replacement project are some of the concerns now surfacing after the governor vetoed five bills on Thursday.
Sen. Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, said this was the veto he was most concerned about Thursday, particularly how the veto might impact the project’s future. “Honestly ... we had the idea of a commercial loan option in mind, but had been thinking that bonds would be both simpler and more cost-effective for this project,” Clemens said.
“The issues currently just relate to the age of the existing infrastructure down there. The current dock that we have in Seward, serving as our passenger dock, dates back to 1965. it was constructed in the aftermath of the 1964 earthquake,” she said. “So we’re coming up on 60 years of that asset in the water, which is really pushing the lifetime for a marine asset like that. So it’s time for something new.
The new facility will include a 68,000-square-foot turn port terminal building and a 750-foot, state-of-the-art, two-berth floating dock.. The bill was designed to address a shortage of hospitality industry workers. It includes language allowing employees between the ages of 18 and 20 to serve alcohol in restaurants.