The CARES Act ad hoc committee recommended Tuesday that the borough use up to $15,000 to pay a contractor to issue drivers tests for Haines residents who have been unable to take the tests since March when the local Department of Motor Vehicles office stopped providing them due to pandemic concerns.
The committee met Tuesday to discuss the issue. Committee members heard from concerned parents who have been unable to schedule tests for their children.
“I have a 16-year-old daughter,” Melissa Ganey said. “I very much appreciate that you guys are on board with helping the community out. It’s been a bummer.”
A representative from Northern Industrial Training, a Palmer company, said they could provide tests to up to 30 students for $11,682.
Committee member Brenda Josephson said the borough should make attempts to recoup the costs from the state.
“We’ll attempt to recover the cost from the state of Alaska since the state of Alaska is not providing these driving tests,” Josephson said.
Two weeks ago, DMV deputy director Jenna Wright told the CVN that Haines applicants should be able to begin testing in October. The CVN reported in the Sept. 17 issue that small communities like Haines are waiting for the shipment of remote testing equipment.
“We are at the mercy of the supply chain right now, but I think it’s safe to say that we will be offering road tests in Haines by October,” Wright said.
Since the initial closure in March, DMV staff piloted a program in Juneau, Anchorage, Soldotna and Fairbanks, where a camera can record the tests and a DMV staff member can watch and score the test afterward.
At its Tuesday meeting, the committee also recommended that the CARES Act grant program application deadline funding commercial fishing permit holders up to $500 for each permit be extended to Nov. 30.