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Harbormaster reports collapsed shower drain, $60,000 safety grant and staffing updates
Summary
The harbor harbormaster told the July 14 board the public showers are inoperable due to a collapsed drain under concrete, plumbers estimate late July–early August repairs, and a $60,000 raw-fish-tax grant will fund safety ladders, life rings and signage.
Harbormaster (S7) told the Ketchikan Port & Harbor Advisory Board on July 14 that the public showers are inoperable because of a collapsed drain under a concrete slab and that plumbers have concluded the repair is beyond in-house maintenance capability. Harbormaster (S7) said plumbers have inspected the site and the earliest repair window offered is "late July, early August," but the timeline and exact scope remain uncertain until the contractor begins excavation.
"The building public showers are inoperable due to a collapsed drain pipe," Harbormaster (S7) said, and staff and public-works maintenance personnel were unable to complete the repair. Board members discussed alternatives including cutting into the slab, accessing the pipe from the parking-lot underside, or installing a raised step-in shower to avoid major demolition; accessibility requirements such as ramps and grab bars were raised as part of the planning.
In other operational updates, Harbormaster (S7) said the harbor received a $60,000 award from raw-fish-tax funds for harbor safety improvements. "We've got $60,000 for harbor safety improvements," he said, and staff plan to use the grant to order life rings, fire-extinguisher cabinets, more robust fiberglass ladders similar to ones already installed in Rangel, and highly visible flags to mark ladder locations. Harbormaster (S7) said existing ladders in serviceable condition will not be replaced at this time but that the order will improve safety where needed.
Harbormaster (S7) also reported the Army Corps of Engineers is conducting pre-construction meetings for a floating breakwater (he said a pre-construction meeting was scheduled and components appeared to be en route), and the port hired two temporary maintenance workers to support summer evening shifts up to 10 p.m. Board members and fishermen raised frustration about limited berthing and transient space and urged pursuing options for seasonal floats or rafting at certain city-owned pilings; permitting complexity and Army Corps jurisdiction were noted as constraints.
Board member (S3) criticized the allocation formula for raw-fish-tax funds and argued the funds should be used directly for city docks and harbors: "It should be used on our docks, our ports, our harbors," the member said. Harbormaster (S7) recommended fishermen raise allocation concerns with the borough, noting the borough currently manages certain distributions.
