Great divide would split Mat-Su Borough

Not that Friday wasn’t a busy enough day around the Valley, what with Palmer and Wasilla having dueling picnics and other associated events. Then a call comes in that Houston Mayor Roger Purcell popped off to a local fire chief that Houston and Wasilla will be seceding from the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and creating their own borough.

One could chalk that up to the mayor being his occasionally loopy self.

But with a couple of calls revealed that a new borough is the goal.

This kind of talk — and action — can be expected by Purcell who always complains that Houston gets treated like a doormat compared to other communities.

But for Verne Rupright to join in the fray seems a little off.

Not that Mayor Rupright doesn’t enjoy a scrap. He certainly does, based on his background as an attorney.

His legal background, though, should tell him dividing the borough has the same possibility as the Capitol moving to Willow.

That’s why some of this saber rattling sounds like it’s coming more from Houston than in Wasilla.

But let’s say they get what they they’re trolling for: the land from Wasilla city limits west and north to Talkeetna and south to Point MacKenzie.

Let’s see, that leaves Palmer and Sutton remaining in the original borough. Not much tax base there.

This effort in the face of a Valley community that typically screams for less government. Imagine the hassle it will be for people who own businesses in both boroughs and people who own properties in both or who want to get plats from both governments. Now they go to one place. If this happens, they go to Palmer and then, where, Meadow Lakes? Can’t wait to hear the squabble that erupts when communities in Leftside Borough vie to have the new headquarters — and all the jobs that go with it — in their town.

Then there’s a whole new school district.

Don’t think this move can’t work, though. If, somehow, this goes to a vote, the land sought includes a vast majority of the borough’s population. Of course, not all of those eligible voters will see the need for more government.

On the other hand, if it does go through, those voters should be front and center when it comes to determining how that new government is structured and how it will pay for itself.

Just guessing, but damn few bureaucrats and no taxes will probably be at the top of the discussion list.