Borough, community groups push to secure Save America’s Treasures funds for SS Nenana; ownership options under review

The Fairbanks North Star Borough supplied technical and ownership information to support a Save America’s Treasures grant application submitted on behalf of the Friends of the SS Nenana and the North Star Community Foundation, and the borough is discussing whether to accept the grant or pursue a lease or sale of the vessel to the community groups.

The matter moved after a special assembly meeting last week that asked the borough administration either to accept the grant application or to explore selling or leasing the SS Nenana to the Friends of the SS Nenana or the North Star Community Foundation. Tom Hewitt, speaking for the administration, said the borough provided needed ownership and budget information to Pete Penny of the North Star Community Foundation to complete the application and that Mr. Penny “should have been able to send that off ... on Saturday.”

The issue matters because the grant is administered through the National Park Service’s Save America’s Treasures appropriation and, as discussed at the June 3 Historic Preservation Commission meeting, could carry conditions including a long-term easement and federal oversight. Chair Record told…