Hatchery costs
Published Thursday, June 19, 2008
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Stumble It!To the editor:
The increasing construction cost of a fish hatchery in Fairbanks has been in the news for many weeks. At no time have I seen anyone discuss the soaring future operating cost of the hatchery.
A fish hatchery requires lots of warmed water, so the initial plan was to locate near the Aurora Energy coal-fired power plant to take advantage of waste heat.
Then it was decided that it would cost too much to pipe this hot water to the Wilbur Street location, so the plan was changed to use oil or gas fired boilers.
The people who want to build the hatchery have not kept the public up to date on the effects of higher energy costs. Capital costs are way above estimates; operating costs will be excessive.
It’s a growing boondoggle.
Roger Burns
Fairbanks
Community Discussion
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When I found out the same contractor would be building this as the university museum, I though uh oh. Some folks never learn. Whether we need this hatchery or not, it's certainly not a critical need. There are so many other projects that would be of more benefit to the community.
AMEN, what a waste of money. Raising fish to feed the Pike, oh wait now we have to kill the Pike. Makes no sence to me. How about raising fish and selling them at the market? NO NO, thats no fun. Just where did this idea come from in the first place?????
The whole thing sounds a little fishy to me!!
Using the waste heat from the energy plant would have made too much sense. It would have allowed the river to return to its natural state during the winter, FROZEN. The hatchery itself is a good idea, but putting it right in the middle of town? We have lots of local stockable lakes in the area, but with the lack of hatcheries in the state they are getting few fish if any.
You can purchase annual fish stock for ~ 13% the cost of the project not even counting the cost to operate and maintain the facility. It is a waste of money that could be used in other places.
The project does not serve the public good.
We may not need it, or we may need it. But, by golly we can hire another state worker who can then draw a retirement check after five years. (That is five years on the clock, not necessarily working!)
This project is not a boondoggle, per sey. We are getting something for it, and if we were a rich State it would seem perfectly normal to build it. Then there's the reality that you and I live in. We expect the University to be COMPLETELY delusional and out of touch, but our elected officials who are pushing this Hatchery, while at the same time everyday people are going down in flames trying to heat their homes, is simply beyond my level of vocabulary, our what the rules of decency allow on this site. Building a $35-$50 million dollar hatchery, now, is like polishing the silver while the Titanic goes down - Because, by god, we bought all this Silver polish and we'd better use it before it goes to waste..... Am I making any sense?
I agree. This is not an urgent need. $31+ million could be used more efficiently elsewhere. Temporary shelving this project for later consideration when the economy is more healthy would make more financial cents. $$
Most of you must not have fished as a child here in the interior. As most know, salmon by the time they get up here are usually only good for smoking or dogfood. It is important we are able to restock our local lakes with fish for those who enjoy ice fishing and summer camping with their families. With gas going through the roof, many of the trips to Valdez and the Russian River will be cut back or even cancelled. And Fairbanks deserves a fishery, we have many lakes, ponds, and streams that people depend on the planting of fish for both food and sport.
The hatchery construction by all accounts is over budget. How much of that budget is already spent and will be wasted if it is not finished? It is good money after bad, but nothing for something is worse than something for more than we budgeted. As for future operating costs, of course they too will be higher than projected. That's what happens when we have excess in the budget. New projects get thrown in the budget mix and are not held to a reasonable standard economically. We have excess again so watch the state spend spend spend, then say... "uh-oh" we can't afford another fire fighter or road maintenance because we have contractural obligations for our discretionary projects.
Teach your kids to fish and you just might keep them out of jail. Nothing better you can do with your family and if they catch something it will keep their interest.
There are so many lakes that could use the stocking program. Plus it brings in tourist dollars, as people will have a reason to stay in Fairbanks. The longer they stay, the more money they spend. I remember a friend who stayed here with me and he could not believe how many trout he was catching. Told the story down south and sent 5 others up to Fairbanks. They still may do Valdez or the Kenai, but Fairbanks is Alaska, let them find that out. Fishing is just one more reason to stay. Take it away and you will send them on their way too.
Wonder how much per pound those fish will cost. The whole thing makes no sense.
Teach your kids to fis and keep them out of jail.. WOW is this ever a new educational tool. How about teaching them to steal money form the working people and pi-- it away on worthless projects. If all the money this project will bring in why do we need tax dollars to build it? Or will it be like the building across the street that will pay for itself? What a shame, there is so much we NEED to do and the money gets spent in this manner.
This makes one wonder if we should leave all the oil and gas in the ground and hope the next generation will us its profits for worthy projects...
>And Fairbanks deserves a fishery.
What did we do in order to deserve it?
That's like our 'Representative' saying other states have more NOAA Stations per capita than Alaska, therefore we DESERVE to have more built here. Not, of course, that outside states perhaps have too many.....
Five years from now we will be reading these headlines in the Fbks Daily News Miner. Fairbanks fish hatchery has been slated for shut down. Local native streams are reportedly being over-run by fish hatchery fish. Dept of fish and game biologists are baffled as to how these fish have entered into the native streams. All local streams are closed to sport fishing until state biologists can determine the extent of the damages. Cost over runs and spiraling operating costs have also been noted as reasons for the shutdown. A rally will be held at the Carlson center on friday at 2am until 230am to gain the attention of the state legislators for the twenty five state employees that will be directly affected by this proposed shutdown. Please plan to attend your voice and opinions must be heard in Juneau as they are unaware of the situation because there is no shortage of fish in that area of the state.
Geez you guys need to get out and fish a little, if a hatchery is going to sink the boat then we have problems. Like maybe that 50% of our taxes are going to support our military.
If you want to talk waste of lives, money and energy there it is. I would rather see a fish hatchery then some new worthless weapons system, that were going to use on who?
If you want waste, look down the road at Delta, The army leaves the base, totally shuts it down and then wants to bring it back on line. We hire Haliburton or Cheny Inc. to wash our soldiers clothes at $100.00 a load per person. When they try to wash it themselves, because the contractor does a crummy job, their told no, you have to use the contractor. Fighting supposedly for freedom, and they can't wash their own clothes at their cost. No not allowed.
So, lets talk Billions and Trillions, before we worry about a fish hatchery which is going to stock the lakes of Fairbanks, that have been stocked for years and years by the Dept. of Fish and Game. Can this use some positive input yes, I am sure, but I would rather build a fish hatchery so I can.
Take your kid fishing, it just might keep them out of jail and off the computer games. How many of you here actually fish.??
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