Sitka Ranger boat to be taken out of service

SITKA - The historic Sitka Ranger may no longer be a common sight docked in the Sitka Channel, the Assembly was told.

U.S. Forest Service District Ranger Carol Goularte said an analysis of the operating costs of the three Ranger boats on the Tongass showed that 180 days of operation are needed to justify one boat. The combined usage of all three was only 100 days, she said.

As a result, she said, the Tongass leadership team, of which she is a member, decided to take one out of service.

"Ranger boats are near and dear to our hearts," she said, noting their historic use in the area. But now there are other, less expensive ways of performing the same tasks, and it is also possible to contract out the work.

The Sitka Ranger is the oldest and in the worst condition, she said, making it the most likely choice for surplusing. If the other two boats see similar declines in use, staff will discuss setting aside another.

The news rankled a few Assembly members Tuesday, who questioned the decision to remove the boat entirely instead of relocating one of the other boats to Sitka. They expressed concerns about jobs.

Goularte responded that the boat operator has been given another job in the Sitka office.

She also reported on upcoming projects including plans to renovate the USFS warehouse and build a new office on Halibut Point Road.

In addition, she spoke about the high rate of recreational cabin usage in the district and the "Ocean Boulevard" tree thinning project on False Island.

She also reported that $597,000 is available for restoration, reconstruction and rehabilitation projects on national forest lands.

"That's a good chunk of change," Goularte said.

But the Assembly remained concerned that the future holds more job losses in the Ranger District, and wondered how they could be better advocates.

"The Sitka Ranger District has the highest use of recreational cabins," Mayor Scott McAdams said. "It speaks to the importance recreation on the Tongass plays in the community. ... Increasingly over time the amount of resources and attention paid to our district continues to decline over time. How do we change that trend to make sure the values of this ranger district are present in the leadership discussions. How do we expand visitor services?"

McAdams added, "Just because we have no active timber sales doesn't mean we don't have a forest that needs to be well cared for and managed in terms of resources and dollars."

Goularte asked the Assembly to consider opportunities for "sustainable recreation" that haven't been tapped yet. She noted the increased number of outfitter and guide applications that the ranger district has received this year.

When asked by Larry Crews about jobs, Goularte responded that there are 25 employees in the district. "I don't see those numbers dropping," she said.

There are dozens of other positions in the Tongass supervisors office, and those jobs can move around Southeast, she told the Assembly.

"If you're in Petersburg and apply for a job, does it make sense to move that person to another community, or not?" she asked, adding, "The Tongass (supervisor) realizes the community depends on Forest Service positions. I hope we don't lose any, and we hope to get more."

One Assembly member asked Goularte to consider placing an information kiosk downtown, in order to provide better service to the community and visitors once the main office moves out the road from Siginaka Way.

"That certainly is a possibility," she said. "We haven't addressed it at this time."

From the public, Sitka Conservation Society director Andrew Thoms brought up plans to remove the Sitka Ranger boat, which he said appears to be a "lack of Forest Service investment" in the community.

He said Sitkans need to pay attention to where the agency is putting its resources, given the community's dependence on the Forest Service and its projects.

"We've been advocating for projects but we're feeling the leadership team is overlooking Sitka and the opportunities here," Thoms said. He said the Assembly needs to take a serious look at what's going on in the agency in Southeast, and consider a stronger advocacy role.

"The Forest Service is in a period of flux in looking where they're putting their focus," he said. "We need to show that Sitka is open for business, and that there are opportunities in the community."