Farming at the heart of who we are

Local government officials and developers are too quick to build on active farmland, making it difficult for farms to grow with industry and population.

There is a site selection committee that is supposed to be considering potential sites for a new Palmer elementary school. A consultant has researched alternative sites that could meet the criteria necessary for a school. It seems the committee would consider all the research and then seek public input regarding its favorite sites before making a decision. But since the beginning of the process, many members of the committee, school district and borough assembly seem to have their minds set on 36 acres of prime agriculture property that has been farmed since the 1930s; ignoring a public process for input on something that significantly impacts farming in this area.

At an Aug. 9 committee meeting, assembly member Darcie Salmon interrupted the researcher who was sharing results of the inquiry — apparently ready to vote on recommending the 36 acres, despite other potential sites. Salmon also motioned to allow the landowner to speak at the meeting and then scoffed when others wanted to share their concerns about building the school there. I wonder what Salmon’s relationship with the landowner may be that clogs his ability to be open to the findings of the researcher?

At the Mat-Su Borough Assembly meeting on Aug. 21, Noel Woods proposed that the assembly take the responsibility from the site selection committee, seemingly to speed up the process and avoid listening further to the input from a public concerned about the ongoing depletion of agriculture and conflicts of interest involved with the selection process for land use. Woods used to own the 36 acres and sold it to the current owner, which is a clear conflict of interest. Is Woods doing a favor for a friend?

Fortunately, assembly member Jim Colver spoke up and was able to quell the proposal. Committee member Lynn Gattis owns farmland south of Wasilla. Building a school on that 36-acre lot would help eliminate her competition, which is clearly another conflict of interest.

A local farmer has expressed serious interest to buy the property and continue to farm there; however, the current landowner won’t hear of it because he is waiting for the lucrative deal that the government is seemingly willing to pay for the site. I find it odd that the landowner would be at any of the meetings regarding choosing the site.

Farming in the Mat-Su Valley is one of the largest and most viable renewable resources. There is much history here and many farms near Palmer have been actively farmed since the time of settlers from the Lower 48 in the early 1900s. The 36 acres being considered was a part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Matanuska Valley Colony Project and has been farmed since then. It would be a shame to lose that history. Building a school there would put much more pressure on the surrounding farmland to develop commercially and residentially. Why would anyone want that? With other viable sites, it simply doesn’t make common sense.

I urge everyone in the Mat-Su Valley to get involved with this process and speak up to preserve our history and defend our local farmers. Timing is crucial, because officials seem to be in a hurry to skip right over the public process and make a decision. Farming is at the heart of who we are, regardless of what our jobs may be. It is our heritage and why the Mat-Su Valley exists. Valley residents don’t live here because we want to live in a metropolis filled with roads and buildings in unnecessary locations. Farming is great for our economy and should grow with industry and population. Local farmers want to grow larger crops and are working to do so, but odd decisions by local officials like not even considering other viable sites before building on 36 acres of prime agriculture land is preventing that from happening.

To speak up, visit matsugov.us/assembly/meet-the-assembly and send an email message to every assembly member. Also, visit tinyurl.com/cnnkp4u, download the document and email the committee members. Finally, visit matsuk12.us and email all of the school board members and Superintendant Deena Paramo. You can also attend the meetings, which are listed on the borough’s website.

If you would like to meet some local farmers and learn more about the work they do to build our local economy, contact me at 746-2576 and I’ll be happy to facilitate such a meeting.

Matthew J. Beck lives in Palmer.