Assembly works on state funding

PALMER — The list is far from final, but the Mat-Su Borough’s wish list for state funding is already on the table and includes a few surprises.

First, the usual suspects — two projects are actually on the list of state bonds voters are set to decide next month:

• $126 million to completely fund the rail extension to Port MacKenzie.

• $19.5 million to fund the Bogard Road Extension.

Also on the list of usual suspects, most holdovers from last year’s list, are:

• $6.5 million to repair substandard roads and bridges.

• $4 million for the Hatcher Pass ski area.

• $22 million for the South Denali Visitor Center.

• $2 million for a fire station in Caswell Lakes.

As for the surprises?

There’s a $2 million request for money to build parking for Mat-Su College. The college has been expanding buildings into its parking lots.

There’s also $2.5 million to manage the Matanuska River.

“The Matanuska River is a very powerful glacial river and over the years has caused damage to property and structures. It has also impacted state bridges and highways with great potential for additional damage. This funding would help address the problems and possible structural and non-structural solutions,” according to the funding request.

Assemblyman Warren Keogh, in asking to delay passing the list until after the borough has discussed it at a Nov. 17 — a move the assembly eventually took, but on a motion from Assemblyman Jim Colver — said he didn’t oppose the funding.

“That’s great. It’s needed, but we haven’t discussed a dollar amount,” Keogh said.

The assembly took the opportunity to add projects to the list.

Colver asked for $3 million to build access and run utilities to the site of the future junior/senior high school on Knik-Goose Bay Road.

“That site is not even confirmed yet, so I think we’re spinning our wheels now. Certainly by Dec. 4 we’ll probably know better,” Mayor Larry DeVilbiss said.

Colver disagreed.

“The site will be before you to be approved sometime in the near future,” he said, and the project wish list isn’t final. “It can come out later if we need to.”

Steve Colligan successfully added a $3 million raft of projects proposed by the borough’s Aviation Advisory Board.

“These are all projects that are too small and fall under and outside the (Federal Aviation Administration) funding requirements,” Colligan said. “They’ve been identified by the Aviation Advisory Board as important projects.”

Colver, acting on a request from DeVilbiss, added a request to work on access to Pioneer Peak Elementary School, which lets out onto Trunk Road. That road is soon to be Old Trunk Road as the state continues working on the Trunk Road realignment.

Keogh even got in on the act.

“While we’re adding lights to this Christmas tree I’d move to amend the item for the Matanuska River Management to $5 million instead of $2.5 million,” he said.

The assembly also expanded the project to include the Susitna River.

Contact reporter Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.