Borough seeks solutions

for core area problems

By RINDI WHITE-Frontiersman reporter

MAT-SU -- Whether it's finding new transportation routes to ease travel between Wasilla and Palmer or contemplating how to plan for potential water utilities in the core area, the borough is looking for public input to solve existing and potential problems in the core area.

Peter J. Smith and Associates, contractors working on the Mat-Su Borough's Core Area Comprehensive Plan update are back in the borough to hold a second round of public meetings to work on the plan update.

The New York-based consultant group will hold two public information gathering sessions, geared at finding potential solutions to some of the issues identified through the last round of meetings. The sessions will be held at the smaller gymnasium at Colony High School May 17 at 9 a.m. and May 19 at 6 p.m.

When the group was in the Valley in April, they held three public meetings and worked with focus groups to identify issues facing the core area and find out what people would like to see for the area in coming years. The meetings set for Saturday and Monday, according to borough planning staff, are the next step in the process.

"This is taking some of the issues they identified in their previous visit and working through possible solutions," said borough planner Beth McKibben.

The consultants, McKibben said, will also meet with two Colony High School classes to discuss the plan update and get the students' viewpoint on how to solve issues facing the core area.

Colony High teacher Larry Johnson said he's worked on projects with local governments before and is sees validity in getting students involved in community decisions. In 1991, he said, while teaching at Wasilla High School, students took part in a project to install more public paths around the city. Maps were hung in the school, he said, and students colored in where they thought the paths should go. The students then presented the maps to the city council, Johnson said, giving city elders insight into a walking-person's view of the city.

Friday, consultants from Peter J. Smith and Associates will visit two of Johnson's classes. Freshman students in a law-related studies course, Johnson said, will take part in the discussion, as will a mixed-grade sociology course.

"I think it's important to involve the kids because they are the end user," Johnson said.

Along with the second round of public meetings, McKibben said about 1,000 surveys will be mailed out to borough residents in the next few weeks, and the same number of telephone surveys will be conducted, asking people about their vision for the core area.