Assembly adopts $332,000 EPA grant for South Tongass water-system generators project

The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly voted unanimously Sept. 2 to adopt Ordinance 20-83, appropriating a $332,000 Environmental Protection Agency Drinking Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Program grant for a project to add standby generators to the South Tongass water system.

Charlene Thomas, the borough finance director, said the generator project was identified during the water-system master planning process and that the grant agreement was executed in 2025 after a lengthy paperwork process following the original 2023 authorization. "This project was identified as a critical weakness of the South Tongass water system," Thomas told the assembly.

Assembly member Miss Arntzen moved adoption of the ordinance; the motion was seconded by Mr. Bailey and passed on a roll call vote: Arntzen — yes; Bowling — yes; Otis — yes; Thompson — aye; Bailey — yes; Matson — yes; Palmer — yes.

Thomas said the borough will pursue design services immediately and begin procuring generator units and site and electrical work; she added that the intention is to fund the work wholly with the EPA grant and that the appropriation is not expected to increase South End ratepayers' bills.

During questions, staff said frequent winter power outages in the South Tongass area have reduced water production capacity in the past and that loss of generation can create supply deficits when tanks are not full. The finance director said construction procurement will start once design contracts are in place.

The ordinance had been introduced Aug. 18 and set for public hearing; no public testimony was offered at the Sept. 2 hearing.

Ordinance 20-83 now moves into implementation planning; staff said procurement of design services will begin within months and construction and equipment procurement will follow.