Assemblyman may resurrect gravel debate

PALMER — Saying he wanted to see the entire ordinance in one place before voting to pass it, Mat-Su Borough Assemblyman Noel Woods resurrected a gravel ordinance that passed Dec. 6.

The ordinance has been in the works for years — some estimate as long as six years — but passed in the form of targeted additions to borough codes regarding gravel extraction. The changes targeted mostly reclamation standards for decommissioned mines and rules for mining into the water table.

The assembly made relatively significant changes to the ordinance at its meeting last week. Woods said he wants to see the ordinance with all of those changes incorporated before he votes.

Initially, Woods voted to pass the ordinance, but shortly after the meeting filed a motion to reconsider his vote.

Assembly members who vote on the prevailing side can file a motion to reconsider legislation, a move that, if successful, brings the ordinance back to the assembly table for further debate and a second vote.