Comments

I like that idea. wrote on Aug 2, 2009 9:39 PM:

" No property taxes. A sales tax. and Smaller government. Nice.

Oh0 and no Cindy Bettiny. "




npadilla wrote on Aug 1, 2009 8:10 PM:

" I think all the different areas in the borough should secede except for a small central area with a large electrified fence around it that houses only "Friends of Mat-SU". In it, they can hug their trees, ban towers and power plants, and live off the land in an agrarian way, and tell each other how wonderful it all is. And pay a sales tax to make nice little parks so they can sit around and sing Kumbaya, wear peasant shirts, and eat only white sea salt from hand thrown pottery. And pray to their god, Euell Gibbons. " "




property taxpayer wrote on Aug 1, 2009 10:01 AM:

" why do we even need property tax?

you never own your land that way- in fact, large tracts inherited by family then become a tax BURDEN.

Figure it out- lower local borough government, a sales tax with NO exemptions, no property tax, and that makes it fair. "




2Bornot2B wrote on Jul 31, 2009 11:01 AM:

" Seems Americans are getting angrier and angrier everyday. We can't go back to the "Good ole Days" For all those wise and seeing bloggers run for office, complaining does nothing. Some kid was sitting in front of the Palmer Post Ofc. and asked me sign a petition to not have the Palmer RR tracks removed, I asked him how often were the tracks used and the purpose to keep them, he handed me a flier to read, he had not idea what he was doing, just someones kid getting signatures. Sad "




Bobafet wrote on Jul 31, 2009 8:11 AM:

" Come on now Mr. Duffy is great - he has a ferry with no second dock, a port that gets 1 ship a year, and soon a ski resort being built when no one has money to go. Oh and we will have a new prison soon, and Point Mcak road is all paved and ready to connect to a bridge that no one seems to be in a hurry to build.

The MSB meeds to maybe go to a strong Mayor concept and get some new ideas and leadership every so often, can Duffy retire like NOW. "




jp wrote on Jul 31, 2009 7:56 AM:

" I have got to meet this "Set" person!
This person is a comedic genius, who actually understands how things are, and recognizes when they are wrong, and mildly emphasizes them into un-contestable comedic perfection.

Well done Set ! "




kdub wrote on Jul 30, 2009 2:08 PM:

" For everyone who doesn't want to pay property taxes or is complaining about how slowly the roads get cleared... where do you think the money comes from to plow the roads? If you don't pay property taxes, don't expect a fire department to come when your house is on fire... "




bob wrote on Jul 29, 2009 12:41 AM:

" Following the storyline, if you form your own borough, do you really think there will be no taxes, no rules? TIime for a reality check, folks. By the way, if you don't want taxes and rules, move to an unincorporated area. Don't wait too long or the greenies will get you!
Ever notice that every time an idea comes along that angers Mat-Sueans, they threaten to leave or they tell the other guy to leave. Why is that? Do we have a fear of separation that we are spreading around like the flu? "




no no no wrote on Jul 28, 2009 7:59 PM:

" It will be the Mid Valley Borough. It will include the towns of Wasilla, Settlers Bay, Point MacKenzie, Big Lake and Houston. Alrighty then I believe I got it covered. Let everybody else deal with Palmer and their wonderful UN ELECTED spend $$$$ dr Duffy.

Seriously if they ad a borough sales tax then I would seriously consider moving to areas in the lower 48..............there are still small towns with good people. "




To Kickback wrote on Jul 28, 2009 7:56 PM:

" UH, how about John Duffy? He has more back door deals going on that anybody else in this VALLEY!

If Houston/Wasilla secede then we need to take Big Lake with us! Let the remote areas figure out things for themselves.

Done with the tree huggers and greedy politicians! NO MORE TAXES and this includes PROPERTY TAXES!!!!!

