By Jessica Edwards
After years of debate that ended with agreement on a site for proposed
Port Chilkoot Dock restrooms, the project has hit yet another hurdle – an estimated
$865,000 price tag.
Engineers’ estimates for the restroom building and shelter came in
at $135,000, but building an "apron" onto the dock trestle would require
expensive steel pilings, pushing the price to $865,000.
Aesthetics for the proposed barn-like building were based on historic
dock structures associated with Fort Seward.
Haines Borough interim manager Bob Ward said he discussed contingency
plans for the restrooms with PND Engineers Friday, including an alternate location and
reduced size.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service now
require use of steel pilings on tidelands. Those agencies would be "very resistant to
treated wood pilings," Ward said.
He told the borough assembly last week he didn’t think it was
possible to bring the structure’s price down if the project involved pilings and an
addition to the existing dock.
Placing a slightly smaller restroom structure in the parking lot area
just south of the dock in the current location of the portable toilets would be cheaper
and wouldn’t require pilings, Ward said. Running sewer and water to that location
also would be less costly.
"To the extent that people want bathrooms and want them now, that
would be the place to put them."
Ward said he thought reducing the size of the restroom structure by
removing the central storage area for the people-mover cart would make a smaller footprint
in the parking lot. Constructing a small, separate structure for the people-mover cart,
perhaps on the dock itself, would be more economical.
Ward said he would forward the alternate concepts to the tourism
advisory board and planning commission before requesting additional design work.
Tourism board members last week puzzled over the burgeoning cost of the
restrooms. "At some point, we need to make a decision," said Jeff Butcher.
"We need something more permanent than tents and porta-potties. We should try to move
this project forward."
Tour operator Karen Hess told the borough assembly last week other
alternatives should be considered. "I’m just to the point where we need some
bathrooms," she said. "I would really like to see bathrooms at some point in my
life."
Assembly member Pete Lapham said it might be worthwhile to purchase
property across the street owned by Brian Lemcke and place the restrooms there, but Ward
said Lemcke isn’t selling. Building on borough property would be most economical, he
said.
