Skagway could soon offer weekly benefits to its unemployed residents of up to $600 a week to help get people through the winter. Skagway’s local government looks to fill the vacancy left after its clerk got a promotion, and AP&T has outbid the municipality for a property on the north end of town. KHNS’ Mike Swasey talked with Skagway Mayor Andrew Cremata about what’s coming up at Thursday’s borough assembly meeting.

Swasey – Let’s start with some unemployment assistance.

Cremata – This was one of the very first items the assembly decided to put forward to utilize the donation from Norwegian Cruise Lines in a way that would benefit the community. The program is pretty straightforward. If you are currently eligible or have been eligible for unemployment, there’s a certain amount of money that will allow recipients to get up to $2,400 each month.

Swasey – So you have to qualify for state-level unemployment benefits in order to qualify for the Skagway unemployment benefits?

Cremata – Yes. And I think another requirement is that you cannot be a business owner, you need to be an actual employee of a business, unemployed.

Swasey – There is, on the agenda, a borough clerk appointment. Tell me what’s happening with the borough clerk position?

Cremata – Well, you know, we were really lucky during this process to get a wide field of very qualified and exciting candidates. We selected Steve Burnham Jr., we’re excited about that selection and hopefully, the assembly approves that without any reservations, he’s going to be a tremendous asset to this community. Obviously, people know him from his time serving on the assembly. So his knowledge and wisdom when it comes to how our local government works, and how it works with state and federal agencies is going to be tremendously valuable for us moving forward.

Swasey – And some people listening may not know what’s happening with Emily and might be thinking to themselves, well, wait a minute, what’s happening with Emily Deach, the current clerk for the municipality?

Cremata – Emily was hired for the assistant manager position a few months ago. So she’s been going through that transition process, learning what that role is going to entail, and is also going to be helping Steve, as he transitions into his new role.

Swasey – All right, I read a letter from the Rasmusen foundation. So they gifted the Rapuzzi House to the municipality a few years ago. Turns out the municipality has kind of put the Rapuzzi House on the back burner. Seems like that letter said, do something or give it back. 

Cremata – You know, this is obviously something that we put on the agenda so that we can discuss it at the assembly. And my personal take on it is the Rasmusen (Rapuzzi) House indeed was gifted to us. But it’s one of those gifts that is going to require a considerable financial investment to be able to actually make use of the gift. And because of the nature of the gift, it can’t be used for any type of housing. So we have a house you can’t use for housing that has lead paint in it. I don’t foresee anybody being willing to spend one or two million dollars to renovate a home that we then can’t use for housing. So, that’s my thought.

Swasey – Speaking of property, let’s stay on it. Klondike Highway property where Hamilton Construction has a building, it’s up for sale,  it’s on the agenda, what’s happening with that purchase?

Cremata – To the best of my knowledge was that the sale to AP&T was finalized. So I think that’s, that’s over. 

Swasey – Oh, they’ve sold the building to AP&T?

Cremata – Yeah, we put in a bid, and then we didn’t get that bid.

Swasey – That was the extent of it, okay. And keeping with this land theme, there is a land disposal happening. Can you tell me what that means?

Cremata – Taiya Inlet subdivision. These are, you know, two really nice properties. I imagine there’s going to be a lot of people throwing their name into the hat for the land lottery. It’s a great opportunity to get a piece of land in Skagway to develop. Anytime you’re buying land out there it’s not particularly easy to develop, but man, what a beautiful place to live that would be.

Swasey – All right Mr. Mayor, thank you so much for taking the time and we’ll talk to you on Thursday. 

Cremata – All right, have a good day.

The Skagway borough assembly meeting can be streamed live at 7:30 p.m. Thursday night on khns.org.