As for Betini....................I can't say it. The editor will not allow the language.... "




BUH-BYE wrote on Jul 28, 2009 3:35 PM:

" .........Any chance you all could through Big Lake in the mix when you leave???? "




SET wrote on Jul 28, 2009 3:21 PM:

" I think all the different areas in the borough should secede except for a small central area with a large electrified fence around it that houses only "Friends of Mat-SU". In it, they can hug their trees, ban towers and power plants, and live off the land in an agrarian way, and tell each other how wonderful it all is. And pay a sales tax to make nice little parks so they can sit around and sing Kumbaya, wear peasant shirts, and eat only white sea salt from hand thrown pottery. And pray to their god, Euell Gibbons. "




Mat-Su wrote on Jul 28, 2009 7:53 AM:

" This Borough is out of control,
it's Assembly and Borough Maanager are to blame...IT IS TIME TO SPLIT. Time to build a peoples borough for those who have been here forever and those that moved here to live the dream of small government. The others, that want code compliance and Zoning, more Anchorage, they can stay in there little "corrupt to the core area"
We want out, put it to a vote...NOW "




Get a grip wrote on Jul 28, 2009 12:14 AM:

" I am tired of hearing people mouth that the Borough is pushing the sales tax on people. You forget that it has to be approved by the voters. If the people pass it then so be it. "




kickback wrote on Jul 27, 2009 8:42 PM:

" How many kick backs does Rodger Purcel get from city operations and how much money has he put in his own pocket? He is a smooth talker and a liar. "




Get your Kleenex wrote on Jul 27, 2009 4:55 PM:

" WHAAAAA-WHAAAAAA !

Quit your sniveling people... You can leave if you want. Don't let the door hit you on your way South to the Quazi 48!

WHAAAAAA-WHAAAAAA! "




Is anyone else tired... wrote on Jul 27, 2009 4:31 PM:

" Is anyone else sick and tired of phrases like "the real people", "real Americans", etc? I have news for you...we all live here, work here, pay taxes here. We're all real Americans, we all get a vote, and if you don't like the way the votes turn out at the end of the day, you don't secede (and please, for God's sake, try to spell it right folks - it's not "succeed") - you organize and try to change things. It's a democracy! No seat on the Assembly should ever go unchallenged. Last year 2 did. Shame on you all. "




Im a real person wrote on Jul 27, 2009 4:21 PM:

" Lud, I'm a real person. I breathe, I sleep, I eat, I drink, I pee. I work hard every day, all day, at a business I built with blood, sweat, and tears. I shop here. I take care of my family here. I pay taxes here. I live in Palmer and have dealt with road construction here for months. I'm also probably someone you would call a "greenie" because I want to make sure that my children and grandchildren can breathe, eat, sleep, drink and pee here too. Stop using stupid phrases like "the real people". We're all real residents. "




AGREED wrote on Jul 27, 2009 3:50 PM:

" I live outside the city of Wasilla limits on KGB. I do not get ANY good services. The roads are cleared slooooowly, and that's all. The schools are just "OK". And I agree- Cindi Bettiny is doing nothing for my neighborhood. She didn't even want to hel;p wit the speeding issue in my subdivision. The Ma-Su Borough is truly worthless. "




Gleater wrote on Jul 27, 2009 3:49 PM:

" For those who CHOOSE to live where there are no service, I have no pity. When you wish to isolate yourselves you still have to pay. We as a state must provide services in towns it's responsible stewardship and citizenry. If you wish to exclude yourself, buy a island. Alaska is for all who live here, we all have to pay our way, some are less lonely then other. "




ol.bear wrote on Jul 27, 2009 1:31 PM:

" If you are in Wasilla or Palmer and feel put upon by Duffy,s grand plans, then pity the remote area property owners who get absolutely nothing except a tax bill! No road, no fire protection, no library, no school, just lots of nothing. "




FrostyMcnuts wrote on Jul 27, 2009 1:22 PM:

" The school district consumes 3/4 of the Borough Budget. What a mess this will create with the MatSu School District shrunk in comparisson to the Municipality of Wasilla School District. What a mess this will be. Lets make the sales tax pay the school district budget. There is an answer to relieve property taxes we pay! "




the borough is lame. wrote on Jul 27, 2009 1:16 PM:

" they provide no policing.

they provide minimal road work (shaddy at best).

the schools are over budgeted. and under educating.

the fire/ems is VOLUNTEER.

The service, when you need something, is LOUSY.

I have my own water.

I have my own sewer.

Succeed? No.

Fire these fools like Keith Rountree? Yes.

they take $3000.00 a year from me. For what?

