03/04/2003 01:36 PM Senate TRA

          SB  83-SVEN HAAKANSON AIRPORT AT OLD HARBOR                                                                       
                                                                                                                              
CHAIR JOHN COWDERY announced SB 83 to be up for consideration.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  GARY STEVENS  introduced SB  83  as a  short and  simple                                                               
bill.  He  knew Sven Haakanson, Sr.  for 32 years and  he was one                                                               
of first people Senator Stevens met  in Alaska.  SB 83 would name                                                               
the airport in  the City of Old Harbor on  Kodiak Island for Sven                                                               
Haakanson Sr. who passed away on November 23, 2002.                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR STEVENS  said Mr.  Haakanson was  a very  influential and                                                               
important person  in Old Harbor and  was its mayor for  27 years,                                                               
one  of the  longest tenures  in Alaska.  He played  an important                                                               
role in  all aspects  of the  community. He was  a key  player in                                                               
developing the Kodiak Area Native  Association (KANA), and was on                                                               
the  board of  directors and  president  of that  board for  many                                                               
years.  He  was a founder of Koniag Inc.  and played an important                                                               
role in  the passage of  the Alaska Native Claims  Settlement Act                                                               
(ANCSA). Koniag  Native Corporation named  him Elder of  the Year                                                               
in 2002. The community of Old Harbor supports this legislation.                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR OLSON  asked if anyone  opposes naming the  airport after                                                               
Mr. Haakanson.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  STEVENS   said  he  had   inquired  and  had   heard  no                                                               
opposition. The Old Harbor City  Council and the mayor are behind                                                               
this  legislation. Mr.  Haakanson's family  was active  in Kodiak                                                               
for years.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR OLSON  asked if there  were any  letters in favor  of the                                                               
legislation.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR STEVENS said the community was  asked to send a letter of                                                               
support, but  the letter  has not  arrived. Senator  Stevens said                                                               
the  city  council and  mayor  assured  him they  are  absolutely                                                               
behind this.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR THERRIAULT said in the  past, proposals to name something                                                               
after the former  mayor of Fairbanks and the  former president of                                                               
the  university  became  tremendously controversial.  He  advised                                                               
Senator Stevens  to lock  down the support  in writing  to answer                                                               
people's questions.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR COWDERY  said the chair  of the next committee  of referral                                                               
would have that letter.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR STEVENS said he would  definitely get a letter of support                                                               
from the community.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  THERRIAULT moved  SB 83  from committee  with individual                                                               
recommendations  and the  attached  zero fiscal  note.   With  no                                                               
objection, the motion carried.