To the Editor,
Like a lot of us, I’ve read and heard a lot about the road contract and claims by members of the GBOS about huge savings we have reaped by having a new contract. Because the bid is based on unit prices, and the contractor only gets paid for the work required by the weather (no snow or rain, not much work), I thought it would be interesting to compare the December through February billings based upon the amount of snow and rain that we received. I used the weather records from the Alyeska Base station for the precipitation information. Here is what I found.
The Road Supervisor was correct that we have paid $49,000 less this year than last. However, the records also show the two winters were very different. In fact, we had 88% more snow last year (hard to believe) and the water content was 26% more last year. When you look at it this way, we either paid a lot more per inch of snow this year (48.5%) or about the same per inch of water. If the winters had been the same, the numbers say we would have paid a lot more for our snow removal, this year.
What this tells me is that experience counts. I suspect that next year, the new contractor will be much more proficient. I also know that no two winters are the same. The figures would also say that the community was well served by an experienced contractor in a record snow year.
Larry Daniels
Girdwood, AK
To the Editor:
I would like to commend Rep. Lynn, Gara, Kertula, Buch and Gruenberg for sponsoring and co-sponsoring this bill. I cannot imagine any Representative or Senator not supporting this bill. Anyone who even doubts the impact of not supporting this bill is “out of touch” with what is happening in Sudan.
Those in the Alaska legislature who are true leaders will take the right path and not let Alaska invest in a country which supports the brutal genocide of it’s people for monetary gains. I have no doubt that if Alaskans knew that monies from their Permanent Fund Checks came from supporting companies in the Sudan which support this horrific government they would choose a lesser amount if that be the case.
We cannot expect our elected State Representatives to micro manage every aspect of State Investments, but when it comes to Human Rights Issues, we do expect our elected Representatives to be leaders and make the right decisions representing not only Alaskan’s but American Citizens and what this country was founded upon.
I contacted State Senator Con Bunde asking him where he stands on this issue; his response was he doesn’t feel it would make a difference with the suffering and genocide in the Sudan by not investing Permanent Funds in this country.
What is the difference between not accepting a bid from the Chinese Company wanting to build a gas pipeline as this company had ties to the Sudan and investing Permanent Funds in the Sudan?
This is our part to do what we can as Alaskan’s to help those suffering in Sudan. Please encourage your representatives to make the right choice and support this bill.
Pam Skogstad
Hope, AK