Not much.

Oh, and Cindy Bettine- you are worthless. "




Taxpayer wrote on Jul 27, 2009 12:31 PM:

" Being one of the approx. 4,000 out of the approx. 67,000 eligible voters that actually VOTED in our last election for Borough Mayor, I believe approx. 63,000 people are getting exactly what they deserve. "




Brittany wrote on Jul 27, 2009 11:19 AM:

" I see no advantage for Houston, or for any adjacent community, in secession. To attempt to make this a partisan issue does not enhance understanding, and cooperation, at this time. To paint this as license to engage in unbridled exploitation of Houston's resources, without consideration toward future generations, this is a troubling and destructive development. We are stronger when we can work together, setting petty differences aside, than when we spllinter off and work against one another. "




Liberals WILL lose out wrote on Jul 27, 2009 6:47 AM:

" If they seceeed, the money for the all powerful school district will dry up like a raisin. If the people of Wasilla stop paying borough property taxes, good night now. You can say good riddance, but in liberal fashion, you need someone else's money and hard work to fund your control. God bless right wing thinking, work hard, take care of yourself and if someone isn't carrying their weight, move on. If the borough wants to leech, later. "




brian wrote on Jul 26, 2009 11:21 PM:

" Like any proposal, its a double edged sword... cities and areas involved will get locally elected leaders which hopefully will be more likely to be responsive to the needs of Houston, Talkeetna, Trapper Creek, etc. But all these areas will now have to pay for all the departments to run a borough.... get out your wallets!!. I think it makes sense from a sheer geographic scale arguement... the MAT SU is huge and the assembly/school bd/borough really focus on the population centers around Palmer... the needs there are very different than outlying areas. Good luck "




Who pays the bills... wrote on Jul 26, 2009 10:48 PM:

" Here's how it works folks. The cities each charge taxes to the citizens who live in their borders or who shop in the stores within their borders. That tax money is not shared with the Borough, but is instead used to fund the operations of the cities, including road paving, water treatment, police, fire protection, etc. So, neither palmer, wasilla, nor houston are "paying the bills" for the borough. the overwhelming majority of the borough budget comes direct from the state and feds in the form of education funding and revenue sharing...it doesn't come from any city. "




piaj wrote on Jul 26, 2009 10:40 PM:

" Purcell's a Joke......... "




Kerry wrote on Jul 26, 2009 10:37 PM:

" The City of Houston is a joke. I have lived in their boundaries since 1985, and have yet seen them bring my road up to Borough standards. The only reason that an ambulance or a fire truck can get to my house is because of the money I have spent to maintain my road. Roger and all people prior to him at Houston can go bark up a tree. "




Glad to be an Ex Houston resident wrote on Jul 26, 2009 8:52 PM:

" The only reason they want to separate is so that a certain few people can pad their pockets and the rest can continue to stomp on people's civil rights. Someday the right person will hear about the Houston Police Dept. calling someone's landlord to report a swear word was used toward the lady down the street or that they say its okay to pull guns on children in the neighborhood. These things can only be swept under the rug for so long. "




Oops wrote on Jul 26, 2009 8:22 PM:

" The houston Mayor is just out for his own gain. Why not create a borough he can be mayor of? He's a control freak on a power trip thats why he loves to play cop and pull people over in his BMW. When is houston gona get rid of that wanna be!!! Search: houston recall dot com "




to Palmer Can Keep Duffy wrote on Jul 26, 2009 6:05 PM:

" When you say that Palmer has 4 members of the Borough Assembly, you do get the fact that you are full of crap, right? There isn't a single member of the Borough Assembly who actually lives in Palmer. Several have Palmer addresses, but then so does about 1/3 of the Mat-Su. "




Lud Larson wrote on Jul 26, 2009 5:36 PM:

" Time for a vote of the people. I feel the real people ,of this valley, don't want the greenies speaking for them. HOW BOUT IT? "




Palmer Resident wrote on Jul 26, 2009 5:20 PM:

" I'll take my trees over Wasilla's concrete any day. "




political bird wrote on Jul 26, 2009 4:29 PM:

" The Wasilla Mayor needs to distance himself from the Houston Minor (Mayor) lest he gets labeled as one of "them". "




