A tale of two RSA ordinances: Borough Assembly increases membership to 2 RSAs, while reducing members to another

During the April 1 meeting of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough (MSB) Assembly, members voted on two different ordinances impacting Road Service Areas (RSA) in two parts of the Borough.

First up was an ordinance to reduce the number of members to serve the Knik Road, RSA 17, from five to three members passed. This comes two years after the same RSA increased to five members back in September, 2023 to allow for more public input.

“Since the membership was increased, the two extra seats have never been filled,” said MSB Attorney Nick Spiropoulos. He added that in January, 2024, one member of RSA 17 resigned, followed by a second member resigning in March of that same year, leaving just 1 member, who then resigned in May, 2024.

“This change lowers the barrier to having a board,” Spiropoulos said.

MSB Assembly member Bill Gamble, who sponsored the ordinance, echoed the attorney’s statements, saying that he has attended community council meetings in the area and has asked members of the area if they would be interested in serving, without any luck.

The ordinance passed, with only Assembly member Ron Bernier opposing.

Meanwhile, an ordinance to approve expanding several RSAs in District 7 was also put in front of the assembly.

The ordinance, sponsored by Assembly member Bernier, who represents District 7, originally expanded membership to six RSAs within his district-Trapper Creek, Talkeetna, Caswell Lakes, Greater Willow, Meadow Lakes and Gold Trail RSAs.

However, after Assembly member Dmitri Fonov proposed an amendment that eliminated the RSA membership increase for four of the RSAs, the ordinance ultimately applied to Meadow Lakes (RSA 27) and Gold Trail (RSA 28).

Bernier said that he currently had two applicants for RSA 27, with an additional application submitted before the meeting and had not yet been vetted.

“The two RSAs that are unaffected (by the amendment) have a high amount of applicants, that would be enough to get them going,” said Fonov of the intent to drop the four RSAs.

After the amendment passed, discussion turned back to the main ordinance, with Assembly member Bill Gamble voicing his opposition to the ordinance as at least one RSA runs through his district and he was not consulted beforehand.

“I’d like to go on record as saying that this ordinance does not just affect District 7. It affects District 5 and District 4, and I was never called or consulted about changing RSA board numbers at all.” He went on to say that the Meadow Lakes RSA board did not want the ordinance to be adopted, nor any other board in the Borough.

Gamble said that the portion of his district that is within RSA 27 includes Johnson Road to Sylvan, and up to Hollywood Road.

“I’m opposed to it and I don’t appreciate an ordinance being brought forward that affects my district without being consulted.”

Assembly member Stephanie Nowers said that after the past several meetings discussing the ordinance, she had not heard “a clamor” of people wanting to serve on an RSA, but rather voices of opposition to the measure. “I’ve just evidence…where a five-member board didn’t work. It blew up, and now you have to piece that together.” She said she could not support the ordinance.

“We should not make the folly of thinking that RSA boards are the people. They are not elected, so what they want or do not want may not actually reflect what’s in the best interest of the community at large,” said Assembly member Max Sumner, who represents District 4. He told members that he was conflicted about the ordinance and was interested in the results of the measure. He pointed out that the only people who spoke in opposition of the ordinance were members of RSAs and community councils impacted by the bill.

“The reality is that RSA boards might not like it because there’s going to be changes, and as elected officials, we have sometimes the uncomfortable decisions to make those changes,” said Fonov. He was optimistic that with the interest in the applications for two remaining RSAs, more interest may be out there.

The ordinance squeaked by 4 to 3 with Assembly members Gamble, Stephanie Nowers, and Tim Hale opposing the ordinance.

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