We have a great opportunity before us. Let’s change our visitors’ first impression of Wrangell.
Currently, the view is of old containers piled high. Not only do they block the visitors’ view of the downtown area, but the vans are surrounded with muddy water, which is very unattractive. I don’t believe the current container location fits in with the welcome intended by the community, evident by the children selling garnets and other trinkets on the pier.
The borough has been successful in acquiring the former 6-Mile mill site. This location has been proposed for some time as a terminal for an industrial park. The borough should be moving ahead with a transition plan, working with the barge line operators to mutually seek a solution and a move.
The first step, of course, is establishing the new barge terminal. It could be developed either by the transfer company or the borough. The borough could cover the development costs with a loan program where user fees would repay the loan over time.
Our economy is faced with a harsh reality. No longer do we have a timber industry, and commercial fishing is subject to escapement closures and we’re seeing seafood processors cut back their operations amid low prices. Mining, while potentially attractive, is fraught with bureaucratic and environmental roadblocks because most of our Southeast land mass is under federal jurisdiction.
Our current, limited payroll in Wrangell includes the ship repair yard, our new hospital, state and local government and the Trident Seafoods plant. Other areas in Southeast that are expanding to accommodate tourists include docks in Sitka, Klawock and Hoonah, and to the westward area Whittier. So where does our community fit in?
We are attractive to the smaller ships. I would suggest we consider an alteration of the current downtown dock, with a ramp to the southern end toward the museum down to a floating dock extending to the museum area. This would provide a convenient accommodation for smaller cruise ships and Stikine River jet boats.
We have seen similar examples in other Alaska ports as well as in Seattle. Tourism must be recognized as the only identifiable area of growth and expansion and should be enthusiastically accepted by the community.
The reason is a practical one. As a bright star in the economy, tourism should have enthusiastic acceptance, as shown by the opening of a few small shops.
With our state government’s disinterest in the ferry service and the abandonment of the run between Southeast and Prince Rupert, British Columbia, we must look for ways to pick up the slack in our economy. And it must be done now.
The Wrangell visitors’ expectation of tours to the glaciers, river tours and the Anan bear observatory have been well received by visitors. Yet to some in the community there is an indifference that needs to be turned around. To do nothing is to do nothing.
Frank H. Murkowski is a former U.S. senator (1981-2002) and Alaska governor (2002-2006).
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