Borough reshuffles priorities

Roads funding moves to the top of state, federal legislative wish lists

December 11, 2005

DARRELL L. BREESE\Frontiersman reporter

PALMER - The Mat-Su Borough Assembly settled on a final version of its state and federal legislative wish lists Tuesday, placing road needs above the formerly topmost Hatcher Pass ski area development project.

But unlike little children who make quick decisions while looking through the Sears holiday catalog, assembly members had to work through nearly a hour of debate before settling on what they wanted.

They pared down and reprioritized the federal list, moving roads to the top. A unanimous action approved the final version of that list, which also included funding for a Hatcher Pass community center and day lodge along with a ski trail system, the agricultural food processing center, Matanuska River erosion management, methamphetamine grants for law enforcement and South Denali Park access. The state list was broken into three parts and an emphasis on providing property tax relief was added.

Assembly members tackled the federal list first, with assembly member Jim Colver introducing a substitute ordinance with a slimmed-down list.

&#8220We learned at the Alaska Municipal League meeting that having a shorter list is better,” Colver said. &#8220That is why I brought forward a shortened list.”

Colver's version cut the federal wish list nearly in half.

Fellow assembly member Talis Colberg applauded the shortening of the list, but insisted on a change in the order or priority for the items included, moving the Hatcher Pass ski area development from the top.

&#8220I think it is premature to be lobbying for federal funds for something that is not for certain yet,” Colberg said. &#8220I believe that the people of the Valley are more concerned with the quality of the roads and trails and consider them to be a much higher priority.”

With that, Colberg moved that funding for road and trail upgrades and repairs be made the borough's number-one item on the federal list.

The change flustered Colver, leading him to voice a strong objection. &#8220Hatcher Pass is supposed to be the number-one priority,” he said. &#8220It has been our top priority for years and it would be a shame to change it. We are on the cusp of having a complete deal in the works and I think changing the order might threaten the funding needed to complete the project.”

Colver found little support from other assembly members, who sided with Colberg on the importance of roads.

&#8220You can ask anyone in the Valley and they will tell you that we need better roads,” assembly member Bill Allen said. &#8220I think Hatcher Pass should be down as low as number six on our list right now because the project is still being negotiated.”

Colver suggested that moving Hatcher Pass from the top of the list was a veiled effort to stall the planned development, but supporters of changing the order of items on the list disagreed.

&#8220I've been pushing for the Hatcher Pass ski area since 1986,” assembly member Cindy Bettine said. &#8220But every one of my constituents has to drive on the roads and not every one of them skis. I support making roads the top priority.”

&#8220I'm simply moving what I believe to be the top priority for the people we represent to the top,” Colberg said. &#8220This has nothing to do with stalling the Hatcher Pass development.”

The change in order was approved, 5-2, with Colver and Betty Vehrs opposing the change.

Bettine requested one more change to the new list presented by Colver.

&#8220The South Denali Park access was on the original list and needs to be put back,” Bettine said. &#8220We just received an award from the Mat-Su Convention and Visitors Bureau tonight for promoting tourism, but we have taken the thing that will have the most impact on tourism off the list.”

The assembly voted unanimously to return the South Denali Park access project to the list, placing it as the number-five item.

The order in which items were ranked on the state priority list was changed to emphasize the importance of providing property tax relief for borough residents.

To accomplish this, the list of 16 items was split into three lists - one for capital projects, one for operating budget items and one for other legislative requests.

The priorities on the capital improvement list included full funding for a new Susitna Valley High School, reauthorization of the school construction debt reimbursement program, Hatcher Pass ski area road and infrastructure improvements and support of the borough's statewide transportation improvement program.

Operation budget items included property tax relief in the form of municipal assistance, revenue sharing and community dividends, full funding of the mandated senior citizen and disabled veterans' tax exemption program, full funding and inflation proofing of school operating assistance, full funding of teacher and public employee retirement shortfalls, full funding of pupil transportation assistance and increasing the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities' operation and maintenance budget.

The final section included other legislative action the borough supports, including the Hatcher Pass land transfer, expansion of correctional facilities in the borough, Matanuska River erosion management, increased response to community threats posed by methamphetamine labs and expansion of residential drug treatment centers within the borough.

Keeping all the items from the original list was important for the state legislative wish list, according to Mayor Tim Anderson.

&#8220When our lobbyist or delegation finds some money for something, they can look at the list and see if it is something we could use. If an item is not on the list, they will not know what it is we want or need.”

The assembly will present its state priority list to the borough legislative delegation during a combined meeting at 9 a.m. Dec. 19, at the Mat-Su Legislative Information Office, 600 E. Railroad Ave., Wasilla.

Contact Darrell L. Breese at 352-2267 or darrell.breese@

frontiersman.com.