Farm Loop council to meet Thursday

After more than a half-dozen years of inactivity, there’s a resurgence effort to bring back the Greater Farm Loop Community Council (GFLCC) in Palmer.

GFLCC spokesperson Teresa Clemmer said a Thursday, Sept. 29 meeting is on the calendar to adopt new bylaws, review and approve a necessary resolution for the Mat-Su Borough government to officially recognize the council, and elect officers. Because of the council’s inactivity, the borough formally decommissioned the group.

“If you live between or along Farm Loop Road and Fishhook Road, and between or along the Glenn Highway and Trunk Road, you are likely a resident of the (GFLCC) area,” Clemmer said.

The council area encompasses approximately eight square miles in the major farm agricultural area just north of downtown Palmer. Clemmer said she estimates 1,000 individuals call the area home

Clemmer said community councils play an important role in Alaska communities. She explained they provide opportunities for neighbors to get to know one another, discuss issues and concerns with each other, and receive early notification of local project proposals. One of her focusses with the council is emergency preparedness.

“It’s good to have a network in place in the community in the event it’s needed,” Clemmer said.

She said with the ongoing rapid infrastructure development of the Mat-Su Valley, keeping the area’s farming community current on projects that may impact area farming is very important. Clemmer said with the council’s formation, the borough is obligated to inform it of those projects.

“It allows us to participate (in the political process) and in the (borough’s) planning process,” Clemmer said. “Adopting the resolution and bylaws also allows us to apply for funding from the borough.”

The group met in July to finalize the agenda on tomorrow evening’s meeting. Clemmer said she would like to see the council grow to 40-50 regular participants and that once up and running, quarterly meetings are planned.

The meeting will start at 7 p.m. at the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) facility, 5805 North Farm Loop Road in Palmer. For more information, visit the group’s Facebook page—farmloopcc.