Skagway considers partnering with Yukon Energy to bring renewable electricity in from Canada to electrify its port, improvements are in the works for the small boat harbor and a contract to manage municipal RV parks is up for grabs. KHNS’ Mike Swasey spoke with Mayor Andrew Cremata about this week’s borough assembly meeting.

Swasey – Not a lot on the agenda, but there is the MOU with Yukon energy. Would you tell us what the progress is with that?

Cremata – If the assembly chooses to adopt the Memorandum of Understanding with Yukon Energy, it basically puts the wheels in motion so that the Yukon government and our local municipal government can begin working on, potentially, a feasibility study. And secondly, it allows us to start really talking to all of the players, all of the people like AP&T, other local entities, cruise ship companies, and design companies as we build out infrastructure here in the coming years. 

But this is a golden opportunity if it is feasible, and it’s financially possible, and logistically possible, to bring that power into the community. This is renewable energy that the Yukon would be supplying us. In the summertime, they have a lot of additional power. So that power could potentially come to Skagway and allow us to plug-in cruise ships and satisfy their needs as they go zero emissions over the next decade or two.

Swasey – So on Thursday night, the assembly will approve the MOU. And then the next step is for the MOU to get sent to Yukon Energy to be signed. And then also signed by you, I assume? 

Cremata – Yeah, that’s that pretty much sums up the process.

Swasey – Well, let’s move on to the small boat harbor extension, what’s happening down to the small boat harbor?

Cremata – So there are some improvements that need to be made to the boat ramp.

Swasey – It’s the boat ramp that’s coming out of the north end of the small boat harbor, right? 

Cremata – The northwest side.

Swasey – The northwest side, and they’re going to add what 40 feet to that?

Cremata – Yes, something like that. It looks like it’ll be 40 feet and there are some additional floats that they are going to put on it and some riprap that’s put onto the sides. It’s gonna make it, you know, hopefully, a lot safer.

Swasey – Well, let’s talk about the Garden City RV park, the managers have filed their resignation, basically and said, you know, we don’t want to continue to manage Garden City and Pullen Park. So that’s open for bid now, can you kind of tell us about that process?

Cremata – It is. And so you know, there’s a couple of weeks here to be able to put in a bid into running Pullen Park and Garden City this upcoming summer. It’s a business opportunity for somebody out there who thinks that that might align with their skills and desire to do that type of work. Seems like a great opportunity to meet it to be self-employed and to provide a service that is going to hopefully be in demand this summer.

Swasey – Are there plans moving forward to open it up?

Cremata – The park is definitely going to be open. It is an RV park and it is going to be accommodating RV’s this summer.

Swasey – Is there anything else on the agenda that we should watch for at the meeting on Thursday night?

Cremata – Well, I think it’s good that everyone in the community is aware there’s correspondence that the municipality has had with the Alaska Marine Highway and Department of Transportation concerning our erratic and unpredictable ferry service. I think it’s important that the community knows that the manager, the assembly, and (I) have been diligently fighting for better ferry service not just recently, but over the last few years, and we did get a response. So that’s encouraging. It underscores the fact that reliable transportation, especially during the winter months is crucial for this community. Hopefully, next winter and in subsequent winters, we have a far more reliable ferry service.

Swasey – Wouldn’t that be something?

Cremata –  Wouldn’t it be something?

Swasey – Alright Mr. Mayor, thank you so much for taking the time, I appreciate it, we’ll see you Thursday night. 

Cremata – Have a great day.

Live audio is available at 7:00 p.m. Thursday night at khns.org.