Borough Assembly to vote on funding for MV Susitna repairs

At Tuesday’s Mat-Su Borough Assembly meeting, assembly members will have before them two ordinances dealing with the MV Susitna, the vessel that was once to be a ferry between the borough and Anchorage, but which now is in the process of being sold to the Philippine Red Cross. Both ordinances have to do with paying for repairs caused to the vessel when rainwater got into the engine while it was being stored in Ketchikan. Total cost for the repairs is estimated at just over $1.1 million.

Part of the purchase agreement with the Philippine Red Cross is that the organization would provide the $250,000 deductible for repairs to the Susitna. One of the proposed ordinances before the assembly would allow the borough to direct the funds to that purpose. The other ordinance authorizes the borough to spend $870,000 to cover the additional repairs, which the borough expects to have reimbursed through insurance.

Also on Tuesday’s agenda are resolutions to support continued state revenue sharing and to apply for a block grant for the razing of the old Talkeetna library. The meeting begins at 6:00 p.m. and can be streamed from Radio Free Palmer.