 by Don Hoff Jr. February 12, 2005
I don't disagree that a cold storage plant is not needed in Ketchikan. Ketchikan Cold Storage Association needs to put up their money to build the cold storage. KCSA needs to raise $7.35 million for the cold storage. Purchase the land they need to put in a cold storage. Non-profit organizations come and go and this is an effort to get something for free with none of the risks to KCSA. This is an attempt to con the Borough Assembly and citizen of Ketchikan out of land to match a State grant. Yes, Governor Murkowski did get suckered by KCSA out of grant money. I disagree with Pete Ellis saying, the need for strong support and assembly approval is essential in terms of future grant funding as to other projects and basically costs the borough nothing in terms of presently unused land. I can see the Borough Assembly enticing businesses to build in Ketchikan area with tax incentives. The Borough should not give away valuable land for free. Has anyone learned anything since the veneer plant situation in Ward Cove? Secondly, how can you say the new cold storage able to process and store far greater quantities of seafood at substantially lower costs? How do you know that, are you a genie? It is my opinion that a con job is being played on the citizens of Ketchikan by supporters of the cold storage. If the Borough Assembly is stupid enough to give away land and tax dollars for free, more power to KCSA. As for Robert Fruehan, I believe the survey you conducted in Ketchikan. 90% of the people were trying to be polite to you. Why don't you publish your facts and figures in Sitnews for us? How many full time jobs? What are the benefits to the new employees? What happens to KCSA if you don t get the matching grant from Ketchikan? You have to pay back the State grant if you folks don t succeed? How much was the State of Alaska grant to KCSA? If you believe in this project so much why are you trying to use tax payers money fund the cold storage? Raise your own money. Lastly, I have a lot invested in Ketchikan so I do have a say no matter where I am living. In closing, the Borough Assembly and citizens of Ketchikan area should say no to Ketchikan Cold Storage Association. I also have seen a decline in all our natural resources over the years in Ketchikan. That raises another question; will we have any seafood or fish to store in the future? This is my own opinion. Don Hoff Jr.
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