Assembly allows Trapper Creek well

PALMER — The Mat-Su Borough Assembly unanimously approved Ordinance 20-010 to sell a plot of land for less than fair market value so the Trapper Creek Community Services Association can build a well for community water, again. Trapper Creek residents had installed a private well at the Trapper Creek Community Center that ran dry in 2017.

A new drill installed at the center did not provide adequate water flow. The 389 residents in Trapper Creek have been relying on rainwater, bottled water, friends and families supplies of well water or untreated water from the creek itself.

“With no safe water source of potable water , the community worked together and committed to creating a business plan for a sustainable community water system,” said MSB Land Management Agent Nancy Cameron.

The passage of the ordinance will allow the Borough to sell the 5.5 acres near the Trapper Creek Library and Fire Station to the Community Services Association for the procurement of a well for $10, less than the assessed ‘fair market value’ of $3,750.

“They took the initiative on their own to apply for this grant and jumped through a great number of hoops to make this happen and I think this is just wonderful that we can be a part of it,” said Assemblywoman Tam Boeve.

The Borough appropriated one-time funds of $25,000 in the FY20 budget to be used for the project and the TCCSA obtained $325,000 in funding from the Department of Environmental Conservation’s village safe water program. Trapper Creek residents will have to pay for water, which in turn will go to paying for the operation, groundskeeping and bookkeeping of the well. The TCCSA has been a nonprofit since 1986 and would have no reversionary rights attached as the Borough lacks the manpower and resources to maintain such a community well.

“I think this is a great example of a community taking things into their own hands to provide and doing a lot of the legwork,” said Assemblywoman Stephanie Nowers.

The Assembly failed only one ordinance at their meeting on Tuesday. Ordinance 20-011, which would adopt an aviation activity notice area for the Wasilla Creek Airpark failed 4-3. Aviation Advisory Committee member Norm Chance spoke to the Assembly about the rationale for the aviation overlay district, which would be the first of its kind in the Mat-Su Borough.

“The aviation overlay district is part of atrend nationally with aviation communities,” said Chance.

Chance said that the FAA has promoted the initiative for pilots to fly safely, climbing quickly on takeoff and pulling power back during landing to prohibit excessive noise to nearby residents. Borough Planner Chris Cole detailed to the Assembly how a 2018 ordinance that was adopted allowed for aviation overlay districts as a mechanism for the aviation community to be good neighbors. Chance spoke about how the problem persisted at Wolf Lake Airport with nearby residents recreating on the runway and using taxiways as side streets. Cole said that the Planning Commission had recommended a 1,000 foot radius as reasonable for the overlay and the Aviation Advisory Board had approved a resolution in support of the Wasilla Creek Airpark. However, the ordinance was not initially supported by the Planning Commission.

“We couldn’t decide on a radius so we couldn’t recommend it for approval,” said Cole.

The ordinance presented was intended by staff to be amended once passed which did not sit well with Nowers in particular.

“If people don’t realize they may be near a runway then I don’t know where they think they are but I just don’t see any point in this whatsoever,” said Assemblyman Jesse Sumner. “I don’t really see what the exact benefit of having these required notices for the transfer of property are.”

Currently, over 240 registered private airports exist in the Borough.

“I thought this would be a good mechanism to let surrounding owners know that there’s a runway in their neighborhood,” said Co-Owner of the Wasilla Creek Airpark Michael Grow.

Assembly members Nowers, Sumner, Ted Leonard and George McKee voted against while Tim Hale, Dan Mayfield and Boeve voted in support.

Prior to the Board of Fish meetings in Anchorage that begin this weekend, the Assembly heard an update from Chair of the Mat-Su Fish and Wildlife Commission Mike Wood.

“We’re poised to make the most significant headway we ever could,” said Mike Wood. “Finally it might get the attention that we’ve been looking for.”

Following Mike Wood was Board of Fish Member John Wood, who detailed the change in BOF policy over the years as the Valley has become more represented on the board itself. John Wood commended Manager John Moosey for his letter to the BOF, which John Wood said helped to overturn 40 years of history in the Kodiak fishery to finally allow the passage of Cook Inlet fish to be considered. John Wood stressed more money for fish research and asked for more active participation from community members and elected officials alike.

“What I want your body to do now that you haven’t done yet, that is get the public out from the Valley to that meeting. Whether it’s in the public comment section, or if they submit [Recorded Comments] but get those voices heard,” said John Wood.

Mayfield asked for a motion to direct the Manager to write a letter to the BOF in support of RC 131, which establishes science based processes for estimating stock-specific harvest and harvest rates for the coastal Gulf of Alaska salmon fisheries.

“There might not be something out there that’s as complex and fraught with competing interests as fisheries,” said Nowers. “I’ve lived here for 25 years it’s been incredibly frustrating to watch the decline in the salmon runs not just because of the opportunity for residents but also the economic wealth that comes with that.”

John Wood thanked the Assembly for their many means of support, both financially and through staff assisted research.

“The best thing you can do is your elected officials come to those meetings and actively participate,” said John Wood. “Getting up and advocate on behalf of your constituents because everyone of you has vested interests in the fisheries up there.”