Skagway school kids get involved in local government

Skagway’s school kids are trying to clean up the community. During the last borough assembly meeting, the middle school robotics team and the fourth and fifth graders made pitches to the assembly to treat water before it hits the storm drainage system and to upgrade the municipal bus fleet to electric. KHNS’ Mike Swasey reports.

The fourth and fifth graders arrived well before the meeting started and populated the press table at the front of Skagway’s assembly chambers. After initial parliamentary proceedings, the group made their pitch to the assembly to save the town’s Coho salmon population, by installing and upgrading rain gardens near storm drains.

“Did you know that when rainwater lands on impervious places such as roofs, roads, alleys, parking lots, and sidewalks, it carries these contaminated particles into our storm drains,” asked Fable Wallace.

The kids went on a field trip with Skagway Traditional Council’s environmental coordinator to see a rain garden that’s already been installed.

“Rain gardens are described as depressions usually between a gutter and a sidewalk that are dug out and then filled up with big rocks held with small rocks. After putting the rocks in the depression, you put fabric on top of the rocks then fill it up with soil,” said Aleeyah Topasna.

Typically grass is planted on top of the soil, but other types of vegetation can be used as well. The contaminated water can run through the rain gardens filtering out chemicals that could prove dangerous for salmon habitats.

“Don’t you think we need more rain gardens? Let’s act fast assemblymembers,” said Finnley Verhaeghe. The rest of the table joined her to shout “And Save Our Salmon!”

There was a quick break as the middle school robotics team took their place at the press table to make their pitch to bring the port and municipal bus fleet into the modern age of electrification.

“We are the Skagway school middle school robotics team the Spark Sharks team 46069.” said Atlin Ryan. “We identified the need for providing electric charging stations for cruise ships, and also to shift the municipal buses to electric engines,” said Ryder Calver.

The team had completed a research project where they learned that transforming the town’s SmartBUS fleet to electric engines could help reduce air pollution in town. Most of Skagway’s energy comes from hydroelectric power distributed by the local utility company Alaska Power and Telephone. They even had a suggestion for funding the endeavor.

“Our suggestions for funding an electric bus initiative is to charge one additional dollar per person per ride next summer on the SmartBuses, to apply for green energy grants, and to ask for donations from the cruise lines for this startup infrastructure,” said Sam Munson. “Today we are asking you to join us on our green initiative and to add into your upcoming budget a feasibility study for shifting the smart buses to our electric bus fleet,” said Luca Tronrud.

The assembly has a Memorandum of Understanding with Yukon Energy to explore bringing renewable energy from Canada’s Yukon Territory to Skagway during the summer months and allow cruise ships to plug into a green energy source while docked in town. That project is still in its conceptual stage. 

A report by the American Public Power Association in 2019 estimated a new diesel-powered transit bus would cost about $500,000, whereas a new electric transit bus would cost about $750,000. The cost of maintenance and fuel over the lifetime of the vehicle could save significant money in the long run.

Nearby Juneau Alaska began using its first electrically powered transit vehicle in 2021.

Members of Skagway’s assembly and municipal staff are working with both student groups to begin the process of exploring these initiatives.