Light night at Wasilla council ahead of Oct. 3 election

WASILLA — On a rather light final meeting before the Oct. 3 election, the Wasilla City Council unanimously passed Ordinance 17-20, appropriating $75,000 from the water fund to fund the balance for the East Susitna Well Connection Project.

On the consent agenda, the council voted unanimously to move along for debate a number of items, including Ordinance 17-21, which would add $23,600 to the 2018 fiscal year budget and appropriate another $6,085 to the Menard Sports Complex to develop an advanced hockey league program.

That issue will be among those discussed at the Oct. 9 meeting, where the headline issue will be the beginning of discussions about a possible ban on single-use plastic bags in Wasilla city limits.

The meeting began with a mayoral proclamation honoring Alaska Day, commemorating the March 29, 1867 transaction of Alaska from Russia to the United States.

Also under special orders, the council presented Dispatch Supervisor Jacob Butcher with a letter of commendation for his work in helping dispatch first-responders to the trailer fire in Butte on Sept. 7 which claimed the lives of five young girls between the ages of 3 and 12.

“Intelligent decisions and confident radio communications are a result of Jacob’s ability to remain calm in a situation filled with panic,” wrote MatCom Communications Center Manager Lt. Ruth Josten in the letter of commendation. “Jacob demonstrated exceptional skills and performed in a superior manner above and beyond expectations.”

Of note in commission and agency reports, Parks and Recreation manager Joan Klapperich noted that the final work on the track around the Menard Sports Complex is complete and open to non-motorized travelers.

She also noted that Tuesday Night Fights would be resuming its new season Oct. 3 at the Menard Center.

Updating the council on the state of the Wasilla Police Department, Chief Gene Belden said his department is currently looking at six ‘strong’ candidates for three police positions. Belden said the polygraph portion of the interview process has yet to be complete, which could whittle that number down by the end of this week.

As for reserve police, the number for the Wasilla PD currently stands at four. When asked by council member and deputy mayor Stu Graham what the ideal number would be, Belden said five. Belden said he plans to be opening up to applications for that position and begin another reserve program after the new year.

Today marks the one-year anniversary of the opening of the new library on Crusey Street.

The annual report shows that approximately 115,000 people have visited the library in that time. The library is currently conducting a survey to find out what kinds of newspapers and magazines visitors would like to see the library carry.