Borough assembly grapples with agenda at Tuesday meeting

June 12, 2005

DARRELL L. BREESE/Frontiersman reporter

PALMER - The Mat-Su Borough Assembly tackled a heavy agenda Tuesday and took action on topics ranging from school construction to trail improvements.

During the meeting, members approved contracts for snow removal for several road service areas, introduced 14 ordinances for future consideration and dealt with a veto from Mayor Tim Anderson. In addition, the assembly addressed the following issues:

€ Valley Pathways School construction contract: The assembly awarded Wilder Construction Co. a contract for $773,653 for the development of the Valley Pathways School site.

The work involves constructing a 1,100-foot access road, excavating 145,000 cubic yards and developing well and septic systems. The Department of Land Management will contribute an additional $195,000 to aid in the road construction. Wilder was selected as the winning bidder from the seven bids submitted.

Wilder was also awarded a contract for $2,040,730 to provide labor, equipment, materials and tools for work on the 2005 roads paving project, which includes 20 collector roads and 13 miles of paving in three subdivisions.

€ Purchase of emergency services equipment: In the consent agenda, the assembly approved funds to purchase equipment for the emergency services division. Among the items approved for purchase were $121,255 for urban search and rescue/medical response/wild land response gear.

The contract starts a two-year ordering agreement with Eagle Enterprises to purchase gear designed to protect the upper and lower body from adverse environmental effects during search and rescue, EMS operations and response to wild land fires.

The assembly authorized the purchase of $53,662 worth of firefighter turnout gear from L.N. Curtis and Sons Inc. The G-Xtreme 32 jacket and pants combination has been determined to provide the best thermal protection, heat reduction and comfort. The gear has been used by local fire crews for the past nine years.

The assembly also approved the Department of Emergency Services' request to purchase new self-contained breathing apparatus, mask-mounted regulators and cylinders for the Central Fire Service Area. Alaska Safety Inc. was selected to provide the new items and overhaul kits for $58,253.

€ Wolverine trail improvements: The assembly accepted a $10,000 Alaska Department of Commerce grant for relocation and improvements to the Wolverine Trail, providing alternative access to Wolverine Lake. The grant was originally awarded in 1993 as part of the Lazy Mountain Trail identification and survey.

After several meetings and a series of correspondence over the years with the Department of Natural Resources, Fish and Game and land owners in the area, the Wolverine Lake Management Plan was approved by the assembly in August 2004. That agreement allowed the borough to move forward with plans to develop the trail across borough-owned land at the northeast end of the lake.

€ Remodeling at Brett Memorial Ice Arena: Members of the assembly voted unanimously to reallocate the remainder of the $25,000 previously approved to repair the roof of the Brett Memorial Ice Arena to be used for remodeling part of the arena.

The roof replacement was completed for just over $10,000, leaving a balance of $14,776 in the repair fund. The action taken by the borough will designate $14,500 of the remaining balance to remodel the snack bar, replace the exterior door and closing mechanisms and refinish interior walls.

€ Borough's homeland security: A unanimous vote accepted and appropriated $195,200 in an Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management grant to conduct exercises, develop and assess security and purchase needed equipment.

The grant will be used to assess the physical security of government administration buildings and examine the cyber security of the borough's computer network. The funds will also purchase impact-resistant doors for areas in need of increased security.

Contractors will also conduct strategic planning in the area of multi-jurisdictional and inter-agency alignment among public safety organizations.

€ Bond introductions: In other action, the assembly introduced a pair of ordinances that would present general obligation bonds before voters if approved.

The first, a $4.66-million bond, would pay for the construction of a new animal care facility.

The other bond, for $15.63 million, would finance the construction, renovation and expansion of library facilities throughout the borough.

Public hearings for both ordinances will be held during the assembly's regular meeting June 21, and, if approved, will be presented to the voters on the ballot during the Oct. 4 election.

€ Election filing period: Borough deputy clerk Janice Case announced that the filing period for borough elections begins July 18 and concludes July 29. Assembly member Mary Kvalheim and former assembly member Jay Nolfi have already completed the necessary paperwork with the Alaska Public Offices Commission for the election.

€ Sales and severance tax public hearing: The assembly will hold a special meeting 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 14, in assembly chambers. The meeting will be open for public hearings on the proposed 1-percent sales tax and a severance tax on natural resources severed and sold from property within the borough.