The federal government’s partial shutdown shows just how important basic government operations are to Alaska’s coastal communities.

Most U.S. Coast Guard operations are suspended and that’s holding up commercial boat and permit sales as well as some construction of passenger vessels.

“We’re really just coming into the busy season,” Doug Bowen, a broker for Alaska Boats and Permits in Homer, said. “The next few months will be the busiest time of the year for us.”

Today was the first day of the legislative session and Sarah Vance was officially sworn in as House District 31’s representative.

Lt. Gov. Kevin Meyer swore in House reps. in batches.  

“Ok continue now with the oath of office," Meyer said. "Will the following reps. come forward for their oath of office: House District 29 Ben Carpenter, House District 30 Gary Knopp, House District 31 Sarah Vance.”

The Homer City Council got its first look at preliminary designs for the new police station Monday. Project Manager Pat McNary, Homer Public Works Director Carey Meyer and Homer Police Chief Mark Robl presented the partial plan for the building, which will sit on the corner of Heath Street and Grubstake Avenue.

Council members discussed everything from the size of the break room to the elevator and the roof, which will be flat under the current design.

Council member Caroline Venuti worried that would lead to frequent and expensive maintenance.

The Homer City Council will pursue a private-public partnership for the Homer Education and Recreation Complex, better known as the HERC. The council decided Monday that a council member would present a resolution requesting letters of interest from community organizations looking to lease the HERC during its next meeting.  Organizations will need to detail how they would like to utilize the building.

During a work session Monday, the council leaned toward finding a private partner that would be able to oversee the management and direction of the building. 

Homer Police recovered a rental car Saturday that was reported stolen and arrested its driver. Homer Police Officer Sean Perry was on routine patrol on lower Main Street when he saw an unfamiliar 2018 Chevrolet Silverado. Perry did a routine records check on the car and discovered the vehicle was reported stolen from a rental agency in Fairbanks.  Police say a woman rented the vehicle on Dec. 21 and was due to return it the next day, but she never did.  

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council may not be able to make any official decisions at its February meeting due to the partial federal government shutdown.

Congress’s battle over funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border is also causing the council, which regulates federal fisheries in the North Pacific Ocean, to remove some items from the agenda.

Employees at the federal register are no longer working. The council’s Deputy Director Dianna Evans said it needs to publish notices for final action items in the register by Jan. 21.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough is spending more money on appeals related to the borough planning commission’s decisions than it originally anticipated.  There have been three appeals so far this fiscal year.  Two of the appeals were related to gravel pit permits.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly designated about $26,000 to cover additional costs during its meeting Tuesday.

The assembly has spent roughly $16,0000 on appeals so far this fiscal year.

A large home explosion in the Homer area that sent debris flying across the Sterling Highway and beyond  in late December was likely a natural gas explosion, according to authorities. No one was home at the time of the explosion and there were no reports of injuries.

Kachemak Emergency Services is leading the investigation, which is still ongoing, but Chief Bob Cicciarella said a gas leak inside the home appears to have been the cause of the blast.