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THE SKAGWAY NEWS.
Artists promote Skagway PAGE 2
Our local angler PAGE 4
July 23, 2021
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Skagway to receive $9M in ARPA funds By Melinda Munson “We’re being told it’s going to happen,” said Borough Manager Brad Ryan, referencing the approximate $9 million the municipality expects to receive from the state after Gov. Mike Dunleavy finalized the 20212022 budget. The funds originate from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), signed by President Joe Biden in March. The portion the state will use to assist Skagway is known as “Seven Ports of Call.” Cities which rely on commercial passenger vessel excise tax (CPV), will be paid what they made in 2019 from CPV, minus any CPV they actually collected, times two. “When or exactly how” the money will be paid is unclear, Ryan said. He expects the spending restrictions will align with ARPA rules, not CPV requirements. He sees the funding as “revenue replacement” and cites necessary projects such as Skagway City School’s kitchen replacement, a $2 million project. The school’s kitchen was deemed unsafe last year and converted into classrooms. Since the kitchen shutdown, the school has been preparing bag lunches off-site. Ryan said so far, he sees the money staying within the municipality for capital projects. According to Ryan, “no one has suggested” using the money to bolster local businesses. Unexpected capital funds is when Assemblymember Jay Burnham typically chimes in, partially in jest. “Build a pool. I always say build a pool,” he said.
Photo by Melinda Munson
Jilkaat Kwaan Heritage Dancers from Haines and Klukwan performed outside of the National Park Service Moore Homestead on July 22. Over 400 people attended the cultural program sponsored by Junior Ranger Day Events.
Dahl clinic in crisis, SEARHC offers to take over By Melinda Munson “We are having trouble over at the clinic,” said Borough Manager Brad Ryan at the July 9 Health, Education and Welfare Committee (HEW) meeting. Like most of the nation, Skagway is scrambling to recruit healthcare workers. Dahl Memorial Clinic (DMC) also struggles to retain their workforce. According to KHNS, DMC lost 75 percent of its staff this year. In June, Nurse Practitioner Johanna Huff stepped down as medical director to focus solely on patient care. Dr. Terence Barlow (DNP), one of three providers, resigned earlier this month. The municipality recently hired a temporary provider at $858 per day, plus housing, to fill the void. “It’s expensive and it’s an emergency measure,” said Vice-Mayor Orion Hanson who signed the paperwork with the staffing agency as Mayor Andrew Cremata was out of town.
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Currently, Skagwegians who call the community clinic cannot immediately schedule treatment. Patients are asked about their medical status, then receive a phone call days later to book an appointment. Approximately 30 citizens attended the HEW meeting held on a Friday evening to accommodate the committee’s schedule. Assemblymember Jay Burnham was not in attendance because of a work emergency. The meeting’s only agenda item was to discuss a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between SEARHC, a non-profit health consortium based out of Juneau with clinics located in 27 Southeast communities. SEARHC describes itself as “Alaska Native People working in partnership to provide the best healthcare for our communities.” Ryan said he initiated contact with SEARHC, which then made a public presenta-
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tion in Skagway on June 21. “SEARHC has expressed interest since I’ve been here,” Ryan said. He later added, “I’m not trying to railroad this but I am trying to get the answers.” One section of the MOU outlined a short-term plan for SEARHC to immediately provide management services to the clinic. The second aspect of the document invited what Ryan described as “further investigation of the services that SEARHC can provide to the community.” Community members were vocal during Citizens Present. Shelly O’Boyle, former clinic manager, felt she didn’t have enough information about what a future with SEARHC would look like. “Educate us, slow down,” she advised the HEW Committee. She also wondered about the financial ramifications of giving up control of the community clinic. ‘We worked really hard
to get $1.3 million of grant money to this community … That $1.3 million employs eight positions at that clinic. It takes care of the dental program. It does the dispensary technician, the health and information technology specialist, the administrative manager, behavioral health … the accounts benefit position, the seasonal RN, one MA (medical assistant) and one provider,” O’Boyle said. “I did not hear at that meeting the other week that those positions are going to be in this community, that those services are going to be in this community … I did not hear them say that they were going to protect those positions. What I heard them say is they are going to take our $1.3M and absorb it into SEARHC…” O’ Boyle continued. Cory Thole, president of DMC Board of Directors, also had financial concerns. He wondered if the clinic continued on page 5
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