KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
Kayla Desroches/KMXT
The Kodiak Island Borough hopes to begin excavation at the Chiniak tsunami shelter and library this week. That’s what staff from the Engineering & Facilities Department told the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly at its work session Thursday.
The building served Chiniak as a library and community center before it was destroyed in the 2015 Twin Creeks fire. According to the State Division of Forestry information officer at the time, the fire spread over almost 5,000 acres.
Department director David Conrad said they’ve signed with Friend Contractors on the project and have so far installed the road and drilled the well at the location. He said they need to tackle the building’s septic system, which is over 30 years old.
“It may be more cost effective to look at replacing the system, and I realize that would be a request for more funds, but you shouldn’t have a brand new facility with a non-functioning septic.”
According to the meeting packet, the cost of a new septic system would be a projected $25,000.
The borough is working with its insurance company to help cover costs. Conrad said the company estimated the cost of the building replacement to be almost $404,000, but says they won’t know the overall number until they build the structure.
