Road Issues Dominate Annual MAC Meeting
Kuskulana Bridge on McCarthy Road. Photo by Michelle McAfee
Allison Sayer - CRR Staff
Note: This article has been edited to reflect a correction regarding the reference to the correction in the July minutes.
The McCarthy Area Council (MAC) held its annual meeting and elections on August 25 at the Wrangell Mountains Center Hardware Store. In addition to officers, 38 members were present in person, with an additional 11 tuning in virtually. Ten additional persons were present who are not MAC members.
Michelle Raven reported from the Roads and Access Committee. The upcoming Department of Transportation (DOT) and National Park Service (NPS) “Planning and Environmental Linkage” (PEL) study is a major focus.
In a prior email to CRR, Raven explained, “The goal [of the PEL] will be to look at access needs, concerns, road issues, etc. and evaluate any issues that may need to be addressed and to then perform an environmental study surrounding any planned solutions. The process will take about a year and a half. There will be opportunity for general public and local comment.”
At the meeting Raven stated the committee will not seek to “get people together ” to build any particular point of view to present to the agencies.
“All you’re going to get from the committee is going to be what’s happening and how to get your input to DOT and NPS.”
More information on the complete process is available at: https://dot.alaska.gov/rfpdocs/25213030/pel_guidebook.pdf or on the MAC Roads and Access Committee website: McCarthyroads.com.
The major road issues discussed at the meeting were the northwestern bridge over the Kennicott River and the damaged culvert located on the road between the first bridge and downtown McCarthy.
It is tricky to refer to the first bridge in a neutral way as a supposedly unbiased writer. Although it is often called, “The Footbridge,” parties who advocate for it to be unequivocally open to ATV and other ATV-like vehicle use refer to it as “The DOT Bridge,” or “The DOT Kennicott River Bridge.” In fact, Raven requested that the July meeting minutes’ description of her report with the words “The Footbridge” in it be amended.
This issue will be discussed in greater detail in future CRR coverage. The main point of discussion at the MAC meeting was the hope that MAC could provide a neutral and civil forum for opposing viewpoints in the future. Regulations, restrictions, and enforcement regarding the bridge will be reviewed during the upcoming PEL process.
The culvert over the “dry channel” of the Kennicott river was also discussed at length. Several MAC members expressed frustration during NPS representative Chief of Lands and Planning Joshua Scott’s update to the council. Members stated the damage is hazardous and also were concerned about flooding. They stated this issue should be dealt with in a more timely way than being incorporated into a larger study process that is not going to begin until spring of 2023.
Scott stated there are several obstacles to a quick fix, which include the fact that the area in question is located off the easement, on NPS land, the need to examine fish passage, and the desire of many locals to preserve the swimming hole. According to Scott, the swimming hole will drain and disappear unless “the culvert doesn’t act properly.” There are some longer term solutions on the table, including relocating the road, but these are likely to be time consuming.
In Scott’s report to the council, he also stated that the Nabesna road area may be slated for a PEL process similar to the McCarthy road area.
In other business, Scott said The Kennicott Operation Plan has been reviewed and a new plan will come out in 2023.
NPS is working with state offices including the State Historic Preservation office and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). In late August, NPS hosted DNR personnel with an interest in water rights applications. When asked what water rights issues were being discussed, Scott did not have specific information, but stated it is best to “have early conversations before getting to the point of making decisions.” He added there is a backlog of old water rights applications including one from NPS from 2000.
Hannah Rowland, representing the Kennicott-McCarthy Recreation Alliance, reported their main focus is currently playground design. The Recreation Alliance was approved by vote for a $1,354 grant toward the construction of outdoor furniture from local lumber, and to put towards the cost of establishing themselves as a non-profit. They are also looking for volunteers to help build picnic tables.
EMS, represented by Kristin Link, requested funding for expenses including oxygen, insurance, supplies and training, and was approved by vote for the requested $2,400. EMS head Jacob Schultz added that six community members became certified recently as Emergency Trauma Technicians (ETT), and as many as 10 might train to be EMTs next year.
Schultz added EMS responded to at least 20 EMS calls, eight to 10 of which were vehicles going off the road at soft shoulders. Out of those calls, there was one flight medevac and there were five to eight urgent road medevacs.
Thea Agnew Bemben requested that a mail shack committee be formed. There are issues around drainage that have been addressed with highly temporary measures. The volume of packages arriving in McCarthy has also increased to exceed the building’s capacity. Any persons interested in joining the committee should contact Agnew Bemben.
Jonathan Erdman, representing the Wrangell Mountains Center, issued a public apology for an explicit speech that occurred at the Truth be Told storytelling event “that was upsetting to many.”
Hannah Rowland requested an opportunity for community members to be more involved with the July 4th planning process, potentially meeting in June. Neil Darish, owner of the McCarthy Lodge, said he was open to volunteers and feedback, but made it clear that it would remain a McCarthy Lodge event.
Rowland also reported that with the MAC grant, ditches had been installed along the west side road and gravel added on top. “We can enjoy a nice, smooth road.”
Tamara Harper gave the treasurer’s report, stating there are $161,126 in various accounts and that MAC spent $101,438 in 2022. The major expenditures were $47,800 to EMS and $41,810 to the VFD in large grants plus small accumulated donations for infrastructure. An additional $2,400 was disbursed to EMS for general operations.
Other small grants paid out to date included $1,920 for West Side road maintenance, and $2,400 in legal fees for McCarthy road research. Approximately $5,000 was spent on general operations related to MAC, and an additional $5,000 to $6,000 is anticipated to be spent on MAC expenses including outhouse cleaner and secretary pay. Grants totaling $8,970 will be paid out as projects go on.
Revenue includes $1,186 in interest on CDs, $645 in dues/donations, and an anticipated Community Assistance Grant of $24,296 from the State of Alaska.
Elections were held during the meeting. President Nik Merlino, Vice President Thea Agnew Bemben, and Secretary Erin McKinstry ran unopposed as incumbents and were all re-elected. Matthew Shidner was elected treasurer. He replaced Tamara Harper who stepped down from the position. Harper received warm thanks, applause and gifts as gratitude for her years of service to the community.
The seven seat board is now composed of: Chris Chester, Greg Fensterman, Jeremy Pataky, Hannah Rowland, Greg Runyan, Stephanie Sever, and Julie Truskowski. John Rice, who is retiring from the board, also received hearty applause and thanks for his service.
The previously proposed geodesic dome infrastructure proposal also came up for vote at the meeting and was voted down.
Votes were counted by non member volunteers Sharon Tingue, Jon Cooperman, and Colin Warren.
In new business, MAC voted to hold a September meeting, which will be the last Thursday of September (the 29th) at 6:30 p.m. at a location to be determined. Elizabeth Schäfer expressed a desire to implement community training to help locals address mental health crises.
The current update on the Tony Zak house is that it will be open to the public during the winter. The trustees are not ready to discuss the property’s status for the summer of 2023. The summer closure was spurred by a break in and other violations of the property.
Nik Merlino adjourned the two-hour meeting with an expression of gratitude to all for coming together to have discussions in “our imperfect system.”
Disclosure: Hannah Rowland is part of the Copper River Record staff.