Point Mac still top prison pick


Published on Monday, December 18, 2006 11:15 PM AKST

Dec. 19, 2006

By Michael Rovito

Frontiersman

PALMER - Amid a mix of support and opposition from some Mat-Su Borough residents Monday evening, the borough planning commission unanimously voted to send the Point MacKenzie prison site to the assembly as its preferred site.

As in most meetings where public comment has been taken, residents of the areas where a prison could be built - Point MacKenzie and Sutton - showed either complete support or total opposition for the development.

Just before voting to agree with the site selection committee, members of the planning commission expressed concern about environmental impacts on a designated wildlife area and watershed adjacent to the proposed prison site in Point

MacKenzie.

The same concern was shared by many residents from the Lost Lake area, who said the tranquil area with year-round residences and vacation homes would be destroyed by a prison development.

Officials with various organizations in charge of planning the prison said the environmental issues would be looked at more closely in the near future.

And, even as the Point MacKenzie Community Council adamantly opposed the prison during a Nov. 25 meeting, Michael Janecek, vice chairman of the Point MacKenzie Port Commission, said Monday that his group supports the site.

Perhaps the most candid look inside the thought processes of the Department of Corrections came when Rep. Carl Gatto, R-Palmer, took the stand and said he was speaking as an individual, not representing the legislature.

Gatto described a meeting he had with newly appointed DOC commissioner Joe Schmidt, who Gatto said envisions a modular prison as oppose to one large building.

According to Gatto, that would mean a central building would be used to house maximum security prisoners, or what Gatto called “hardcore, heavy-duty” prisoners, and modular buildings surrounding the center building would be built as needed.

Gatto also touted the benefits of nearby farms as possible work locations for inmates who are permitted outside the prison walls.

“Farms aided by the prison, the prison aided by farms,” Gatto said.

Nearly all the residents who live near the proposed Point MacKenzie site own large acreage farms.

Plans for a modular prison have not been publicly released by the DOC, and it is unclear whether that design would end up taking shape when construction begins next summer.

The farmers Gatto mentioned also turned out Monday evening, largely supporting a prison in their area and praising the amenities it could bring their way. Along with the supportive farmers, however, were other property owners in the Point MacKenzie area who said they only recently were informed by the borough that a prison could be built near them.

Borough Planning and Land Use Director Murph O'Brien said he is looking into why some residents within the radius where notification was sent had not received it

promptly.

As public testimony neared its completion, former assembly member, and current school board member, Jim Colver, told the planning commission he is unhappy with some assessments by prison officials.

“I'm disappointed we don't have more of a professional site selection process,” Colver said.

He also said that, while serving on the assembly, he made it clear that he thinks the Point MacKenzie site is a bail out for the ferry.

The borough assembly now is charged with deciding where the prison will be located.

The assembly's Jan. 16 meeting will be open to the public, and, as at all regular assembly meetings, public testimony will be heard.

Contact Michael Rovito at 352-2252 or michael.rovito@

frontiersman.com.

Comments

25 comment(s)

    anita wrote on Mar 7, 2009 4:08 PM:

    " It seems to me that all of you out there are more into gossip, than what could help this country, afterall, how many of your friends or aquaintances, do u know that are perfect growing up?
    you have the right to judge? u must not have a life, or anyone in your family who have had altercations in their youth that made them grow up, and furthermore, the thing that matters, is, if they turn out to be useful good members of society, right? are u perfect? exactly! "

    Gerry Ardo wrote on Nov 15, 2008 1:59 PM:

    " Umm, seems like this Palin gal drags around a whole lot of baggage! She says that she can talk, chew gum, and whistle at the same time. Some of us have serious doubts about that though. Thank God she was not "installed", oh, but wait! We have a Supreme Court in this country! Maybe it's not to late! She may yet be "installed"! "

    jill wrote on Nov 5, 2008 6:15 AM:

    " HEY THATS ME!!! lol i just see this now when i get board and google my name, how bout that. You guys talkin about track shut up, hes a cool cat AND he didnt do shiet with the busses by the way. "

    LMAO wrote on Oct 28, 2008 9:04 PM:

    " You realize California gal that this story was posted in 2005, when the boy WAS 16?? You realize that's why it didn't name names?? Like, OMG, you make me, like, ashamed that I'm from California!! Do some research before posting!! "

    The Truth wrote on Oct 5, 2008 11:48 AM:

    " I believe it!! Political Candidates do it all the time to protect the FAMILY!! Just another example of her skills as a MOTHER!! "

    Michigan Lady wrote on Oct 5, 2008 8:48 AM:

    " I don't think this is true because he was a juvenille when it happen. However, it is an indication that Palin may have a dysfunctional family system. "

    Michiganvoter wrote on Oct 1, 2008 5:53 PM:

    " This would explain why the boy came to Michigan to attend high school. I mean, even though Alaska is "closest to Russia", he would not be considered as a foriegn exchange student. Also, in the last few years, more districts have had bus vandalism. Perhaps he taught our kids how to do it. Is this why he is in the service? "

