Gordon Ackley and Alma Francis Heyliger confirmed Thursday they have entered an agreement for Heyliger to take over the popular St. Thomas station WVWI Radio One-AM and its three FM sister stations, WIVI Hits, WVJZ 105 Jamz, and WWKS Kiss.

Ackley said the deal is “a time brokerage agreement for management of the station” that “could lead up to a sale.”

Heyliger said she intends to purchase the stations and has one year to get the financing together to do so. The purchase price is $1 million. In the meantime, she has started managing them.

Several people told the Source that former Sen. Celestino White, who has publicly declared he will run for governor in 2014, has been at the station this week telling staff about possible changes in programming, but Heyliger denied he has any involvement in the deal. Ackley said “it might be” that White is a partner with Heyliger, but he has dealt only with her. White could not be reached for comment.

Heyliger was an unsuccessful candidate for the sitting, 30th, Legislature. She said she worked at the Legislature for 15 years and knows many senators and former senators, including White.

“He’s a friend of mine and my family. I’ve spoken with him" about the stations. However, she said, “He has absolutely no formal role in the management or the purchase of the station.”

Heyliger said she plans many changes at Radio One starting with bringing back a regular news broadcast, which she hopes to do within a couple of weeks. She also wants to “enhance” or “change out” some of the existing programs. One possible addition is a program devoted to pets.

While she took over management Monday, she continues as host of Radio One’s morning talk show from 7 to 9 a.m. She had a similar position at another station before she went off the air to run for the Legislature in the November 2012 election. She moved to Radio One December 17.

Ackley said the Federal Communications Commission, which licenses radio stations, is not involved in the agreement for management, but “they would have to approve a sale.”

Heyliger said “I have checked all the rules and regulations.” She said the FCC requires station owners to post their rates in advance, so the station would be prevented from giving any advertiser special rates.

Changes are likely at some of the FM stations as well, but Heyliger is concentrating now on Radio One.

WWKS Kiss, which broadcasts from Cruz Bay, St. John, went off the air last fall, and owners blamed the high cost of electricity. It has returned to the airwaves since then, but only streaming another station, Heyliger said.

“We’ll deal with programming for it” after the other stations in the group, she said.

The Ackley stations in the Virgin Islands have been on the market for some time. Gordon Ackley said, “I made a decision six or seven years ago” to retire and spend time with family.

“I can always make another dollar,” he said. But he can’t replace his aging father.

Ackley said he and his uncle started in the broadcast business in the territory in 1977. He said he can’t remember exactly when he bought Radio One. “Maybe in the 1990s … If you can’t remember, it’s been too long.”