Traffic through Nome’s port was up this summer. At Thursday night’s Port Commission meeting, Port Director Joy Baker reported a record number of vessels. One main source of traffic and revenue is Quintillion, which has spent the season laying subsea fiber optic cable.
“I don’t know if you folks noticed, if you haven’t looked out at the port today, but we have more Quintillion vessels back in port from their operations up north,” said Baker. “We had two come in this morning, and another two this afternoon. And one left today. So there’s still quite a bit happening with that operation.”
With more port users every year, the Port Commission is considering several additions to make the port more user-friendly. During last night’s meeting, they discussed possible designs for a deadman anchor and a shower facility.
But these projects come in the midst of several personnel changes within the Commission. Commissioner Megan Alvanna-Stimpfle’s resignation was accepted at the beginning of the meeting. By the end, she had company.
“I’m resigning, effective at the end of this meeting,” said Commissioner Mike Sloan.
Sloan is relocating to the East Coast. He leaves after four years on the Commission. Furthermore, if Commissioner Mark Johnson wins the run-off election on November 1st and joins the City Council, he is required to resign from the Port Commission. This would reduce the Commission to four members – the minimum needed to meet.
The Port Commission plans to make commissioner applications available at the City Clerk’s office. And they meet again at City Hall on November 17th.
