Winter in Unalaska by Sam Zmolek
Your voice in the Aleutians.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
The KUCB Newsroom provides newscasts Monday through Thursday at noon and 5 PM on KUCB Radio. You can find many of our local news stories here.

Reinders Sworn In As Unalaska's City Manager

Laura Kraegel/KUCB

Erin Reinders is officially Unalaska's city manager.

She took her oath of office at Tuesday's City Council meeting.

"I'm happy to be here," she said. "And I'm hitting the ground running."

Reinders has worked for the city since 2011 and started serving as assistant city manager in 2015.

When Thomas E. Thomas resigned from the top job in April, councilors made her an offer without conducting a wider search, citing both her experience with the city and her commitment to the community.

Mayor Frank Kelty welcomed Reinders to her new post as he wrapped up Tuesday's meeting, where she received a standing ovation.

"Council directives to the city manager? The only directive is: Congratulations, best of luck, and hope we don't turn your hair gray," said Kelty. 

Reinders has signed a three-year contract with a salary of $172,500. She turned down a job offer in Seward to take that deal.

Meanwhile, Thomas did not state a reason for his resignation or respond to multiple requests for comment before leaving the island.

Laura Kraegel reported for KUCB from 2016 until 2020. She was KUCB's news director starting in 2019. We are proud to have her back in the spring of 2023 filling in as an interim reporter for KUCB.
Related Content