The borough assembly last week unanimously approved a 40-year property lease for a new marine freight terminal at the former 6-Mile Mill property.
Alaska Marine Lines plans to construct and operate a barge ramp and shipping yard as a permanent replacement for the aging borough-owned downtown barge ramp that previously handled the community’s cargo.
Ryan Dixon, media director for Lynden, the parent company of AML, said in an email on Monday: “We currently expect to have designs ready this fall so we can apply for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ permit.”
He added that the permit will likely take a year for approval.
“Once the design and cost estimates have been determined,” Dixon said, “we will be able to make a final decision on moving ahead with the project and what the timeline would look like.”
Under the terms of the 40-year lease, which will begin July 1, AML will pay a base rent of $1 annually. Borough officials noted that the shipping company assumes all financial responsibility for building, maintaining and operating the facility.
