The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers doesn’t plan to hold a public hearing over a permit for a proposed cruise ship dock in Ward Cove.

In a statement, a spokesman says the agency has sufficient information from public comment and agency letters to rule on a permit for a floating dock for megaships.

That’s despite requests from the City of Ketchikan and dozens of residents to hold hearings.

Ketchikan City Councilwoman Janalee Gage says there’s a lot at stake over the proposed private cruise docks about seven miles north of town. She’s not convinced that the comment letters speak for themselves.

“And even if they do get the same people speaking to the same issues,” Gage said, “I think it’s very important that the community feel that they have a voice in this and that they’re being heard.”

More than 80 comments penned by residents, business owners and state and federal agencies came in during the comment period. More than a quarter of those — including the city — asked the Corps to hold hearings before it rules on the permits.

Mayor Bob Sivertsen says he plans to follow up.

“Maybe a call to the Army Corps to kind of get clarification is probably where we’re going to start with,” Sivertsen said.

The city council is expected to deliberate on its next move when it meets on Nov. 7.

The Army Corps hasn’t said when it will rule on the pending permit applications. Developers have indicated they want to have the floating dock in place in time for the 2020 cruise season.

This story has been updated to correct the date of the next city council meeting.