FNSB

Fairbanks North Star Borough mayor Bryce Ward gave a summary of how his local government adjusted to the pandemic as part of his “State of the Borough” presentation yesterday. Then he stepped through his proposed 173-million dollar operating budget.

It has been about 15 years since the comprehensive plan for the hundreds of trails in the Fairbanks North Star Borough was updated. In that time, more formal trails have been developed and more different kinds of uses like skijoring and fatbiking have become popular. Now the borough’s Trail Advisory Commission is starting to update the Comprehensive Trail Plan, and wants the public to come to its meetings this Wednesday and next Monday nights.

All appointments filled in an hour for Fairbanks' first mass vaccination clinic at the Carlson Center. The Unified Incident Command is clearing the big arena to vaccinate 625 people on Friday and 625 more on Saturday.

Money from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security or CARES Act must be spent by December 31. The Fairbanks North Star Borough has been disbursing its share to local businesses.

The Fairbanks North Star Borough set up grant programs to disburse $15,000 to about 600 businesses. But only 200 have applied. An ordinance before the Borough Assembly this week will expand the opportunities.

The fate of the Carlson Center in Fairbanks will partly depend on the results of a survey that closes tomorrow night (Wednesday.) Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks and Recreation Department is studying how best to manage the multi-purpose building.

The state reported 116 new cases of COVID-19 recorded on Saturday. It’s the largest single-day increase and the first time the state has seen over 100 cases in one day. Three of those were Fairbanks North Star Borough employees.

The Fairbanks North Star Borough administration announced two employees have tested positive for COVID-19.