Bumper Drag scheduled

MAT-SU -- Plagued by junk cars? Overwhelmed by old appliances? For residents of the Mat-Su Borough's core area, help may be a month away.

As part of the Mat-Su Borough's effort to keep the Valley free of junk cars, scrap metal and appliances, the borough is teaming up with the Alaska Army National Guard and, for the first time, the city of Palmer to clean up the area stretching from Palmer to Seward-Meridian Parkway. The area from Sutton to Chickaloon will also be part of this year's cleanup.

Mat-Su Borough Solid Waste Engineer Jane Dale said anyone within the Bumper Drag areas -- or near the area -- who is overloaded with junk cars, scrap metal or appliances is welcome to submit an application to be part of the limited free pickup service offered by the Guard.

Applications for that service will be accepted until July 23, Dale said, and the information will be given to the Guard to give them time to scope out the area and plan their method of retrieval. Applications are available at the Central Landfill, located at the end of North 49th State Street, at Palmer City Hall, at the Palmer Library or on the Mat-Su Borough's Web site, www.co.mat-su.ak.us.

The program is an invitation to residents to haul these items to two collection sites for free drop-off. It's also used as a training mission for members of the Guard.

"We use this event to train and hone our military skills," said Major Lori Blydenburgh, who is coordinating the Guard's participation along with Sgt. 1st Class Tim Straub. Blydenburgh said the event helps Guard members test their skills in communication, land navigation, driver training, equipment operations and recovery operations. The skills are useful both home and abroad -- five members of the 297th Support Battalion, all of whom have taken part in previous Bumper Drags -- are or will soon be using their skills on the ground in Iraq. Blydenburgh said about 120 Guard participants are expected, and the Wasilla-based battalion will bring about 30 pieces of equipment to help move the metal.

When the cleanup was last held in the borough's core area, in 2002, most of the vehicles, appliances and metal came from area residents who hauled the trash in themselves, but Guard members also hauled in more than 200 cars and a lot of scrap metal and appliances.

Over the past five years, the Mat-Su Borough has funded the cleanup program and ran it with cooperation from the Guard and with the help of numerous volunteer groups, including Valley Community for Recycling Solutions, Friends of Mat-Su and local community councils. This year, Gateway Community Council members and the city of Palmer are also working with the borough, and some local towing companies are offering reduced rates for transporting trash over the weekend.

"Volunteer groups and community groups have been a big help," Dale said. She said volunteers are always needed to help with the operation. Although they won't be handling incoming trash, volunteers are needed to direct traffic, help people fill out paperwork, help count incoming trash and record vehicle identification numbers to cross-check for stolen vehicles with Alaska State Troopers. People interested in volunteering can contact Central Landfill staff at 746-2823.

This is the first year the landfill has been used as a collection site. With more than 600 acres, Dale said there should be plenty of room to collect the trash, although they're still working on traffic plans to allow people to use the dump area over the weekend along with the Bumper Drag event. Although the vehicles, appliances and metal are being accepted for free, dump fees are still in effect for those unloading trash over the weekend.

With about 120 Guard members expected to take part in the event, Dale said she's hoping for a record-breaking year.

Toni Bloemer at the city of Palmer said she's glad the city is partnering with the borough for the cleanup. While the city isn't teeming with junk vehicles, Bloemer said, there are enough to warrant participation. She said city staff are working with the Palmer Police Department to obtain lists of junk vehicles in the area. City residents, she said, can call her at 745-2297 to be a part of the cleanup effort.

"For someone who has several vehicles, this is a wonderful opportunity," said Mark Masteller, who's president of the Gateway Community Council and has volunteered to work at previous Bumper Drag events.

Contact Rindi White at rindi.white@frontiersman.com.