White Pass and Yukon Route sign in Skagway.

White Pass and Yukon Route sign in Skagway. (Greta Mart)

Should Skagway re-engage with White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad to discuss a lease agreement? The borough assembly will vote on that question at a meeting Thursday evening.

At an earlier special meeting, the assembly talked in executive session for about an hour before deciding to bring such a resolution forward at its next regular meeting. Members of the public will be able to comment during a public hearing on the resolution.

There will also be a public hearing on whether to commit about $760,000 in cruise ship passenger taxes to construction of a new water well. The passenger tax money would be used to repay a state loan funding the project. Since the well is needed because of demand from cruise ships, the assembly voted 5-1 at its last meeting to use passenger taxes for the project.

Also at its last meeting, the assembly voted to seek outside help for port planning. A draft request for proposals for a port consultant is on the agenda Thursday. The consultant would help develop the town’s short and long-term goals for the port.

One important part of the port – the ore terminal – will be the central topic in a potential upcoming meeting with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. DEC has requested an August meeting with the municipality and other ore terminal stakeholders.

On a lighter note, the assembly will consider which slogan it wants to feature on its new website: ‘Gateway to the Klondike’ or ‘Garden City of Alaska.’

The meeting is set for 7 p.m. Thursday in Skagway Assembly chambers.