Borough assembly asks for more scrutiny of Chickaloon tribal police powers expansion

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly worked through an agenda of mostly routine business at its May 7 meeting, approving contracts, accepting grants and other actions. The assembly also asked the state Department of Public Safety to allow more time for public input if it considers again a plan for an expansion of the Chickaloon tribe’s police powers.

The state agency was considering the issuing of “special commissions” to Chickaloon’s tribal police department, but backed off on the idea after meeting adverse public reaction. The assembly still wanted to have its say, however.

A resolution passed by the assembly last Tuesday said a special commission for Chickaloon would, “significantly expand the enforcement powers of the Chickaloon Tribal Police Department.”

Assembly members Tim Hale, Stephanie Nowers and Ron Bernier sponsored the resolution, which was adopted unanimously.

Approximately 120 borough residents attended a three-hour public meeting April 10 to ask questions and . hear a presentation by the Department of Public Safety, the resolution said.

“The communities affected by this decision still have many questions and concerns that they feel have not yet been adequately answered,” the resolution said.

The assembly asked for more meetings to provide additional information.

The action to ensure that a thorough public process has been conducted prior to a final decision, which would be on a memorandum of understanding between the department and the Chickaloon tribe, the resolution said.

In other actions, the assembly was informed on conclusion of a contract with H5 Construction LLC for $745,506 for the Brett Memorial Ice Arena roof replacement as well as two submissions by borough manager Mike Brown of a grant application for preparedness for a public health emergency we well as a reallocation of a Homeland Security grant for training.

Several road service area maintenance contracts were approved after public hearings. These include:

• Moose Park Subdivision road paving, not to exceed $411,000 for special assessments

• South Marina Circle road paving, not to exceed $58,800 for special assessments

• An adoption of changes to borough labor relations board duties and hearing procedures

• South Francine Street Natural Gas Local Improvement, or an extension of as infrastructure

• Accepting by ordinance accepting a $828,750 for Coal Creek and Cottonwood Creek fish passage improvements and accepting $210,000 in match funding from the City of Wasilla for the Cottonwood Creek passage

• Accepting by ordinance accepting a $20,174 from the state Division of Forestry volunteer fire assistance grant program and providing $2,017 in matching funds for firefighting equipment and supplies

• Accepting by ordinance a reappropriation of $85,000 from the areawide rescue operating budget to purchase a hazardous material response tow vehicle

In two contact approvals the assembly okayed a bid from Neeser Construction Inc. of $1.744 million to build the East Smith Road extension and path, and a bid of $791,630 to build Knik Knack Mud Shack Road improvements

Several road service area maintenance contracts were approved after public hearings. These include:

• For the Big Lake road service area, a contract was approved for $2.233 million to McKenna Brothers Paving

• For the Bogard road service area, a contract was approved for $1.65 million to McKenna Brothers Paving

• For the Midway road service area, a contract was approved for $1.07 million to Battleground LLC

The assembly approved two other actions:

• For a “Safe Streets” comprehensive safety action plan, a $559,200 contract to Michael Baker International, Inc.

• Authorization to vacate a 30-foot public use easement on the north shore of Big Lake. The easement contains approximately 23,940 square feet