Borough, cities respond to COVID 19

PALMER — The mayors of the Mat-Su Borough, Wasilla and Palmer were present at a Thursday press conference as well as Mat-Su Borough School District Superintendent Dr. Monica Goyette to address the public on measures being taken to prevent the spread of coronavirus throughout the Mat-Su Valley. Currently, only two of the 85 cases in the state are in the Mat-Su Valley.

“The first thing I wanted to mention is take COVID-19 seriously. We will have more cases in the Mat-Su Borough, it’s just a matter of time. We are holding steady at two right now but we do have several tests out there that are pending the results, so I just want to emphasize that we will have more cases and please, please exercise social distancing that’s our first line of defense,” said borough Department of Emergency Services Director Ken Barkley.

Borough Mayor Vern Halter reiterated that as a second-class borough, the Mat-Su does not have health powers. Barkley said that the DES continues to function and even has additional on-call responders available that are not able to attend their regular jobs. Barkley said that first responders are being screened prior to coming to work and said that supplies at the testing center at Capstone are sufficient to handle the call volume. Barkley spoke about the constant communication occurring between the borough, cities, Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, the Mat-Su Health Foundation and senior housing facilities.

“I’m just astonished on the relationships. One thing all these organizations, we are fighting to this common goal and that’s keeping the community safe,” said Barkley.

Each city has closed their public facilities to the public, but are continuing to conduct business without face to face interaction.

“The three cities haven’t shut down, the borough has not shut down. The only thing the three cities have done and the borough has done is limit face to face contact,” said Wasilla Mayor Bert Cottle. “All we’ve done is limited face to face and that’s to protect our employees and protect the public.”

Many closures

The City of Wasilla announced closures to the public of the Menard Center, Wasilla Library, Wasilla City Hall and Museum and Visitors Center last week. Palmer announced the closure of City Hall, the Community Development building and the Department of Public Works Thursday night.

“This is the time whether it’s my city, Palmer, Houston, you need to shop local and all these stores have set up pick up drops, all the restaurants are doing that. People are looking outside the box and working with everybody to have it as normal as possible,” said Cottle.

Cottle said that he has had meetings with the four major box stores in Wasilla that will continue to be stocked with goods. Cottle also said that the Wasilla Police Department are conducting patrols of grocery stores. None of the Mayors at the press conference said that they would enact home rule authority to close businesses, but instead follow the direction of the Governor.

“As I drive through our town my heart is moved by so many small businesses that even though they could be open, they are not open just because they’re trying to keep their employees safe as well as keep the public safe,” said Palmer Mayor Edna DeVries.

Last week, Matanuska Telephone Association stepped in to provide free wifi connections in the parking lot within 400 feet of the Menard Center and the Dorothy Swanda Jones Borough Building as well. Next week, MTA will provide free wifi at the Palmer Public Library and Houston Fire Station 9-1.

“The local community here is stepping up. Our local telecommunications companies are stepping up and providing access that’s absolutely critical during this time,” said borough IT Director Eric Wyatt.

Wyatt thanked MTA Senior Manager of Enterprise Sales Micah Weinstein for helping to set up the free wifi. Additionally, once more equipment arrives free wifi will be offered at libraries in Big Lake, Sutton, Trapper Creek, Talkeetna, and Willow. MTA also aided the borough itself in allowing employees to work from home by increasing the network speed at the borough building. Wyatt said that the capabilities went from less than 10 people working from home to 175 last week. The smartphone app that is also featured on the borough’s website to display what businesses and public facilities are open has seen over 170 public facilities and over 300 businesses listed. Halter mentioned how often he has been tuning into Governor Dunleavy’s press conferences and how much he likes having access to updated information.

‘I do want to thank Dr. Zink with the state of Alaska. She has just been wonderful in providing the information out to all of us. She gives I think the state of Alaska and the Mat-Su Borough confidence in how to address the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Halter.

Houston Mayor Virgie Thompson did not attend, due to her personal health risk. Thompson said that social distancing is difficult and that she misses her grandchildren, but maintains constant contact with other cities and health agencies and encouraged Houston residents to check up on their neighbors.

“Like many of you I would also like to be at work. I miss the interaction with the children of Houston Middle School. It has taken serious discipline to follow these guidelines. You’ve got this Mat-Su,” wrote Thompson.

Mayor Cottle said that he had been in contact with the four senior housing facilities in Wasilla and that three of them had gone into lockdown mode to protect seniors from exposure to the coronavirus. Mayor DeVries mentioned the work that has been done by local citizens through Santa Cop to deliver meals to seniors.

“We’re sort of having Christmas in March here,” said DeVries.

Goyette spoke on Thursday morning after the Wednesday announcement that graduations would occur virtually at the scheduled date and time that many would have taken place at the Menard Center.

“We know that this will not come close to the experience of all celebrating in the Menard Center,” said Goyette.

Goyette said that of the 1,100 seniors within MSBSD, only 100 have yet to acquire 21 credits. While MSBSD requires 24.5 credits including half a credit of civics to graduate, the School Board voted to allow seniors in the class of 2020 and students from the class of 2019 who still needed credits to graduate with 21 credits. Of the 100 that still need credits, 40 of those have 20 credits already.

“While our buildings are closed to the public, education is still continuing and it will take us some time and patience from everyone and creativity to figure out this new format of learning but I know that we can do it in the Mat-Su,” said Goyette. “My call to action to you, my homework is please follow the rules for social distancing and be a good citizen.”

MSBSD continues to distribute meals to any child under the age of 18 at 12 distribution sites district wide with curbside delivery. Last week, 8,000 meals were delivered, which is equivalent to what is served on any regular school day by MSBSD schools, according to Goyette. Goyette said that seven high needs area routes had meal distribution and home delivery is available on a limited basis. The Assembly will meet on April 7 with telephonic participation from many Assembly members and telephonic testimony capabilities. While three public hearings are usually held to present the budget, Halter said that remote testimony would be enabled to ensure the ability of the public to participate in the borough’s ongoing budget process. Halter chose his final comments to reflect on the hope of springtime in Alaska.

“Everything we love about Alaska is still going to be here and so this simple little period of time, two months, three months, five months, whatever it is, is something we need to really respect what this pandemic could do to people,” said Halter.

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