Legislature(2011 - 2012)BUTROVICH 205
03/24/2011 01:00 PM Senate TRANSPORTATION
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB95 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | SB 95 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 95-FRANK PALMER FERRY TERMINAL
1:04:35 PM
CHAIR KOOKESH announced the consideration of SB 95.
SENATOR EGAN, sponsor of SB 95, said this is a simple piece of
legislation that will make the people in the Juneau community
feel very good. The bill names the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal after
Frank Palmer, a life-long Juneauite who passed away last year in
a tragic accident.
1:05:51 PM
CHESTER CARSON, staff to Senator Egan, read the following
sponsor statement into the record:
Frank Palmer was an icon who worked for nearly five
decades at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal. Palmer, who
died last year at the age of 69, first began pulling
trailers off the Alaska Marine Highway System's
ferries in 1962, the year service from Prince Rupert
started. Since then, Palmer drove trucks and met
ferries for Lynden Incorporated, Orme Transfer,
Douglas Trucking (of which he was also a co-owner),
and Alaska Marine Trucking. No matter which company he
was working for, Palmer's reliable presence at the
Auke Bay Ferry Terminal was a constant.
He was well known as a man who could skillfully get
large vehicles on and off of ferries with ease.
Although most of them are completely unaware, the list
of Alaskans whose lives were touched indirectly by
Palmer as he helped move their goods on and off of
ferries is long.
Frank Palmer grew up in Auke Bay and for the entirety
of his working life (47 years) he was a staple at the
Auke Bay Ferry Terminal. Through his decades of work
loading and unloading ferries, he was an integral part
of the Marine Highway system that serves as the roaand
that connects the communities of Southeast Alaska.
It would be a fitting and appropriate tribute to a man
so intertwined with the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal to
rename it the Frank Palmer Ferry Terminal.
SENATOR MENARD noted the fiscal note was $1,200 and asked what
material would be used to make the sign.
SENATOR EGAN responded the cost seems high, but he doesn't know
what the material will be.
CHAIR KOOKESH noted that the sign at the Juneau Airport is
wooden, which is appropriate for Southeast Alaska.
SENATOR HUGGINS commented that he supports making the sign from
wood and he hopes a road will be built to bring the wood out of
the forest.
SENATOR EGAN said he tends to agree.
1:09:07 PM
ANNE GRISHAM SCHULTZ, representing herself, said she and Mr.
Palmer went through school together in Juneau. His infectious
grin is still with us and there is no more fitting name for the
terminal, she stated.
1:10:19 PM
ERIC BADGER, Alaska Lynden Transport, Inc. and Alaska Marine
Trucking, LLC, said the Alaska Marine Highway is the road system
in Southeast Alaska and Frank Palmer pulled more trailers on and
off the ferries than any person in the history of the system.
Regular marine service began in 1967 and fresh eggs and meat was
delivered to communities for the first time. Frank Palmer
changed lives by being the guy who was always there transferring
trailers regardless of the hour. Renaming the ferry terminal is
a very fitting tribute.
SENATOR MENARD asked if a ceremony is being planned that his
company could sponsor.
MR. BADGER explained that a year ago this week a parade of 22
trucks gathered at the Chapel by the Lake in his honor. He
assured the members that if the bill were to pass, the owner of
the company would fly to Juneau and speak at the ceremony.
SENATOR HUGGINS said he would like to thank Lynden for noting
the importance of this and supporting the effort by sending a
representative to speak to the committee.
SENATOR EGAN echoed the comments. He noted that Mr. Badger, his
coworkers, and competitors of Lynden suggested renaming the
ferry terminal in Mr. Palmer's honor. The support for this in
the Juneau community has been overwhelming.
CHAIR KOOKESH commented on the importance of the Alaska Marine
Highway in bringing fresh food to Southeast Alaska.
1:14:32 PM
KATHY HILDRE, representing herself, Juneau, AK, read the
following into the record:
Frank Palmer and my brother Pat Orme, also deceased,
were partners in Douglas Trucking for many years.
They had the contract with most of the companies that
put their vans on the ferries and Frank was the main
person, with the talent, to load and unload any size
van.
He had the personality and the talent to make things
happen. Backing a van down the ramp and around the
inside of the ferry was one of his specialties. He
did that many times, which made loading and unloading,
with Frank at the wheel, take less time. The terminal
and the personal on the ferry could always count on
Frank if it was difficult.
He had a great rapport with the terminal personnel;
they could call him at the last minute to let him know
that the ferry was early or going to be late. He
didn't mind, he just knew what he had to do.
I would hope that this committee wouldn't think twice
about making the ferry terminal in Auke Bay the Frank
Palmer Ferry Terminal. No one better than Frank
deserves this and I know that his family and friends
would be very proud and happy.
Thanks for the opportunity to give this committee my
total support.
1:16:03 PM
KATE BECKER, speaking on behalf of Patricia Palmer and herself,
said Frank Palmer was her stepfather and the two most important
things in his life were his family and meeting the ferries. He
loved his work and was similarly dedicated to his family. This
was his purpose and he lived it very well. To have something
named after him would be an appropriate honor for him and the
family.
1:18:54 PM
SANDY DARNELL, representing herself, said the Palmers were
family friends. She related that Frank Palmer's wife Patti just
this morning told her about a time several years ago when Frank
became very agitated when he was in a hospital recovery room. In
fact, he had to be restrained because he thought he was late to
meet and unload vans from the ferry. There could be no better
tribute than to name the ferry terminal after Frank Palmer, she
stated.
CHAIR KOOKESH closed public testimony and asked for a motion.
1:20:52 PM
SENATOR MENARD moved to report SB 95 from committee with
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). There
being no objection, SB 95 moved from the Senate Transportation
Standing Committee.
1:21:14 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Chair Kookesh adjourned the meeting at 1:21 p.m.
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