Bring ’em on

Frontiersman

WASILLA — A lengthy city council debate about city-sponsored events led to a failed attempt to keep Wasilla’s spending local.

Wasilla City Council voted unanimously this week to maintain its financial support of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race and other events held outside of the city. Other events include the Junior Iditarod and the Tesoro Iron Dog. But the vote didn’t come down without plenty of emotional public comment. The city has contributed $10,000 a year each to the Iditarod and Iron Dog and $5,000 to the Jr. Iditarod.

Jim Uhl, a Knik resident, voiced concerns about the city dropping financial support of the Jr. Iditarod. As a volunteer of the race since 1978 and a professional with a background in education, he has witnessed how important the race can be for local youth.

“I spent 30-some-odd years in education and, believe me, I can tell you from first-hand experience these kids that go through Jr. Iditarod, it gives them the self-esteem that nothing else has been able to do,” Uhl said.

Uhl also shared an emotional story of triumph with the council. Last year, he helped a young musher off the trail after she wasn’t able to meet a time restriction. Despite coming up short, he encouraged her to persevere and return to the race this year. She returned for this year’s race and finished.

“When I saw her cross the finish line it was pretty impressive,” Uhl said, his voice shaky with emotion. “I’m so proud of her and I’m so proud of all these kids that make this race.”

The emotion filtered through the room as residents, business owners and event officials spoke in opposition to the resolution.

For several years, Wasilla has contributed to the three events, although they are held outside city limits. This year, those contributions were questioned by Councilman Steve Menard.

Menard said there are two main reasons he brought the issue to council. First, his resolution was an attempt to bring event officials to the table for debate and discussion. During the last 11 years, he said he knows of one time the Iditarod has meet with the council. At that one appearance, race officials came to ask for more help.

In addition to providing $10,000 annually to the Iditarod, Menard said the city contributes even more than most residents realize. In 1984, the city signed a 25-year lease that provides nearly 10 acres for the Iditarod Trail Headquarters. The land was provided free of charge.

Menard said it also seems as though the city’s contribution is taken for granted. When organizations like the Iditarod don’t take the time to discuss the future of the race with the city it calls home, bringing the issue to the table is needed, he said.

Although the Iditarod Trail Committee decided to move the restart to Willow, Menard said he wants to find a way to bring the race back to Wasilla.

“That’s why I wanted to have this discussion to say I want the [restart],” Menard said. “I’m so passionate about the restart in Wasilla that if it cost us $50,000, $100,000, whatever the fee is, let’s have the restart in Wasilla.”

It has been frustrating to see the restart for the Last Great Race move when opportunities for it to happen in Wasilla are there, Menard said.

John Klapperich, owner of KMBQ radio, said he understands what Menard is trying to accomplish.

“I don’t think there is anyone here that is not in support of the Iditarod, Iron Dog or Jr. Iditarod, including Steve Menard,” Klapperich said. “In fact, he is probably the biggest supporter. But open dialogue, conversation and discussion is a healthy thing.”

Klapperich said communication will be an important part of the race’s future.

“I think better relationships can increase what we’re trying to achieve,” he said. “And that’s what dialogue is about. It’s saying, ‘What does this Iditarod mean to this community and let’s talk about it;’ how to improve, not how to detract.”

Of the three events mentioned in Menard’s resolution, two were represented at the meeting by official staff. No one from the Iditarod staff was in attendance.

Laura Bedard, executive director of the Tesoro Iron Dog, opposed the resolution. She said the Iron Dog is much more than a race that starts on Big Lake.

“There is nothing like the Iron Dog in the entire world,” Bedard said. “We call it the world’s longest and toughest snowmobile race event.”

In addition to providing a one-of-a-kind event for the community, Bedard said the organization has a positive presence in Wasilla. For example, the Iron Dog participates in the Wasilla parade and holds rookie workshops and safety expos at the Wasilla Multi-Use Sports Complex.

Bedard also said the economic benefit of the Iron Dog to the city is considerable. According to a study conducted by Northern Economics Inc. in 2006, the race brings $80,000 in direct spending to Wasilla.

Councilwoman Dianne Woodruff said she didn’t agree with the resolution to cut off funding to the events, but she appreciated a chance to debate one area of how the city invests in local events.

“Basically, I think Steve is trying to be fiscally responsible,” Woodruff said, adding there’s nothing wrong with the city trying to save a little money.

Although Woodruff understands the fiscal side of the resolution, she doesn’t believe eliminating funding, especially for the Iditarod, Jr. Iditarod and Tesoro Iron Dog, is the right move. Overall, she said she believes the financial benefits from the races warrant the city’s contributions. If it takes supporting an event outside the city to receive those benefits, it’s worth it, she said.

“I don’t think it hurts us to expand our horizons a little bit,” Woodruff said.

Along with financial benefits, Woodruff said it’s important to consider what it means to be labeled as the home of the Iditarod and Iron Dog.

“Without that we don’t have much of a community identity,” she said.

Contact Chris Gillow at chris.gillow@frontiersman.com or 352-2284.