The Wrangell Port Commission took a major step forward in a plan to build a Mariner’s Memorial at Heritage Harbor during their most recent meeting on Thursday, Dec. 1.
After having been stalled as a project for a number of months, Harbormaster Greg Meissner and the commission set a Jan. 5, 2012 date for a special working session where, according to Meissner, public input will heard and used to determine the design of the memorial.
“I think our site is quite designable, as is, once we put our mind to it,” Meissner said. “We needed to get a workshop date set so we can bring in some good ideas. They are ideas like a cupola or bell tower, an anchor we have, and just different things. Now that we have something built there that we can look at and stand on, we need to get rolling.”
Commissioner Brennon Eagle, who is a commercial fisherman by trade, said he agrees that it is time to start doing more than just think about the memorial and its place in the harbor.
“I’d like to have a rough idea of what will go up there by March 1st,” Eagle said. “That way we can get a rough cost estimate and start working on getting grants and we don’t lose another summer on it.”
The commission is seeking local artists to submit their designs or ideas by the Jan. 5 workshop where, according to commissioner John Yeager, a final vision for the memorial can be honed and refined.
“I think we need a deadline for design work or else the process can go on and on,” Yeager said. “We need an end date so that we can end up with a memorial at some point.”
After the workshop is completed, and a design or hybrid of designs is selected, the process of finding the needed funding can begin, Eagle said.
“If we want to change the design, we can do that, but I want to have a design so when we go to start the grant writing it won’t be us saying ‘we’re just going to build a Mariner’s Memorial,’ but, ‘no, we’re going to build this.’”
Commissioner Clay Hammer suggested that a theme for the memorial arise from the workshop and that local artists submit renderings for the review of the commission.
“Maybe at the end of the workshop, I’d like to come up with what we want for either a theme or a basic concept of what we want to build,” Hammer added. “Right now we have some really beautiful concepts from artists in the community, and they’re very original pieces, but I’m not entirely convinced that they really suit exactly what it is we need.”
Hammer added that he would like to see a particular design element incorporated into the final memorial plans.
“Personally, I feel like having something that is covered and involves a roof as pretty darn important,” Hammer said. “Based upon our environment, it would be nice to have something over the top of it to protect it.”
According to Meissner, the area available to build on is approximately 40 feet wide by 130 long and has a gently raising slope.
Artists or designers interested in submitting their ideas or drawings should bring them to the commission workshop on Jan. 5, or before by dropping them off at the Harbormaster’s office.
Other harbor business
In Meissner’s monthly report to the commission he explained that Heritage Harbor is nearly complete, with minimal work remaining on the project.
“The project is complete with the exception of the restroom and the storm water out fall,” Meissner said. “The pump station has been installed and is in the process of being hooked up to the restroom and to the sewer main.”
According to Meissner, that sewer connection will require a permit from the Alaska Department of Transportation to cut into the bike path and highway far enough to reach the main.
With the lights on and electricity flowing to vendors, The Marine Service Center is also nearing completion on its most recent upgrades.
“The project is complete for the most part,” Meissner said. “There are some items that will be done as weather permits, but the lights are on and the electricity is working.”
Hammer added that the electrical department is still working on one portion of the facility.
“The light towers are operational, but the 7200 volt line that will connect one of the feeders to the city still needs some work,” Hammer said.
Meissner concluded his report by congratulating users of Heritage for their quick action after the vessel “Priority” sank in its stall last week.
“The owner was there, along with plenty of help from friends and harbor staff, and things went smoothly,” Meissner added. “There was not any fuel on board so there was barely a sheen of oil. We also want to put out a big thanks to Bert McCay and his vessel the Grace C for being there to help us.”
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