Lost funding, disease, and insurance squabbles were just some of the topics from Skagway’s last assembly meeting.

 

Skagway’s July 9 Borough Assembly meeting began with some bad news. Mayor Sam Bass shared an update on the Ore Terminal progress.

“The governor vetoed the funds we hope to use for the demolition of the structure and the remediation of the contamination left behind at the old Ore Terminal building,” Bass says. “It’s unfortunate, because we need that project to move forward so that we can better utilize our Ore Peninsula. So we continue to look for other options. We have a federal grant in the works for $3.6 million. And we’ve got that supported by Senator Murkowski. So we hope that continues moving forward.”

Residents spent much of Citizens Present addressing parking issues. Shop owner Kathy Shen says the 20 minute parking limit on Broadway Street makes it difficult for her employees and discourages customers from spending money.

“I own the building,” Shen says. “I live there, and I work there. And there was no parking ordinance back in 1897, where the building was built. So there’s not a possibility for me to build a parking, potential parking.”

She suggested the use of parking permits, which Assembly member Deb Potter later promised to add to the next Public Safety Committee agenda.

The assembly approved placing a proposition on October’s ballot authorizing the municipality to transition Dahl Memorial Clinic to a 501(c).

Albert Wall, executive director for the clinic, shared some key points about the proposition. He emphasizes that the clinic business is not for sale. 

“The first thing I want to point out is that the Dahl Memorial Clinic is a federally qualified health center,” Wall says. “And I know we throw that term around, and I don’t think it has sunk in enough to this community. A federally qualified health center is actually licensed under a license which they design, which they implement through a grant. It is qualified by them, it cannot be bought and sold like a business.” 

There will be two town halls held before the clinic vote.

Assembly member Potter brought up concerns of illness on cruise ships that dock in Skagway.

“There was an issue that came up this morning regarding one of the ships being in a state of code red, which means Norovirus has hit a certain percentage,” Potter says. “And there has been some discontent that this has happened before, and the ships are not communicating with the port, regarding you know, how many cases of Coronavirus do they have on board, and Norovirus. So, I did meet with Manager Ryan today and he noted that Port Director Jennings is is on top of this and they’re taking it very seriously.” 

Jennings says the affected cruise line and exact strain of illness have not been confirmed.

“We are working with Cruise Line Agencies of Alaska and Cruise Line International Association of Alaska to determine what the protocols will be going forward and to ensure timely notifications of any health concerns on board the ships before they arrive in Skagway,” she says.

And finally, the municipality continues to seek reimbursement for damages sustained to the new Ore Dock in February while it was being towed to Skagway. Manager Ryan describes the situation.

“And in my opinion, all the insurance companies, including our own, are trying to walk away from this and say they’re not responsible for this,” Ryan says.

The assembly authorized legal counsel for up to $150,000 from Perkins Coie LLP, which specializes in insurance issues.