Borough Assembly bans private landfills in Core Area

PALMER — At its Oct. 17 meeting, the Mat-Su Borough Assembly unanimously adopted the ordinance that would add private landfills to the “prohibited use” category within the Core Area of the Borough. Prohibited uses are not eligible for conditional use permits that landfills would normally require. All of the testimony on the ordinance was in support. Concerns cited by borough residents included protection of water resources, public safety, and property values.

The ban is the latest step in the saga over construction debris monofill in the borough. On three occasions, the borough rejected a conditional use permit application by Central Monofill Services for a site near Mile 38 of the Glenn Highway. CMS was rejected multiple times, and sued the borough over the rejection of the landfill permit in 2015. CMS tried one last time in 2016 to apply for a permit, but ultimately withdrew the application last December.

As part of the private landfill ban, construction debris monofill is explicitly included in the definition, meaning that there can be no future efforts to open the site on the Glenn Highway or elsewhere in the Core Area. The Core Area is defined as “a 91 square-mile unincorporated area between the cities of Palmer and Wasilla.” The area includes five community councils, and although it is seeing significant growth, and can appear indistinguishable from the cities it lies between, it relies on the Mat-Su Borough Assembly for planning and zoning authority.

Before the regular meeting, the Assembly certified the 2017 election, with the exception of the race for District 5’s Assembly seat, which is currently held by Dan Mayfield. Last week, challenger Clayton “Mokie” Tew filed for a recount in the close race. After the polls closed on Oct. 3, Tew held a lead of 20 votes over Mayfield, but after absentee and other ballots were counted, the incumbent came out 18 votes ahead. At the special meeting, Borough Clerk Lonnie McKechnie said she is working to assemble a canvass board to conduct the recount.

The Oct. 17 meeting was Assembly Member Steve Colligan’s last. He has served two full terms on the Mat-Su Borough Assembly, and was not eligible for reelection. His successor in District 4, Ted Leonard, was sworn in after the election was certified. Leonard will take his seat at the next Assembly meeting on Nov. 7.