River rescue
Independence Day
Community Garden
Boat capsizes on the Taiya Page 5
Full schedule Back Page
at former Jewell site Page 7
Subscribe at www.skagwaynews.com/subscribe
THE SKAGWAY NEWS.
June 24, 2022
Sk a g w ay, A l a s k a
SEARHC vote canceled
By Melinda Munson After hearing testimony from a burlesque dancer in costume, a cancer survivor who suffered a broken neck and board members who said they weren’t qualified to be on the board, the assembly voted unanimously in a special meeting June 21 to cancel the July 12 vote which would have answered the question: “Shall the Municipality of Skagway sell the Dahl Memorial Clinic, real property, improvements, personal property and financial assets to SEARHC for an amount no less than market value established by a qualified commercial appraisal?” The ruling came after the assembly received a letter from the health consortium in response to the $9,500,000 appraisal of the clinic. SEARHC requested a $3,430,667 deduction for grant obligations and $3 million in municipality transition support. “...The transaction must be structured such that SEARHC may reasonably achieve a sufficient source of funding necessary to stabilize clinic operations, continue to provide high quality healthcare and best position the clinic to expand services to the community,” SEARHC wrote. SEARHC’s response to the appraisal was not popular with the assembly. “I find it disappointing and a little bit disrespectful to be honest,” said Assemblymember Deb Potter. She suggested holding a vote in the fall, polling Skagway residents if they wanted to sell or lease the clinic with the possibility of an RFP process. (see page 8- Vote)
Arthur Lazalde and Carla Jablonski play Soapy Smith and Belle Davenport at The Days of 98 Show.
$1.50
Photo by Melinda Munson
Cruise’s Medallion payment program draws concern By Gretchen Wehmhoff Princess Cruises’ Medallion program won’t be rolled out in Skagway in the near future and a large group of local merchants want to make sure it stays that way. The program, represented by a quarter-sized digital medallion worn by the client, allows passengers to access their rooms, pay for on board purchases, check in when returning to the ship after visiting a port, track traveling companions on the ship, get directions on the ship and access wi-fi and activities on board. It also keeps track of a customer’s on board purchases. Local business owners sent a letter to Mayor Andrew Cremata urging him to communicate with the cruise industry that they were opposed to any system such as the Medallion program coming to Skagway. Sixty-seven people representing local businesses signed the correspondence.
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Corrington’s Mickie Lucchetti kept the merchant marketing materials she received in 2019 from Princess. The documents list a 17.99% service fee for port merchants. Fees are slightly different for food and beverage purchases. Concerns stem from the 17.99% service fee that participating merchants would be charged. From that fee, 7% would go back to the passenger as on board credit. The brochure says retailers would receive payment, less the 17.99% service fee, as soon as within 24 hours. It is unclear if merchants would also pay sales tax on the entire transaction. Carol Bourcy of Richters helped write the letter. She shared concerns from locals suggesting that those who do not sign up with the program will be at a disadvantage, especially if passengers decide to only use their medallion to pay while at port. Bourcy highlighted the idea that the
cruise line would be able to track their passengers’ shopping habits and that could have a negative impact on local business. Earlier this year, the Skagway Chamber forwarded an email to members with a series of attachments, mostly brochures and flyers marketing the program to potential Princess Cruise passengers. None of the flyers or brochures mentioned leaving regular forms of payment on the ship when disembarking at a port town. However, a video linked at the bottom of the email suggests that passengers “can now make purchases in favorite ports like Cabo San Lucas and earn seven percent on Medallion rewards on board credit.” The host then makes the suggestion that combining a 5% cash back credit card with the 7% credit is a good deal. Towards the end of the two-minute video the host says, “leave your wallet in
BLOTTER PAGE 9 CLASSIFIED PAGE 11
your cabin safe and use your ocean medallion to make purchases with added security with medallion pay merchants, and it’s safe.” The accompanying video shows passengers shopping in port stores. It is this last statement that coincides with local Skagway businesses’ concerns. Alaska Fairytales owner Billi Clem testified at the June 16 assembly meeting that she had conversations with a Princess passenger that set off alarms. Clem said she visited with the tourist outside the Skaguay News Depot who planned on using her Medallion to purchase books. Clem informed the tourist that the Medallion wasn’t used in most local stores. “She said to me, ‘Well, all the shops in this town are owned by Princess.’ And I said, No, they’re not. We are a local town. And we are not owned by the cruise (see page 3- Retailers)
FREE personal classifieds up to 25 words. CALL (907)983-2354 for more information.