Thank you for everything you’re doing,” Molloy said.
Councilman Ryan Marquis agreed.
“The city’s really proud of you,” he said.
Stroh wasn’t the only person the city thanked.
The council unanimously passed three resolutions thanking various organizations for supporting the library.
City Manager Rick Koch said Kenai’s residents, and library director Mary Jo Joiner, should also recieve credit for their influence on the Rasmuson Foundation, one such organization.
“This is the largest grant the Rasmuson Foundation has ever made to a library,” Koch said.
The others being honored were the BP Foundation and the Friends of the Kenai Community Library.
Marquis also credited the personal-use fishery that brings people to the central peninsula for being an economic engine.
Molloy agreed.
“We’re really blessed to have our salmon renewable resource,” he said.
Comments (2)
Add commentGive the summer hires
Give the summer hires authority to issue warnings and trash tickets to those who make a mess. Just having them walk the beaches with an orange vest on and a ticket book would probably prevent some folks from leaving their trash.
Platitudes from Mayor Porter
Thanks? That's all? Why not roll with the momentum from Ms. Stroh and other youth in our community who have the fore-sight to recognize that we, the citizens of Kenai, have an amazing resource in the dip net fishery. There is so much room for improvement! Fish cleaning stations, running water, etc... Without the weekend volunteers, the Kenai Police Department and the Parks and Recreation Department would be overwhelmed by the influx of people to our city and our beaches.
The city council needs to not only thank those who invest in their community, but they need to take those suggestions and put them into action.
I doubt Mayor Porter or any other member of the Kenai City Council has been down on the beach asking our visitors how they, the City of Kenai, can better manage the beaches.