03/08/2019 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

SENATE BILL NO. 4                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
    "An Act naming the Scott Johnson Memorial Bridge."                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
9:24:03 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
RYNNIEVA  MOSS,  STAFF,  SENATOR  JOHN  COGHILL,  introduced                                                                    
herself.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:24:18 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
RADAMES  MERCADO, STAFF,  SENATOR  JOHN COGHILL,  introduced                                                                    
the legislation. He stated that  Sergeant Scott Johnson died                                                                    
on Thursday, May  14, 2014. He shared the  bill was intended                                                                    
as a  memorialization. The bill  would rename the  Tok River                                                                    
Bridge. Scott  Johnson grew up  in Tok. He noted  the strong                                                                    
support  of  the bill.  He  stated  that  the widow  of  Mr.                                                                    
Johnson wanted to honor the people of Tok.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:25:56 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Shower highlighted  that the  widow of  Mr. Johnson                                                                    
initially  was  not  in  support   of  the  legislation.  He                                                                    
stressed  that  it  was  important  to  involve  the  family                                                                    
members in similar decisions.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
9:27:53 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BRANDY  JOHNSON, SURVIVING  SPOUSE,  SERGEANT SCOTT  JOHNSON                                                                    
(via  teleconference), shared  stories of  using the  bridge                                                                    
with  her  now  deceased husband.  She  appreciated  reading                                                                    
support  of  the  community.  She  felt  that  testimony  of                                                                    
family,  friends,  and  coworkers   limited  the  space  for                                                                    
community  participation. She  spoke against  the naming  of                                                                    
the  bridge,   but  she  understood   the  support   of  the                                                                    
community.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:30:58 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
DAVE  STANCLIFF, SELF,  TOK (via  teleconference), spoke  in                                                                    
support of the bill.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:34:38 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  JOHN  COGHILL,  SPONSOR,  introduced  himself,  and                                                                    
stated that the  bill was meant to honor a  man who paid the                                                                    
ultimate price to protect the people.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair von Imhof OPENED public testimony.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:36:24 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BUD   JOHNSON,   FATHER,   SERGEANT   SCOTT   JOHNSON   (via                                                                    
teleconference), spoke in support of the bill.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
9:37:06 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
ELIZABETH   ZABIELSKI,  SELF,   TOK  (via   teleconference),                                                                    
testified in support of the legislation.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:38:17 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
RICHARD SCHULTZ,  SELF, TOK  (via teleconference),  spoke in                                                                    
support of the bill.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:40:04 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Hoffman  noted that  Mr. Schultz  had the  best sign                                                                    
for a campaign.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Senator  Bishop  appreciated  the efforts  on  the  memorial                                                                    
bridge.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:41:13 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BRIAN   WASSMAN,  SELF,   FAIRBANKS  (via   teleconference),                                                                    
testified in support of the legislation.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair von Imhof CLOSED public testimony.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:44:46 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MIKE   LESMANN,    LEGISLATIVE   LIAISON,    DEPARTMENT   OF                                                                    
TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC  FACILITIES, stated the department                                                                    
had an ongoing project to  replace the Tok River Bridge. The                                                                    
project was  federally funded for which  the legislature had                                                                    
already   appropriated  a   state  match   of  approximately                                                                    
$900,000, therefore the department had a zero fiscal note.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  von Imhof  announced that  amendments were  due by                                                                    
5pm on Monday, March 11.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SB  4   was  HEARD  and   HELD  in  committee   for  further                                                                    
consideration.