Borough assembly ducks new guidelines for marijuana establishments; agrees to use school reserves to build $24 million new Mat-Su Central School

The Matanuska Susitna Borough assembly put aside new restrictions on retail marijuana and growing operations at its Dec. 20 meeting. The ordinances were introduced but action on one was postponed indefinitely and a second proposal failed.

In another matter, at its previous Dec. 8 meeting the assembly gave final approval to a plan to finance a new building for Mat-Su Central School using Mat-Su school district savings accounts, which are mostly reserves of state-shared education funds.

The first proposal on marijuana Dec 20 was put forth by Assemblyman Tim Hale, but was postponed indefinitely by the assembly. It would restrict hours operations for retail establishments offering on-site consumption to require closing from midnight to 8 a.m. Exceptions for special circumstances could be allowed on a case-by-case basis by the borough Planning Commission, under the plan.

Hale’s proposal would also require retailers allowing outside consumption to provide additional parking spaces for designated outdoor consumption and to have security measures in place.

In addition, there would be 100-foot setbacks from property lines to ensure neighbors and passers-by are no exposed to second-hand smoke.

A second proposed new ordinance, which failed, would require the borough planning commission to consider public nuisances when approving new marijuana growing operations. This could include noise and odor but also how the design of buildings could contribute to, or detract, from the character of the surrounding area.

On the Mat-Su Central funding the assembly gave final approval Dec. 8 to a plan to finance a new building for Mat-Su Central School using Mat-Su school district savings accounts, which are mostly reserves of state-shared education funds.

This would be in lieu of the Mat-Su school district’s own proposal that the borough finance its contribution to the $24 million school with bonds. The borough rejected that because local taxpayers would have to repay the bonds. The plan to draw down school district reserves was put forward instead.

The assembly approved tapping $10.5 million In school district reserves and another $3 million in schools debt funds as the local contribution to the building cost, which is estimated at $22.7 million for the structure and another $1.3 million for furnishings and equipment, bringing the total cost to $24 million.

The finance plan assumes $5.8 million in state school debt support and $3.4 million in federal local assistance and tribal funds.

Meanwhile, a contract for design and engineering for the building was let last June to MCG Explore Design for $1.4 million. Five years of construction is anticipated.

Mat-Su Central is the borough’s largest school, with an enrollment at 2,300 and growing. It is now in cramped leased space in a private building in Wasilla, with the borough paying $583,954 yearly to the building owner.

The lease has rent escalators that increase each year, and the lease also ends in 2024 although there is an option for an extension.

In two other actions Dec. 8 the assembly approved a modification to a contract with The Boutet Co. for its work on a segment of work on Beaver Lake Road to Sky Hill Road.

Geotechnical investigations along the right-of-way showed large areas of silt and pockets of peat that would present problems in construction and long-term maintenance. The company proposed raising the road enough to allow for a 20-year life, with the change adding $222,540 to the project cost, bringing the total to $315,082. Completion is now expected in summer, 2023.

Another action taken Dec. 8 was in approving $125,649 for a phase three of the Ridge Trail expansion near Talkeetna. The contract is held by Happy Trails, Inc. It would create new trail segments for non-motorized use by cross-country skiers, hikers, dog mushers and bikers. Construction is expected this summer.