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Commission reviews draft Polaris Tower pamphlet, asks for distribution plan and corrects historical text errors
Summary
The commission reviewed a draft pamphlet produced under the Polaris Building memorandum of agreement, identified omitted edits and historical inaccuracies in the narrative, and urged a distribution plan and printing-cost consideration; staff will convey the commission's desire for broader public distribution to the city contact.
The commission reviewed the latest draft of a public pamphlet prepared under the memorandum of agreement (MOA) related to the demolition of the Polaris Tower and its associated documentation.
Staff said the draft was prepared by a Secretary of the Interior–qualified historian and transmitted by Sarah First of the City of Fairbanks. Commissioner Stew and others noted the current draft may have dropped earlier textual edits; Stew said the transmittal memo indicates some requested revisions from the first round of comments were not incorporated and that further edits will follow the current comment period. "This is not the final complete version, but it is their most recent draft," staff said; the comment period runs through Aug. 21 and a final version will follow.
Commissioners identified a specific historical point they sought to correct concerning the recollections of Captain Charles W. Adams and his co-navigator Barnett regarding navigation of the Chena River and Bates Rapids; commissioners said the draft conflated or misstated their actions and asked staff to propose correcting that language in the next revision. Commissioners also noted proper credit was given in the draft to contributors such as the Tanana-Yukon Historical Society and Cynthia Hill Reed but requested additional attention to bibliographic accuracy.
Several commissioners raised distribution questions: the MOA indicates the final booklet will be compiled no later than five years from MOA execution and that the digital copy will be distributed to signatories and consulting parties, but commissioners said a public distribution and printing plan was not clear. Commissioners suggested the pamphlet should be printed and made available at visitor centers, museums, and similar public venues and discussed cost and who would fund printing. One commissioner proposed two commissioners work together with staff to compile a recommended distribution list and report back at the next regular meeting.
Staff agreed to pass along the commission’s requests to Sarah First and to report back when a final pamphlet is available; no formal vote on conditions or distribution funding was recorded at the special meeting.