    Marci Bereu wrote on Sep 24, 2008 3:25 PM:

    " My cuz, an Alaska resident since leaving the military (he was in intelligence & asked to go CIA after discharge...what I'm saying is, he only gives facts)

    The report is true, including going into the army to avoid jail. I'm sure strings can be pulled for kids of VIP parents. "

    Steve McAdam wrote on Sep 16, 2008 4:19 PM:

    " The article could refer to any 16 yr old youth - on what basis do you, or can, you conclude this is about Track Palin? This seems to be a wholey unjustifed inference. Another example of wanting to believe the worst to shore up one's partisan bias. "

    California Gal wrote on Sep 16, 2008 3:23 PM:

    " I don't think this story is true because once a child turns 18, his/her juvenile record is sealed and he/she is given a fresh start, negating the whole "join the army or go to jail" theory of Track's enlistment. And even though I'm a card-carrying Democrat from California, I'M TIRED OF THE GAMES! Let's focus on issues, people! "

    Doug Polcin wrote on Sep 14, 2008 9:49 AM:

    " Could it not be more obvious that Palin cannot manage her own family? Unwanted pregnancy, juveline delinquent son, and God knows what is next. This woman's family is a disaster area and she will be a nightmare for our country. "

    Will wrote on Sep 13, 2008 6:31 PM:

    " Demswrong, obviously you haven't been paying attention. If you've been listening to Barack Obama, you would know that he's been sticking to the issues in every speech he's made. It's the McCain camp that continues to run a dirty campaign by attacking Obama, hiding Sarah Palin from the media and not educating the American people their plan to get us out of the mess that old George and the Republican party has put us in. So much baggage around this pick, the pregnancy no one noticed, the investigation around her ex-brother in-law and so on. "

    Log Dog wrote on Sep 11, 2008 2:27 PM:

    " Sabotaging public facilities and equipment in a way that could cause serious injury or death is a form of terrorism. Think about it. "

    Fran wrote on Sep 11, 2008 12:32 PM:

    " Desperation her. No Names except two mentioned and no value in the lies that have grown from this even. "

    DEMSWRONG wrote on Sep 10, 2008 4:15 PM:

    " YOU people need to get a life and get back to politics not looking for past dirt on people. get a da** life!!!!!!! and not it wasn't him that was involved it was a another punk that did it.believe me i know all of them involved. so go dig up some dirt on someone your own size!!!! "

    Rock Roll wrote on Sep 9, 2008 9:42 AM:

    " This just keeps getting better & better. This is just another reason Sarah isn't giving interviews...absolutely incredible. This like a soap opra...stay tuned. "

    wes wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:08 AM:

    " Sue, do you by any chance mean you were accepted at WELLESLEY, Harvard, and Stanford? I would think someone as smart as you would know how to spell that name. You are right that Barack Obama is vrey intelligent and that does not threaten me as it seems to threaten so many people. I think it will be a great change of pace to have a smart president. "

    Jay wrote on Sep 6, 2008 4:58 PM:

    " Why can't you people take the truth. No way will McCain/Palin win. Oh of course if they steal the election which by now the Repubs are masters at. "

    Sue wrote on Sep 6, 2008 1:14 AM:

    " 16, male, are you crazy? Why does this come up now that Gov Palin is running w/Sen McCain? More garbage, who is behind this? Obviously the Obama camp. Did you realize he went to the the most expensive, elite Academy in the nation? Punahou is the Harvard of High School, the elite of the nation. I was accepted to Wesley, Harvard & Stanford & disappointed & bored as we learned in our Sophmore and Junior yrs the curriculum taught in college. But boys will be boys & Obama was Barry Obama! "

    Foobar wrote on Sep 5, 2008 2:59 PM:

    " Pwned.

    The entire Palin family is like a well-dressed episode of Jerry Springer. "

    MrUniteUs wrote on Sep 5, 2008 5:31 AM:

    " Very serious if true. The brake lines were cut on 50 buses!!

    Was Sarah Palin's son "Track Palin" arrested for vandalism ... Most recently there is discussion that Track Palin, then 16, was one of the 3 boys arrested for vandalizing 44 Mat-Su school buses - an incident that forced ...
    answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080904193702AAGlSCL - "

    aklocal wrote on Sep 2, 2008 8:07 PM:

    " I remember that story. Timeline makes it loosely plausible. Don't think this will catch fire without more fuel, though. Good luck. "

    Destyne Pope wrote on Feb 12, 2008 4:20 AM:

    " How do you get out there when you are blind? You must be really brave "

    vacation wrote on Jan 30, 2008 12:39 PM:

    " Hi! I'm John Strass and i like your site!
    Thank you! "

    Nyakeh Sam Suale wrote on Nov 14, 2007 10:59 AM:

    " I think i love Wasilla High More than all high schools in the United States. They have the best Soccer team and coaches....oh.. they won the Basketball State Championship at the Sullivan Arena....Thats so cute. I like all the students over there. "

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