Stories in the News (Sitnews) - Ketchikan, Alaska

Sitnews - Stories In The News - Ketchikan, Alaska - Opinions

Rep. Williams Works to Help Bring
Marine Highway Jobs to Ketchikan

March 05, 2004
Friday - 12:50 am

Representative Bill Williams (R-Saxman) on Thursday applauded the Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly for its vote earlier this week to offer office space in Ketchikan to the Alaska Marine Highway System. The Borough and the State Department of Transportation

Rep. Bill Williams

are negotiating a deal that would move as many as 40 Ferry System administrative jobs to the former Ketchikan Pulp Company site in Ward Cove. "In recent years, Ketchikan has lost too many jobs," said Williams. "I have been working closely with the D.O.T. and the Borough to help facilitate moving some jobs to Ketchikan."

Williams said that moving administrative positions to Ketchikan is not a new idea, and it's good for Ketchikan, for the Marine Highway System and for Southeast Alaska as a whole. "It makes sense for AMHS to have more port engineers in Ketchikan, closer to the shipyard, the boats and in the heart of the System's operations. I appreciate the support of Governor Murkowski and D.O.T. Commissioner Mike Barton for this proposal. It will help us move toward our goal of establishing Ketchikan as the maritime hub of Alaska."

During his twelve years in the Alaska State House, Representative Williams has been a powerful advocate for the Marine Highway System, and has fought hard to protect its funding. "The ferries are our highways in Southeast Alaska, and we must all work together to make them as efficient and effective as possible," Williams said. "This plan will be best for all of us in the region, and especially for the healthy operation of the Marine Highway System."

The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly is offering to lease a portion of the former Ketchikan Pulp Administrative Building to the AMHS at a reduced rate, and has offered to renovate the building to prepare it for Ferry System occupancy. The Department of Transportation is preparing its response to the offer.