Borough approves $300,000 Denali Commission grant for Saxman low-income housing

The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly on Jan. 21 adopted Ordinance 2058, appropriating $300,000 from a Denali Commission grant fund to meet the borough’s agreed contribution to the Saxman low-income housing development.

Finance Director Charlene Thomas told the assembly the borough previously approved applying for the Denali Commission grant and executed a memorandum of agreement with the City of Saxman that committed the borough to contributing up to $400,000 toward the required local match. “This ordinance will appropriate $300,000 from the Denali Commission to be used to meet the borough’s financial commitment to this project,” Thomas said.

The ordinance drew no public testimony at the hearing. Assemblymember Arntzen moved to adopt Ordinance 2058; Assemblymember Palmer seconded. The roll call recorded seven yes votes (Arntzen, Bolling, Otis, Thompson, Bailey, Matson and Palmer) and the measure passed.

The assembly packet and Thomas’ presentation state that the borough previously agreed to contribute up to $400,000; the ordinance appropriates $300,000 of Denali Commission grant funds toward that commitment. The memorandum of agreement with the City of Saxman and other project documents in the assembly packet were referenced during the presentation but were not discussed in detail during the hearing.

The action is intended to help fund construction of low-income housing in Saxman by applying the Denali Commission grant toward the borough’s match. The ordinance passage completes the assembly’s appropriation step; implementation and disbursement will follow borough financial procedures and the terms of the grant and the MOA with the City of Saxman.

No formal conditions or amendments were added during the hearing; the assembly approved the appropriation as presented.