Common Sense wrote on Jul 26, 2009 4:29 PM:

" There is a lot of anger about the MSB's increase in governmental regulation and lack of concern and responsiveness to the public will. The new Sales Tax is a good example of a disingenuos scheme to burden us with larger government at great expense. A new Sales Tax will probably bring the issue of Borough partition to a head. It will definitely enhance those who favor partition. The MSB should back off on a Regional Central Sewage Plant($87,000,000) ,other high dollar expenditures and future bond issues until the matter of Borough partition is settled. "




truth be told wrote on Jul 26, 2009 4:26 PM:

" Wow, such rantings. Being a resident of Wasilla and furthur being a resident of the Borough it surprises me how little people know about the finances within the different areas of the MSB. All rural areas are a drain on the tax base. maintaining miles of roads with a low assessed value per foot is a fact. That is why we here in the greater Wasilla and other urban areas never struggle to fund the RSA's. Dropping out of the MSB and including those rural areas would be disastrous. Why do you think the annexation plans are on hold? "




Dereck Wakeman wrote on Jul 26, 2009 3:13 PM:

" Are you all blind? This is actually Sarah's long term plan. Wasilla will cede from the borough, then from the state and then from the union. Thus creating Wasillastan, with Sarah crowned queen for life.

File a complaint - "off with their head." Print a negative story - "off with their head." Don't go to Sunday services - "off with their head."

Complete and total control, the ultimate goal "




Dereck Wakeman wrote on Jul 26, 2009 3:06 PM:

" If you people let Friends of Mat-Su control you that is YOUR fault. They control because they actually do something and not just sit around carping about every thing. If yiu are the majority then get up off your barc-o-lounger and do something.

Oh poor pitiful mean that mean ole FoMS have all the control. Boo Hoo. "




Thanks for the ignorance wrote on Jul 26, 2009 1:02 PM:

" Good riddance to those individuals who have left the comments. I really appreciated your sweeping generalizations about Palmer and your non-stereotypical rantings of valley trash.

Just for the record, the Palmer area, including Sutton, Butte, Lazy and Fishhook currently have timber, mining, and gravel operations. But, it's okay to make uniformed accusations, it's how you'll run your new borough. Unplanned development does not equal growth, or at least smart growth. If you want out, then by god do it.

Good luck with services, law enforcement and city growth! "




To cantstandya wrote on Jul 26, 2009 12:43 PM:

" You obviously are from Palmer. YOU are wrong.....you have it totally backwards. Palmer and Sutton DO NOT support the rest of us! Wasilla and areas north are paying all the bills and we get nothing back! It is time to succeed from the Mat Su Borough. We are tired of the Friends of Mat Su running our lives. It' over. Pack up your toys and go home. We don't want to play with you anyrmore. We need progress, yet MAT SU and Duffy will not allow it. "




Rusty wrote on Jul 26, 2009 11:05 AM:

" This is a great idea and is long overdue. "




Take him out wrote on Jul 26, 2009 9:07 AM:

" Purcell is out for his own gain. He has no concern for houston or anyone. There needs to be an uprising, and I will be on the front lines. "




another rumor wrote on Jul 26, 2009 8:25 AM:

" Is it true that the Mayor of Wasilla said the ? of Houston acted stupidly? Well they will surely meet for a beer at the roadhouse tonite. "




its abouit time wrote on Jul 26, 2009 7:40 AM:

" its about time ... government may be a necessary evil but big government needs to be replaced with a little one. where do we sign this declaration of independence? "




Lud Larson wrote on Jul 26, 2009 5:41 AM:

" The Friends of Mat-Su Boro control needs to end. So many anti growth and industry stops have occurred. They are not representing the majority of the people. The line needs to be Trunk Road, East. I would welcome paying Wasilla taxes at Northstar Speedway and entertainment tax too. Anti Growth by the Mouthy Minority and the Regulations need to stop. So many times, the majority of testomony, at Assembly Meetings has been ignored and voted the way The Assembly wants it to be. Time For A Change. Let the yesterdays people in Palmer have them! "




Everyone wrote on Jul 25, 2009 9:34 PM:

" Just impeach him! "




Mat-Su wrote on Jul 25, 2009 8:28 PM:

