A draft grant agreement is on the Borough Assembly’s agenda Monday, paving the way for the Ketchikan Gateway Borough to transfer $2.5 million to the City of Ketchikan for the Whitman Lake hydroelectric project.
The borough and city have spent the past few weeks hammering out the agreement. According to the borough, the agreement was designed to not conflict with the city’s $8.7 million state grant.
The borough grant relies on provisions in the state grant for assurance that the $2.5 million will be dedicated to the project. The agreement also calls for the borough funds to be the last money spent on the project, after the state grant and bonds.
City voters previously approved up to $15 million in bonds for the Whitman project. The total estimated construction cost is $26.2 million.
Also Monday, the Assembly will consider a request from the Ketchikan School District to increase this year’s school budget. The adjusted budget is nearly $42 million. That’s about $1.8 million more than the approved budget. It reflects additional state funding due to a higher than expected student count.
In other business, the Assembly will consider approving a new borough seal, designed by Ketchikan artist Terry Pyles. A committee chose the design, budgeted at $1,000. If approved, the new seal will be used on official borough paperwork.
The Assembly meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. Monday in Borough Assembly chambers at the White Cliff building. Public comment will be heard at the start of the meeting.
