02/10/2009 01:00 PM Senate TRANSPORTATION

           SB  25-RICHARD DEWEY DUVALL FERRY TERMINAL                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
1:04:15 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KOOKESH announced the consideration of SB 25.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
WESTON  EILER,  Staff  to  Senator  Bert  Stedman,  Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature, said  SB 25  would honor  Richard Dewey  Duvall, who                                                               
was a proponent of marine  transportation in Southeast Alaska and                                                               
a long-time resident of Petersburg.  Under AS 35.40.015 the state                                                               
may name  public works  through an act  of the  Legislature. This                                                               
authority  has been  used  about 40  times,  including the  Terry                                                               
Miller  Legislative  Office building.  This  bill  will name  the                                                               
south Mitkof Island  ferry terminal after Mr. Duvall,  who was an                                                               
engineer  who  promoted   improving  transportation  in  southern                                                               
Southeast Alaska.  He was a  founding board member of  the Inter-                                                               
Island  Ferry  Authority  (IFA).   He  was  instrumental  in  the                                                               
construction  of the  terminal  and served  as  its first  ticket                                                               
agent. The bill will recognize  his contributions and dedication.                                                               
Both IFA and the City of Petersburg support SB 25.                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:06:13 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR KOOKESH  said the south  and north terminals of  the system                                                               
are not part of the Alaska Marine Highway.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MR. EILER  said the IFA  is a  small authority that  operates two                                                               
vessels. The  terminal is south  of Petersburg on  Mitkof Island.                                                               
The IFA  has routes along  the coast  of Prince of  Wales Island,                                                               
Wrangell, and  Petersburg. One vessel  is now filling in  for the                                                               
state ferry Lituya [that went recently aground].                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:07:07 PM                                                                                                                    
AL  DWYER, Mayor,  Petersburg, Alaska  said the  previous speaker                                                               
said everything he  wanted to say. He added that  the city passed                                                               
a  resolution  in  October,  2008, with  the  same  comments.  He                                                               
thanked the committee and Senator Stedman.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:08:12 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  KOOKESH asked  about the  relationship the  ferry terminal                                                               
has with the state since the IFA owns its own ships.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
MR. EILER said  the terminal itself was  constructed largely with                                                               
federal funds, but it is owned by the state and used by the IFA.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  DAVIS  moved  to  report   SB  25  from  committee  with                                                               
individual  recommendations and  attached  fiscal note(s).  There                                                               
being no objection, the bill moved out of committee.