" Might be something to listen too. This Borough is completely out of control with title 17b restricing the builders and the the talk of zoning where no one want zoning.. MAYBE it's time for the South to succeed from the North. This time to win and make the Republic BETTER "




Palmer can keep Duffy wrote on Jul 25, 2009 7:40 PM:

" Lets cut it down the middle at Hyer Rd, Wasilla brings in most of the taxes and gets none of the money,yet Palmer has four Assembly members. Let them keep the old school house as Duffys Manison and lock up all the resources and hug the trees, the Friends of Mat-Su can just run everything east of Hyer. We can develop the minning, forestry, and other things the borough has either locked up or put a moratorium on. Let's see how much money they have to spend then. They can also keep their sales tax.thanks Cindy Bettine, "




Houstonresident wrote on Jul 25, 2009 7:20 PM:

" How about everyone else? Maybe we don't want to seperate from the Borough? If we rely on Houston to help us we'll all die of old age. I called the dog pound one day a 2:45pm on a week day and no answer. I left a message and here I am 10 months later and still no call back. I called the borough and they helped me immediately. NO THANKS! Mayor Purcell. Stop talking on our behalf. "




YES wrote on Jul 25, 2009 6:51 PM:

" It is time to STOP Palmer tree huggers from the success of the rest of the borough. We can create our OWN borough and do away with property taxes. We can cut timber mine and and anything else we need to do to grow. HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT friends of the mat-su! "




Wasilla1st wrote on Jul 25, 2009 4:55 PM:

" Great idea..
What does the borough do for our citizens?
Name a few.
Schools will go on, law enforcement will also (none from MSB) and we won't be governed by a bunch of liberal losers in Palmer.
Let's get behind our leaders and do it!
The best thing that could to happen to us in therse times of greedy tax mongers. "




Dereck Wakeman wrote on Jul 25, 2009 12:30 PM:

" As Roseanne Rosanadana used to say "it's always something!" "




What do you expect wrote on Jul 25, 2009 11:19 AM:

" If they enact a borough sales tax then I say it's time. "




Well wrote on Jul 25, 2009 11:17 AM:

" Where is the rest of this story? What a tease. Why isn't Palmer involved too? "




cantstandsya wrote on Jul 25, 2009 11:09 AM:

" With all the legitimate issues that face these two areas of the Borough you would think that the elected officials would find better ways to spend their time. Leadership is lacking here. It appears from the recent lawsuit over the Knik Arm crossing, and now this poorly thought out tantrum that these two need to learn how to "play well with others". If you want to go then go. The rest of us are tired of supporting your lifestyles and bad habits. "




funny wrote on Jul 25, 2009 10:13 AM:

" now people are gonna get in tizzy, do you know what it takes to accomplish that? There has talk for a while at the CoW, in becoming a home rule city, the MSB is a joke, and I agree the city should not be part of it. "




NOPE...no way.... wrote on Jul 25, 2009 8:08 AM:

" .....Colony and Palmer High Schools are going to be funded without WASILLA property tax money. "




offsoapstone wrote on Jul 24, 2009 9:26 PM:

" I can't want to read some of the comments on this one. If they want to leave their call one way or the other. Enjoy folks. "




Susan Moore wrote on Jul 24, 2009 7:49 PM:

" Go, please and take Houston Texas with you. "




Observer wrote on Jul 24, 2009 5:21 PM:

" I have heard this rumor for about 6 months now. I am not sure how a new borough would fund itself but the old MSB has become too power hungry,expensive and unresponsive to the interests of the citizens. The old MSB needs to be reformed if possible or partitioned if necessary. I hope the Frontiersman will make an honest effort to give a COMPREHENSIVE AND UNBIASED evaluation of this issue if it is indeed in the works. I and many valley folks would like to hear more. "




worthless rumors wrote on Jul 24, 2009 2:18 PM:

" Must be kind to these two Mayors.
One us a lawyer and the other is?
Well he does get to use the siren. "




Oops wrote on Jul 24, 2009 1:25 PM:

" And we thought Palin was a joke! or is she the reason? What a mess our state is in. "




Scott Chrisitansen wrote on Jul 24, 2009 1:01 PM:

" This should be an interesting distraction. "