Alaska Beat

Mat-Su Borough makes first Susitna ferry payment

According to the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, even though many Mat-Su Borough lawmakers don't like the situation, they voted 6-1 to approve money to pay the first of a series of bills they expect to come due because of the ferry M/V Susitna.

Without having a ferry route ready for it, the borough agreed to take possession of the prototype landing craft designed for the Navy but built with civilian use in mind. The idea was to ferry people and cars between Point MacKenzie and Anchorage, but there weren't landings on both sides, and the borough didn't have the money to build either of them.

Since the contract with the Navy requires the Susitna to operate and generate evaluation data, parking it in secure, dry-land storage isn't an option. Plus, the borough has spent $20 million in federal grants that would have to be repaid if a ferry system doesn't result.

"Given those two items, we have been working diligently the past 10 months trying to find opportunities for that and we have been shaking every tree," said Borough Manager John Moosey.

The vote Monday approved $93,941.26 to cover costs to guard, maintain and create a two-member crew for the Susitna. It will also buy the assembly until May 1 to continue looking for a solution to the ferry debacle.

"This is good for the interim two months while the Navy and ourselves are working out an agreement," Assemblyman Jim Colver said. "I think we need a plan A, B and C for when three months run out."

Read much more, here.

Craig Medred

Craig Medred is a former writer for the Anchorage Daily News, Alaska Dispatch and Alaska Dispatch News. He left the ADN in 2015.

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