Kevin Knox and son Theo visit “A-29,” the FAA designation for Sitka’s seaplane base, which was closed after a storm battered it in January. Knox is a recreational pilot, but his connections are professional. He’s an advocate on behalf of the Southeast Alaska Aviation Association, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, and he’s the representative for Sitka’s seaplane base in the Airport Support Network. (KCAW photo/Robert Woolsey)
The Sitka Assembly has passed a $28-million budget for next year. The details of the budget have taken months to iron out, but last Tuesday’s (5-31-16) special meeting itself was unusually brief — just under 10 minutes.
To make ends meet, City Hall is consolidating or leaving unfilled 5 positions. For example, the Parks & Recreation coordinator has been combined with the director of Building Maintenance. A sixth city staffer was laid off, though the administration did not disclose who it was, or the affected department.
Additionally, $1.6-million was transferred from the general fund to the Electric Department, to cover debt payments on the Blue Lake Hydro project.
Mayor Mim McConnell appeared relieved to have passed a balanced budget, but admitted that the internal transfer to cover the Electric Department made it feel like a bit of a shell game.
“Someday I hope we pass a real budget,” she said.
One final budget item that came in on the coattails of the general fund budget was $170,000 for repairs to Sitka’s public floatplane dock. The facility has been closed since January, when a piling collapsed. Pilots and other advocates have advocated steadily since then to make necessary repairs.
KCAW’s Robert Woolsey accompanied one of those advocates on a recent tour of the dock.
“My name’s Kevin Knox. Right now I fly mostly recreationally. But I also fly in the back seat of a Piper Cub during the herring fishery as a safety pilot.”
Kevin Knox and I are standing on Sitka’s seaplane base. Tucked midway between the two processors on Katlian Street, it looks a little forlorn — dangerous even. Some loose boards have been ripped up, and there’s a lot of green slime on the wood.
Sections of the base were damaged when a piling failed in January, and a section of dock was pulled out toward the channel. (KCAW photo/Robert Woolsey)
The place is showing its age.
“Well it’s an old base. The original base was built 54 years ago from what I understand, and then 37 years ago this one was repaired — or brought up to date — so to speak, and it’s seen its life, really. Most harbor systems’ docks only really last about 40 years in this kind of marine environment. So it’s seen a pretty good useful life.”
Back in January, one of the pilings here gave way during a winter storm, and the main float began to veer out into Sitka Channel, stretching power lines as it went. The Harbor Department reined in the errant dock, but closed the base, leaving seaplanes equipped with straight floats no place to park.
Knox is a safety pilot for the Sitka herring fishery each spring, when there may be up to a dozen aircraft circling over the seine fleet. He says losing the dock has affected spotter planes.
“So some guys have actually switched out just to wheels. In this neck of the woods, especially on the outer coast it’s a little more risky when you’re flying around in a single-engine aircraft with wheels underneath you. You’ve got to find a spot to go, and there’s usually fewer spots to find for an emergency landing.”
The assembly’s decision to authorize $170,000 to repair and reopen the seaplane base is a boon for pilots, but it’s just buying time. Many in the industry agree that Sitka can do better than shoring up a 54-year-old dock. In 2012 the city contracted with DOWL Engineering to do a siting study for an all-new base, on the other side of the channel, away from the busy seafood processors and the huge flocks of birds feeding on fish waste.
“They interviewed 37 different pilots or commercial operators. Not just in Sitka but in surrounding communities. And asked them about their interest in a new base, or seeing this one redeveloped or kept open. The new base actually brought in the most interest. In fact, some of the commercial operators — of all of those surveyed — said they would base 10 aircraft year-round, if it was built right.”
Built right means tilting skids for up to 15 aircraft of various sizes, including the somewhat larger Grumman Goose. Power and water are important, as is easy access and plenty of parking. Best of all, a Federal Aviation Administration grant could pay for 93-percent of the estimated $12-million cost.
But parking for cars, ironically, has probably been the largest obstacle to building a new base in Sitka. The uplands at the proposed site on Japonski Island are owned by SEARHC, the Department of Education, and the Coast Guard. Knox says that there’s been recent movement in those agencies “that seems promising,” and could end 12 years’ worth of inertia in building a new dock for seaplanes.
Knox grew up in Sitka. He can’t imagine the town without them.
“Seaplanes are essential. You don’t get into remote lakes, or some of the remote access towns without having a seaplane. Harris Air does a ton of work in this neck of the woods but they are somewhat limited sometimes with having amphibs on their planes. If they had straight floats they could probably do a lot more.”
The Sitka Assembly will have one final reading of the FY17 budget at its regular meeting on June 14.
