Final cost of controversial free day at the landfill totals $67,745

PALMER — The Mat-Su Borough Assembly detailed expenses caused by the disasters of 2018 in their final meeting of the year on Tuesday. The cost of the free dump days, as well as expenses for the cyber attack and earthquake were given by Borough Manager John Moosey.

Moosey began by clarifying a report that FEMA had not paid for damage from flooding in 2012, which is partially true, but most funding has come through.

“It takes a while but FEMA is paying us everything they’re eligible for,” Moosey said.

Of the damages caused by the 2012 flooding, $3.6 million has already been received. Through the disasters in the Mat-Su Valley in recent years, Borough officials are gaining experience in dealing with FEMA.

“Unfortunately, we’ve had a lot of practice,” Moosey said.

The final cost of the controversial free landfill days was totaled at $67,745. Of the fees waived for disposal of earthquake debris, 52 percent of the weight was dumped at Central Landfill, with 28 percent dumped at Big Lake. The cost of the additional manpower was $35,472. Public Works director Terry Dolan said that a plan had been constructed almost immediately following the earthquake in anticipation of free dump days, and credited Butch Shapiro and his team for their hard work. Sunday was the busiest free dump day, and some were turned away from the Big Lake Landfill or told to bring their waste to Central.

Moosey additionally updated the Assembly on the spending to repair earthquake damages. The Borough has spent $203,000 on infrastructure and $212,000 on school repairs. In dealing with disasters so frequently, Moosey hopes that the funding will be received within two years for damages from the earthquake.

Following the cyber attack the Borough sustained this fall, $2.2 million was spent in repairs and upgrades to the Borough’s computers.

Moosey also addressed what many considered was poor communication from public officials following the earthquake on November 30.

“I’m guaranteeing you we will be better going forward,” Moosey said.

Moosey said that the Borough is focusing on fixing what went wrong by reviewing processes and making immediate changes.

“The public needs to know it’s going well,” Assemblyman Jim Sykes said.

Assemblyman Dan Mayfield requested that members of the Assembly be included in policy changes, and Moosey said that they would receive a copy prior to introduction.

Borough Mayor Vern Halter submitted two vetoes to prevent the Assembly from attending meetings on air quality and wetland mitigation. Motions to override both vetoes and hold the meetings failed. The vote to override the veto on the January 22 meeting on air quality went 4-2. Deputy Mayor Matthew Beck and Dan Mayfield voted against the veto override, and Tam Boeve, Ted Leonard, Jesse Sumner, and Jim Sykes voted for the veto override. Assemblyman George McKee was absent, and to override a veto, the Assembly needed five votes.

The Borough also passed Ordinance 18-021 amending their racetrack regulations to allow for a 9 a.m. start time, among other changes. Andy Andersen of Valley Rally racing spoke in support of the changes, as well as Dane Ferguson of the Alaska State Snowcross Lions Club.