Assembly approves new road service contracts

The Matanuska Susitna Borough Assembly approved two contracts for annual road services with Big Dipper Construction, for an amount of $1.77 million for the Knik Road Service Area Zones 2 and 4, and $1.51 million for the Knik Road Service Area Zones 1 and 3.

In addition, a $1.002 million contract for road maintenance in the Fairview Road Service Area. The contract went to Battleground LLC.

The borough manager was authorized to apply for fish passage improvements from the Alaska Sustainable Salmon Fund for culverts connecting Kings Lake and Anderson Lake and the Anderson Lake culvert at Charley Drive.

Two $2,000 grants were accepted from the American Society For the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to fund attendance at the annual Animal Care Expo Conference.

Two grants related to the 2022 Mat-Su wind storm disaster were accepted by the assembly. One from the Federal Emergency Management Agency was for $9,621. A second from the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management was for $3,207.

A resolution asking the borough staff to assist the South Knik River Community Council in developing a Special Use District was approved, as well as a resolution opposing the release of the borough’s authority over lands along the route of a proposed Alaska Long Trail.

Congress has approved a feasibility study for an Alaska Long Trail to be designated as a National Scenic Trail

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has now started the process of gathering public input for the project.

The proposed Alaska Long Trail would be a 500-mile recreation trail from Fairbanks to Seward with 500 miles of its route through the Matanuska Susitna Borough. The Long Trail would follow some existing trails but would also require new trails if it proceeds, according to the resolution.

Some of the trails are on borough-owned land as well as lands owned by others where the borough has partnerships.

“The Bureau of Land Management has not entered into discussion with the borough on right-of-way easements and necessary cooperative agreements,” the resolution said.

The borough must assert its jurisdiction over management of trails on borough lands as well as visitor access and use, visitor facilities and development along an Alaska Long Trail corridor and will oppose relinquishing any authority to the BLM for the trail,, the resolution said.