ANA-A' YOO LTD.
P.O. BOX 38 GALENA, ALASKA 99741    PHONE (907) 656-1606 FAX 656-1609

Mr. Elmer Sorensen                                       February 18,1993
Facility Manager
Alaska Dept, of Fish & Game
P.O. Box 25526
Juneau, AK 99802-5526

Dear Mr. Sorensen,

I am writing in response to the Transition Plan for the State of Alaska 
pertaining to your local office currently being rented from our company. I 
received a copy of this plan late last week from Mr. Timothy Osborne and so
was unable to meet your January 26, 1993 deadline.

I really am at a loss for words on your plans to meet the needs required by 
ADA. Rather than berate you, the state government and the federal government 
for your incessant encroachments on business with ridiculous regulations, I 
will go through your list of required repairs and show the ludicrousness of it 
all.

#'s 1 & 2 --- Parking and parking spaces. We have over an acre of "accessible" 
parking right in front of Tim's office. It may be covered by dirt but is
solid.  If you mean by `solid surface' an area paved with asphalt or concrete
then you are asking for a lot more than the $2500 in the checked column. The
only paved area in Galena besides the runway is on the airbase. We have over
ten miles of dirt road that have been sufficient for the areas residents for
over thirty years. Is there some special, overriding reason why a disabled
persons vehicle needs a `solid surface'? As for signage, we can put up a sign
that disabled people can park wherever they please. The area in front of the
ramp is never blocked and always available.

#4 --- Exterior accessible route.? Again, there is a very large area available 
with hard packed dirt that makes access to the ramp very easy. I have seen 
disabled people on crutches, in wheel chairs, etc. get around in dirt very 
well. And why a cedar walkway? Local treated lumber would be just as adequate  
and cost far less.

#6 --- Ramps. I do not understand this one. Your report says there are no 
handrails. I went out to look and I saw handrails! The ramp is there! There is 
a slope that looks no more challenging than any other handicap ramp I have 
seen. I asked around, since I have only been here one year, and no one else
has ever seen that ramp used. As far as I know Tim has not had any disabled
people coming in asking for hunting or fishing information.

#7 --- Entrance and Egress doors. You're very unclear about what is wrong
here. Do you want us to construct another ramp and landing?

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#10 - Exterior signage. Fish & Game is more than welcome to put up a sign on 
the exterior of the  building showing where their office is. Access sign? 
Unless you're blind it is quite obvious where the ramp and access is. Perhaps 
you meant a Braille sign so the blind could figure it out themselves?

#11 - Interior sign. Do you want us to put up a sign that says `Private 
Office'? Why cant you if you are so concerned about it? By the way, how does 
this benefit a disabled person?

#13 - Stairs. Again, I had to go out and look, but yes, there were handrails 
there! Lower landing? Why? Anybody using the stairs, disabled or not can 
easily make the first step.

#14 - Toiletroom. The public will have access to bathrooms in our corporate 
offices as will any disabled people. Tim can keep his toilet private. He can 
place a `Private Toilet' sign there also.

#16 -- Accessories. Thermostat. What business does a disabled person have 
adjusting the thermostat? We will post a sign that the public is not to touch 
the thermostat. Also, we will put a locking cover on the thermostat so only my 
property manager can adjust the temperature. Tim has many kids visit his
office. I would not want them playing with it.

#17 - Interior doors. Since the bathroom is private there will be no need to 
change the door. Why reverse a door? Presumably a disabled person has to go 
both ways through a door so what difference does it make which way it opens?

I do not want to sound insensitive to the needs of disabled people. I have a 
disabled daughter. But there needs to be reasonable adjustments made based on 
each location. We are a remote site. Very few disabled persons come through 
this town If they do there are all kinds of people willing to help them out.
If they feel that puts them in an unnecessary hardship situation, then welcome
to the Bush. We all put up with considerable hardship and do without a lot of
the luxuries of civilization. If at some time in the future, in the unlikely
event you hire a disabled person to take Tim's place, then we will do whatever
is necessary to make it a comfortable and easy office.

Putting out that kind of money for occasional use will put our small business 
out of business. You need to be reasonable and consider what effect these
added costs will have on business. You are welcome to look around town for
another office that meets your requirements. I doubt you will find one in this
village. We are willing to work with you within reason.

Sincerely,
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                   (b)(6)
cc: Tim Osborne
    Sen Ted Stevens
    Sen Frank Murkowski
    Rep Donald Young

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