04/04/2013 01:30 PM Senate TRANSPORTATION

              HB 94-CON AND NELLIE MILLER BRIDGES                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
2:27:08 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR EGAN announced that the next  order of business would be HB
. He noted the attendance of all members of the committee.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BRENDA HEWITT,  Staff, Representative  Doug Isaacson,  sponsor of                                                               
HB 94, explained  that in House District 1 there  are two bridges                                                               
that cross  the Chena  Flood Control. The  bill proposes  to name                                                               
those  two parallel  bridges after  Con and  Nellie Miller,  also                                                               
known  as  Mr.   and  Mrs.  Santa  Claus.   She  highlighted  the                                                               
accomplishments of the Millers, noting  that Con was the longest-                                                               
serving mayor of  North Pole. He also served as  the post master,                                                               
the civil defense director, and  the fire chief. Nellie served on                                                               
the local  school board,  was the post  mistress, and  the town's                                                               
magistrate  and  marriage  commissioner. She  noted  the  Millers                                                               
passed the value of public service on to their children.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR FAIRCLOUGH inquired  if the sign would say  "Mr. and Mrs.                                                               
Santa Claus" or their names.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DOUG ISAACSON,  sponsor of HB 94,  said that while                                                               
the  family  has  given  permission to  name  the  bridges,  "The                                                               
Original Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus,"  at this time, the signs will                                                               
say Conrad "Con" Miller Bridge and Nellie Miller Bridge.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
2:32:08 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR BISHOP  voiced appreciation  for the  bill. He  related a                                                               
story  about his  role in  building  the bridge  on February  16,                                                               
1976, and  as a  boy, enjoying  the auctions  at the  Santa Claus                                                               
House.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE ISAACSON  said he came  to Alaska in June  of 1977                                                               
and  one of  the  first places  he visited  was  the Santa  Claus                                                               
House. He said  he appreciates Senator Bishop's  history with the                                                               
Millers. He invited everyone to come to the dedication ceremony.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  DYSON  moved  to  report   HB  94  from  committee  with                                                               
individual recommendations and attached  fiscal note. There being                                                               
no objection, HB  94 was reported from  the Senate Transportation                                                               
Standing Committee.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:34:30 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR EGAN, in response to  a question from Senator Fairclough,                                                               
said no one else wished to testify.