2003 a year of change in state politics

He kicked off the year by appointing his daughter to his recently vacated U.S. Senate seat, and Gov. Frank Murkowski hasn't stopped sparking controversy since.

In a year fraught with concern about the ever-looming state budget gap, the Mat-Su Borough has shared in a few successes and seen a few changes as a result of changes at the state level.

When Murkowski released his budget last year, it wasn't without a lot of discussion. Similar to this year's budget, not all Valley legislators were in favor of the decisions Murkowski suggested, and didn't hesitate to express their concerns. Restore funding to education, said Rep. Carl Gatto, R-Palmer. More incentives for resource development, suggested Rep. Beverly Masek, R-Willow. Don't cut the longevity bonus, advised Sen. Scott Ogan, R-Palmer. Eliminate more programs and government-sponsored niceties such as public radio and television, suggested Rep. Vic Kohring, R-Wasilla.

Some of the suggestions were heeded, either by the legislators in crafting their own budget, or by Murkowski before signing the budget bill.

One program that rested briefly on the chopping block was the Alaska Public Offices Commission, responsible for compiling all funding-related information for holders of public office, as well as investigating claims of misrepresentation, bad reporting or flat-out ignoring the rules by candidates. After a 2002 election in which filing an APOC report challenge became a tool of several candidates, changes were proposed to both the commission and the rules it's governed by. Although the commission lived to see another year, many fund-raising rules were changed, such as limits on group and personal contributions. While some say the changes reflect inflation and allow a candidate to fund their own campaign, rather than relying on party funds, others say it swings the door wide open for soft money and a host of other evils.

With a number of last-minute bill-changes and a lot of handshaking, the legislative session wrapped up on time this year, without any special sessions planned. That doesn't mean the state -- or the legislators -- have been quiet in the off-season. Here are a few highlights:

State settles

Gold Creek spill

After three years, the state settled on what was owed by the Alaska Railroad Corp. for the spillage of 120,000 gallons of Jet-A fuel in the Gold Creek area north of Talkeetna on Dec. 22, 1999.

Civil assessments and penalties totaled more than $125,000.

Water monitoring programs cut

After several years of reforming and homogenization of the program, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Ernesta Ballard pulled the plug on volunteer-run water monitoring programs across the state. Shuffling funds usually earmarked from the Environmental Protection Agency for the monitoring programs to other priorities, such as a few restoration projects totaling about $375,000. Half the estimated $2 to $3 million Alaska was slated to receive went, as it normally does, to operational funding of DEC. The remaining money will be used to develop a monitoring strategy and work on other in-house projects, according to DEC staff.

Residents up in arms over sign removal

Several business owners along the Parks Highway gathered to speak with new Department of Transportation appointees this summer about inconsistent sign laws that make it difficult for them to advertise -- or simply indicate -- their business.

A state worker some called the "sign Nazi" had visited the area in previous weeks, threatening to tear down signs in the state-owned right of way.

he problem, some business owners said, was that knowing where the state right-of-way lay is a difficult task. In some places, it may be 50 feet off the road, while in others, it could consume more than 100 feet of the road-side area. State officials vowed to have new regulations in place by next summer, addressing some of the residents' concerns.

Palin appointed to

state seat

Previous Wasilla Mayor Sarah Palin was appointed by Gov. Frank Murkowski to a seat on a quasi-judicial state body -- the Alaska Oil and Gas Commission.

Palin, who serves as chair of the commission, was appointed along with longtime Alaska Republican Party chairman Randy Ruedrich to the commission, but Ruedrich recently stepped down, after questions were raised about his alleged use of state equipment to send out party fund-raising materials.

Previously a relatively quiet commission, Palin's new post has become a big part of the news, with the controversy stirred up over coal-bed methane drilling and the allegations of Ruedrich's misuse of state property.

Nugen's Ranch detox unit closes

When grant negotiations with the Alaska Division of Behavioral Health fell through this summer, the board of directors at Nugen's Ranch agreed to close down the group's four-room detox unit -- the only one available in the Valley.

The facility requires 24-hour care and previously relied on state grant funding to make up much of the nearly $500,000 needed to operate it throughout the year.

Although the state offered about half of what was needed, and said more may be available if ranch staff could secure additional funding from the Mat-Su Borough and local cities who depend on the center, Nugen's Ranch executive director Karen Nugen-Logan said state cuts to those budgets make it unlikely they will come up with the added $250,000 needed.But that doesn't mean the staff should give up hope, said Lynn Wagoner, chief clinical officer at Valley Hospital.

Nugen's has discussed the potential of pairing with the hospital to continue offering some detox service in the Valley. Currently, the hospital only offers detox care to those who have simultaneous medical conditions.

"We are looking at the impact and what we might be able to do," Wagoner said.