04/17/2010 05:22 PM House FIN

SENATE BILL NO. 24                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act naming the bridge over Hammer Slough on Nordic                                                                     
     Drive in Petersburg the Louis Miller Bridge."                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
7:07:22 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
WESTON EILER,  STAFF, SENATOR  BERT STEDMAN,  explained that                                                                    
the bill  would honor Mr.  Louis Miller, an  Alaskan pioneer                                                                    
who   contributed  a   great  deal   to  the   community  of                                                                    
Petersburg. He noted that under  AS 35.40.015, the state may                                                                    
name public  works through  an act  of the  legislature. The                                                                    
authority has  been exercised  over 40  times in  state law.                                                                    
The bill would name the  bridge over Hammer Slough after Mr.                                                                    
Miller, who  came to  Alaska during  the Klondike  gold rush                                                                    
and  arrived  in  Petersburg  in 1901.  As  a  carpenter  he                                                                    
constructed some of the first  homes along Hammer Slough and                                                                    
oversaw construction of the Sons  of Norway Hall. Mr. Miller                                                                    
operated  a  moorage  and  warehouse  on  the  site  of  the                                                                    
present-day   bridge.   The   bill   would   recognize   his                                                                    
contribution to the community.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Hawker  noted that the  $4,000 fiscal note  was for                                                                    
new signs.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Vice-Chair Thomas  MOVED to  report SB  24 out  of Committee                                                                    
with individual recommendations  and the accompanying fiscal                                                                    
note.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SB  24  was REPORTED  out  of  Committee  with a  "do  pass"                                                                    
recommendation and  with attached new fiscal  impact note by                                                                    
the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.