Wrangell’s Port Commission decided it didn’t “have a dog in the fight” over a tidelands purchase proposal submitted to it for review. Meeting Thursday, it had to consider an application by BW Enterprises to purchase 6,240 square feet of city tidelands adjacent to its property near the state ferry terminal.
With tidelands purchase proposals, both the Port and Planning and Zoning commissions have the opportunity to make assessments and forward their recommendations to the Assembly, which has ultimate say in such matters.
Speaking at the meeting, BW owner Brett Woodbury explained the goal of the purchase would be to gain access to deeper water, for pulling out boats and moving heavy equipment. The two waterfront lots he already purchased are between the Stough Revocable Trust and Helga King fill areas, and Woodbury is in the process of having them filled out. The additional tidal area he is applying to purchase runs parallel with the city-owned strip of fill with the barge ramp, and provides one of the few deep-water access points left in town.
To his south, the Stough Revocable Trust owns most of the filled-in waterfront lot just north of the State Ferry Terminal, with the city owning the westernmost edge and surrounding tidelands. Economic development director Carol Rushmore explained a rough ramp at the northwestern corner of this lot area is available to the Stoughs for deepwater barge access.
James Stough submitted a letter to the Port Commission requesting it deny the sale, saying it would effectively cut off his property from that access.
“If they do that, then the Stoughs would not be able to get a barge in to their property,” Rushmore explained.
“Our main concern here is our water access,” Stough said. “That’s one of the reasons we object to it.”
Speaking at the meeting, Stough pointed out that, left as is, both parties would continue to have access. He explained the family has intermittently used the ramp since 1980. A renovation and expansion of the nearby ferry terminal in 1987 limited the site’s water access, with that open corner the last remaining point of access.
However, commissioners found other problems with the tidelands being requested; though the city owns the property, a corner of the proposed section encroaches on the Alaska Marine Highway System’s right of way.
“It seems like there’s still a dilemma there,” Commissioner Walter Moorhead pointed out. However, the commission decided not to take an opinion on the matter, and will leave recommendations to Planning and Zoning when it meets this evening in City Hall at 7 p.m. The Assembly will then take up the proposal for a decision when it meets on Aug. 25.
In his monthly harbormaster’s report, Greg Meissner said harbor staff are completing the application packet for a state matching grant with which to fund float replacement at Shoemaker Bay Harbor. In June the Assembly approved approved financing the Harbor Department needed to raise $5.7 million for its end of the project. The additional $5 million is hoped to come from the Department of Transportation grant.
Implementation of a dockside fee structure at Meyers Chuck is behind schedule. New fees took effect in July after being approved by the Port Commission and Assembly, with moorage fees set at half what public facilities in Wrangell charge. Meissner explained signage and a collection station have been prepared, but still need to be set up.
In other business, commissioners took another look at rate increases at the boatyard and decided it would be necessary to take another stab at a proposal this year. A previous proposal was put on hold in March, after hearing concerns from local contractors. The change would have upped work and storage space rates from 50 cents to 75 per square foot.
Current rates have not been altered in nearly a decade, and Martin pointed out the boatyard was not saving up funds for future upkeep and projects.
“We need to prepare for when we don’t have funds readily available,” he said.
Commission chair Clay Hammer agreed: “I think it’s pretty apparent, as state and federal funds dry up, we’re going to have to transition.”
They decided discussion and a possible proposal would be tabled until later this fall, when the full commission would be available.
Continuing the conversation of providing waste management options at the yard, commissioners decided trash and scrap removal would be best handled by a private operator rather than by the Harbor Department. For several years the department has not provided dumpsters or similarly large containers at the yard, after abuse of the system made it unmanageable.
“You name it, everything ends up in it,” Meissner recalled. Currently contractors and other users are required to arrange for waste disposal themselves. Other options are already available for some items. For instance, a net-collection area near the yard’s east gate was set up earlier this year by the local Indian Environmental General Assistance Program.
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