Forget this week’s rain, clouds and evening temperatures in the 40s. There are a couple of bright spots for Wrangell.

SEARHC is looking at building rental housing for its employees. The plan’s first phase is to construct eight rental units on land the regional health care provider owns uphill from Zimovia Highway, just past TK’s Mini Mart.

SEARHC representatives have been working with borough officials on the site plan and to follow planning and zoning rules. They report that the nonprofit could start work on site prep and utilities before the end of the year.

A possible second phase could add as many as 12 additional rental units.

Wrangell’s housing shortage has been getting worse, as if that were possible. Any effort to build new units would be a healthy dose of good news. SEARHC is stepping up and ensuring adequate housing for its workers, addressing its role as the town’s largest employer.

The other sunny news in this dreary week is that the borough and the Alaska Division of Parks are close to finalizing a revised management agreement governing the Petroglyph Beach State Historic Site.

Under the deal, the borough would take over the job from the state of collecting fees from commercial operators that bring visitors to the popular site, while also assuming responsibility for all maintenance and improvements at Petroglyph Beach. In return, the borough would get to keep all the money from the annual permit and visitor fees, using the proceeds to pay for much-needed improvements at the property.

The community resisted paying the commercial operator fees to the state the past couple of years — after the state realized it had neglected to notify businesses of the requirement until 2023. Maybe knowing that the money will stay in town and go directly to work at the historic site, operators will be better about charging the fee to visitors and putting the money to a good cause.

Both the SEARHC decision to help relieve the tight housing situation in town and the state’s willingness to work with the borough for a good answer to future upkeep at Petroglyph Beach are reminders that solutions to better serve the community are possible. Even when the weather reminds everyone that while sunny days are always possible, they are not probable.