Karluk's stalled water tank project needs $894,993 more, Kodiak borough list says

The Kodiak Island Borough Assembly reviewed its state and federal capital project lists at a work session Thursday. One village project on the state list has stalled for lack of money: a new water storage tank in Karluk.

The tank and a 1,500-foot transmission line are estimated to cost $1,882,087, according to the meeting packet. The project has $987,094 from the Indian Health Service and the Denali Commission and needs $894,993 more. Engineering design is done, but construction preparation stalled because of the funding shortage.

The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium plans to build the tank together with a new water treatment plant for Karluk. The new tank would replace one that does not meet current seismic requirements. The list says an earthquake could damage the old tank and cause it to collapse. Karluk has been in violation of Surface Water Treatment Rule drinking water standards since they were updated in 2005.

Karluk also asks for a $150,000 sewer truck. The tribe says generator problems mean it has to pump sewage by hand every few days.

Other village requests include $35,000 to insulate the Port Lions fire station, where the fire truck must be kept empty of water in freezing weather. Larsen Bay needs $1.2 million for a reservoir spillway that is eroding and nearing failure. The reservoir supplies drinking water and hydroelectric power.

The state list in the packet is the one the assembly adopted Jan. 22. In October, the borough planned to ask two lawmakers whether village projects should stay on it; 10 of its 17 projects belong to villages.

Thursday's work session was for discussion only, and the assembly took no vote.