02/27/2009 09:00 AM Senate FINANCE

SENATE BILL NO. 24                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act naming the bridge over Hammer Slough on Nordic                                                                     
     Drive in Petersburg the Louis Miller Bridge."                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:05:24 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
WESTON   EILER,  STAFF,   SENATOR  BERT   STEDMAN,  SPONSOR,                                                                    
explained that  SB 24 would  honor Louis Miller,  an Alaskan                                                                    
pioneer who  contributed a  great deal  to the  community of                                                                    
Petersburg.  He  pointed  out that  under  current  law  (AS                                                                    
35.40.015) the  state may name  public works through  an act                                                                    
of the legislature. Since enactment,  the authority has been                                                                    
exercised over  forty times, including for  the Terry Miller                                                                    
Legislative  Office  Building  and   the  Robert  B.  Atwood                                                                    
Building.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Eiler  informed the  committee that SB  24 would  name a                                                                    
bridge over  Hammer Slough in  Petersburg after  Mr. Miller,                                                                    
who came  to Alaska during  the Klondike Gold Rush  in 1901.                                                                    
He worked  as a  carpenter and  oversaw the  construction of                                                                    
the  Sons  of  Norway  Hall.   He  operated  a  moorage  and                                                                    
warehouse on  the site of  the present day bridge  until his                                                                    
death in 1955. The City of Petersburg supports the bill.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman referred to the fiscal note of $4,000.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson asked  if anyone was opposed to  the bill. Mr.                                                                    
Eiler was not aware of anyone who was.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman added that the  legislation was a result of                                                                    
a request from the Petersburg City Council.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
9:09:06 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Senator Huggins asked  if the name had  been vetted locally.                                                                    
Co-Chair Stedman  responded that the city  council had taken                                                                    
care of the process.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Senator Thomas confirmed  that the same statute  was used to                                                                    
name the Robert B. Atwood Building.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman opened public testimony.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
AL  DWYER,   MAYOR,  CITY   OF  PETERSBURG   (testified  via                                                                    
teleconference),  told  the  committee that  the  Petersburg                                                                    
City  Council unanimously  passed the  resolution. He  spoke                                                                    
about Louis Miller and the  site of the bridge. Mr. Miller's                                                                    
family was the second family to live south of the Slough.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
9:11:09 AM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Stedman noted  the  complex interrelationships  on                                                                    
the islands. He  related that his father had  worked for Mr.                                                                    
Miller. The Sons of Norway Hall was built by Mr. Miller.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair Stedman closed public testimony.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SB  24  was   HEARD  and  HELD  in   Committee  for  further                                                                    
consideration.