The Denali Commission awarded the Haines boat harbor
project $800,000 Dec. 13, a grant that will accelerate replacement of floats in the
existing basin, borough manager Robert Venables said last week.
"This vastly changes our schedule. We’ll do permitting and
design in the first quarter of (next year). We could have new floats down there in 15
months if we can get all our financing together. This is the kind of fast-forwarding we
were hoping to do," Venables said.
The remainder of the estimated $4.2 million project price tag includes
$1.7 million in harbor money from the state Department of Transportation and $1.7 million
of $3.4 million for harbor upkeep received when the borough agreed to take ownership of
the harbor from the state.
Venables said he had no qualms spending from the latter pot of money.
"The money wasn’t set aside for harbor maintenance. It was set aside for things
like replacing these floats."
He also said he was advised by state Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Haines, that
the community "can’t just sit" on those funds. The DOT funds have been
appropriated for Haines but not yet released.
Fishermen, power company representatives and borough water department
officials met with the borough’s harbor advisory committee Dec. 13 to discuss types
of float material, water systems, electrical boxes and lighting for the planned floats.
Those in attendance didn’t choose a float material attendance but
they agreed that having potable water on the floats year-round wasn’t necessary.
The committee also worked toward electrical service that would allow
boats to set up temporary or day-long accounts. A low interest loan program should allow
the borough to contour the work to its needs.
"There’s a lot of opportunities to partner with (Alaska Power
and Telephone) to provide a power system in the harbor that’s flexible, affordable
and fair," said borough staffer Debra Schnabel.
Accommodating year-round live-aboards isn’t one of the
project’s goals, but the borough is looking at that possibility, Schnabel said.
"We want to provide in-harbor living and be attractive to cruisers."
The harbor committee is expected to make a decision on the types of
floats it will purchase at a meeting set for Jan. 10.
The Denali Commission is a federal-state partnership created to provide
critical utilities and infrastructure in rural Alaska, including through cost-share
projects. The Haines project was among 34 harbor requests statewide to the commission
totaling $14 million. Grants totaling $8 million were awarded.
