"Tim Bourcy"

Skagway has set aside total of $215,000 over the last two years as part of an economic stimulus program.

Skagway leaders continue to work on a 15-year tidelands lease that would prolong a private company’s control of the waterfront. Residents will get a chance to weigh in through a public vote. But the Assembly is now talking about scheduling a special election later in the year, instead of rushing to meet deadlines for the Oct. 3 general election.

Skagway’s most profitable economic sector, cruise ship tourism, is at risk. That was the message port consultants delivered to borough leaders last week. The consultants were hired to make a recommendation about what Skagway can do to ready its port for larger cruise ships by 2019.

The Skagway Borough Assembly will soon have an empty seat. Assembly member Angela Grieser handed in a letter of resignation on Friday. In the letter, Greiser cites health issues as the reason behind her departure. Working a full-time job, serving on the assembly and dealing with a medical recovery has been too much, she said.

Officials with the Skagway borough and the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad, which controls much of the waterfront, have been in a port planning stalemate that could hurt cruise ship tourism.