The Port of Nome only has $32,000 to keep itself afloat, and commissioners are concerned about an unexpected emergency.
To make sure they’ve got enough money for repairs, the Port Commission recommends an increase in all port and harbor related rates by 10 percent as part of its 2016 tariff. The tariff was up for approval by the City Council at a special meeting Wednesday.
The City Council called the special meeting to discuss the Port’s rainy day fund, but during public testimony, it became clear the public still has questions about the port’s future plans. Some are concerned about the costly effort to develop Nome into a deep-draft port.
Local commercial fisherman Andy Bachman worries people like him will end up footing the bill for port development.
“Am I going to be paying another 20 or 30 percent, because now we can have a Coast Guard vessel every once in a while, or a big freighter, or a big tourist ship?” Bachman asked. “I understand the desire to have that deep water port,” Bachman added, “but I don’t understand the necessity of it.”
The meeting had an especially high turnout rate from the public. Faced with the public’s complaints and confusion regarding port funding, the City Council tabled the tariff until its next meeting on March 28.
