02/14/2005 01:30 PM House FINANCE

HOUSE BILL NO. 42                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
    An Act naming the Joe Williams, Sr., Coastal Trail.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
JIM VAN HORN, STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE  JIM ELKINS, testified in                                                                   
support of HB 42.   He noted that HB 42 names  three miles of                                                                   
trail alongside  the South Tongass Highway  between Ketchikan                                                                   
and Saxman, the Joe Williams Sr. Coastal Trial.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Mr. Van  Horn indicated that  Mr. Williams advocated  for the                                                                   
construction  of   a  trail  because  residents   from  those                                                                   
communities,   for  many  years,   lived  without   means  of                                                                   
transportation  and commonly walked  the three miles  between                                                                   
the  towns.   Mr. Van  Horn  added that  when  the trail  was                                                                   
completed,  it   quickly  became   a  favorite  walking   and                                                                   
bicycling path used by visitors and locals alike.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Mr.  Van Horn  summarized  that  passage of  the  legislation                                                                   
would honor  the memory of a  highly respected member  of the                                                                   
Native Community  in Southeast  Alaska.   He pointed  out the                                                                   
letters of  support in member's  packets and the  zero fiscal                                                                   
note.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:44:26 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
BILL WILLIAMS,  (TESTIFIED VIA TELECONFERENCE),  FORMER STATE                                                                   
REPRESENTATIVE,  SAXMAN, commented on  the great  effort that                                                                   
his father put into matters of  the land for Native Alaskans.                                                                   
He stated that Joe Williams was  a great man that worked hard                                                                   
for thirty-eight  years on matters related to  Ketchikan.  He                                                                   
urged that the Committee pass HB 42.                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Weyhrauch asked  if  the proposal  was for  a                                                                   
trail or  bike path.   Mr. Williams said  it would be  a bike                                                                   
path that would follow the South Tongass Highway.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
1:49:11 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JOE WILLIAMS JR., (TESTIFIED VIA  TELECONFERENCE), KETCHIKAN,                                                                   
discussed that  it would be a  "great honor" for  the Village                                                                   
of Saxman  and the  Native community of  Ketchikan to  have a                                                                   
trail named  after their father.   He voiced his  support for                                                                   
the legislation.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
1:50:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
YEBE  HICKS,  (TESTIFIED  VIA  TELECONFERENCE),  SAXMAN  CITY                                                                   
COUNCIL,  SAXMAN, testified  in support  of the  legislation.                                                                   
He stated that  he works with children in Saxman  and thought                                                                   
that naming  the path after Joe  Williams would be  a "source                                                                   
of pride" for Native youth.  Elders  used to walk that path a                                                                   
long time ago.   He testified in support of  the legislation,                                                                   
reiterating  that  it  would  be  an  honor  for  the  entire                                                                   
community.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:51:20 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
FRANK  SELUDO, (TESTIFIED  VIA  TELECONFERENCE), VICE  MAYOR,                                                                   
SAXMAN, voiced his  support for HB 42.  He  acknowledged that                                                                   
Joe Williams  did great work  for the community  of Ketchikan                                                                   
and urged passage of the bill.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
1:52:07 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
Representative Foster MOVED to  report HB 42 out of Committee                                                                   
with  individual recommendations  and  with the  accompanying                                                                   
fiscal note.  There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
HB  42  was  reported  out of  Committee  with  a  "do  pass"                                                                   
recommendation   and  with   zero  note   #2  by  the   House                                                                   
Transportation Committee  for Department of  Transportation &                                                                   
Public Facilities.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
1:53:24 PM