Empire Archives is a series printed every Saturday featuring a short compilation of headline stories in the Juneau Empire from archived editions in 1985, 1995 and 2005. They include names, AP style and other content of their eras.

This week in 1985, “These chairs are a lot smaller than I remember,” former Senate President Jay Kerttula remarked as he took his seat for the opening of the 14th Alaska Legislature. The Palmer Democrat, used to the president’s chair he occupied the past four years, joined 19 other senators taking part in opening ceremonies at the Capitol. After Sen. Bob Ziegler, D-Ketchikan, was elected temporary president, new Majority Leader Rick Halford, a Chugiak Republican, nominated Sen. Don Bennett as president. Incoming Minority Leader Bill Ray, D-Juneau, asked the Fairbanks Republican be elected president by acclimation. There were no objections. In the House, Juneau Rep. Mike Miller, the senior member, was selected speaker pro tem. Rep. Ben Grussendorf, D-Sitka, was elected speaker by a 31-9 vote. He heads a majority coalition of 21 Democrats and seven Republicans. A major issue expected this session is potential changes to the longevity bonus, with the existing program set to end this spring.

Today the Alaska Legislature is scheduled to gavel in Jan. 21 with Democratic-led bipartisan majorities in both chambers and a Republican governor on the third floor of the Capitol. Education spending and reliable energy supplies are expected to be the two primary issues.

Original Story: “14th Alaska Legislature opens session,” by Debbie Reinwand and Kirk McAllister. 1/14/1985.

This week in 1995, the 19th Alaska Legislature opened with songs, glad-handing, and lawmakers in the House and Senate taking their oaths of office. Among them were newly elected Juneau House members Kim Elton and Caren Robinson, and reelected Juneau state Sen. Jim Duncan, all Democrats. House Speaker Gail Phillips and Senate President Drue Pearce, both Republicans, again emphasized the budget will be the Legislature’s biggest priority. Democratic Gov. Tony Knowles also said the budget will be his priority and he will try to “diversify the economy.” Phillips said containing the state’s deficit will occur through cuts. A shift in the House majority occurred on the opening day as Akiak Democrat Ivan M. Ivan joined the Republican-led majority, giving that coalition 26 of the chamber’s 40 members. Also on opening day, two Anchorage-area lawmakers introduced bills seeking to move sessions to Anchorage beginning in 1998, just 10 weeks after Alaska voters defeated a capital-move effort.

Original Story: “Gavels open new session,” by Terry Mutchler. 1/16/1995.

This week in 2005, if you think Juneau’s water and wastewater rate is already too high, prepare for an increase. Both rates are likely to continue rising, an ad hoc utility advisory board concluded. An eight-member board, which Juneau Mayor Bruce Botelho appointed last February, said that historically, the city has maintained a low utility rate by collecting revenues only enough to pay for operating and maintaining costs. “The only way to lower the customer service rate in this situation is to raise additional revenues through other types of taxes or grants,” said the final report that was released last Monday. However, “outright grants have become, and will continue to be, difficult to come by and certainly not to be counted upon.” A consultant the city hired in 2003 recommended the Assembly examine water and wastewater fee structure every two years and raise it by 13 percent by 2007 and another 13 percent by 2009. Before the Assembly approved a 39 percent increase in utility rate in 2003, the last time the city raised water rate was in 1991. During the past six years, the city raised the wastewater rate three times, only sufficient to cover operation and maintenance costs. One of the board’s tasks is to compare Juneau’s water and wastewater rates with those in other communities. Juneau’s water rate is right in the middle, $22.61 per month, compared with $37.32 in Fairbanks and $16 in Sitka. However, Juneau’s wastewater rate is the highest, $54.91.

Today Juneau residents are again facing a rate hike since officials say increases in recent years haven’t kept up with costs, with an increase of more than 60% in water and 80% in wastewater rates proposed during the next five years.

Original Story: “Higher rates are likely for all of Juneau’s residents,” by I-Chun Che. 1/17/2005.

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at mark.sabbatini@juneauempire.com or (907) 957-2306.