Mat-Su Forward: State of the Borough

The Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce hosted the Mat-Su Forward: State of the Borough luncheon on August 5, bringing together community leaders, business owners, and residents eager to hear directly from Matanuska-Susitna Borough (MSB) Directors on the progress, challenges, and future direction of the Borough.

The program provided an overview of key departmental initiatives, giving attendees insight into not only where the Borough has been but also where it is heading—and how it plans to get there.

“Today, you will see the people behind the scenes…that work to solve your problems,” said MSB Mayor Edna DeVries as she kicked off the event.

David Griffin, the Port Director for Port MacKenzie said lots of good things are happening at the port, while acknowledging that over the years there have been a lot of ups and downs, twists and turns as the port turns 25 this year. “I feel like we’ve gone through our growing pains and we’re actually really starting to mature and develop.”

Griffin said that one exciting development has been the awarding to the port of an $8M grant to expand the port. “We’re going to open up a new berth in the next year or so,” he said of the planned barge ramp facility that will allow the port to park barges in the winter, something lacking at the moment. He said design and been completed and with the grant, construction can begin.

He said another area of focus is the economic development of the port, saying, “We’re really trying to make the port open and capable for our local, regional operators.”

Griffin also said that his department is seeking a federal rail grant for the Port MacKenzie Rail Extension, and that the project is 50% complete with $184M in state funding already invested.

Leah Jones, the IT Director says that next month, they expect to unveil an enhancement to the MSB website, including a redesign and modernization to the current website. “Our goal for this project is citizens first,” she said, adding that they have been focusing on how people actually want to go and look for information on the website, rather than having to know what department does what in the Borough, and then having to find things there.” She said the enhancements will make the website quick, clear, concise and limit confusion.

She said that people would also be able to sign up for notifications on the website so they can find out about what they really care about.

Tracey Loscar, the Deputy Director of EMS, which falls under the Department of Emergency Services (DES), spoke about how much the DES provides to the Borough, including EMS, Fire Rescue, Water Rescue, Hazardous Materials, Emergency Management and Emergency Operations Center.

“We are here for the entire Borough 24/7 and represent the largest department in the Borough,” Loscar said. She addressed the large population growth in the Borough and that the departments are working hard to meet the changing needs head on. “What happens when we have more people? That means more calls, and when you have more calls, it means we need more things.” Loscar said that when they talk about a rising population, it means an increase in aging population, increased tourism, industrial growth, complex transportation needs, and joked that every time people applaud the Port MacKenzie development, she cringes. “They do a lot of stuff down there that blows up.”

She said that part of the DES move to innovation includes utilizing drones to assist in complex search and rescue operations.

“We’ve already had several rescues as a result of (the drones). We’ve had people who have been lost and have used the infrared to find and follow their footprints. We’ve been able to get eyes on them in ways we haven’t been able to do before.”

She also said part of innovation for her department includes innovative partnerships, citing the Mobile Crisis Team (MCT) and working with them as mental health response in the valley is woefully unprepared.

“We are MCT’s number one caller.”

Community Development Director Jillian Morrissey said her department is looking at ways to maximize the types of programs offered with the spaces they have.

She also said that the Big Lake Lions Center, which was recently acquired by the MSB will be having a grand re-opening on September 12 and is hopeful and appreciative of the opportunities it could provide for the MSB.

She also highlighted the recent unveiling of the interactive map for the MSB Parks and Trails, which covers 1200 trails and over 3200 miles of trails in the Mat-Su. “You’ll know if the trail’s been brushed or, in the winter, if the trail has been groomed.”

Morrissey also spoke about the Jonesville Public Use Area, saying that her department, in conjunction with other MSB departments, applied common sense solutions to addressing Jonesville, which she said had been area of concern for a long time, and after working to get a solution for that community, she said that there is a design for a new shooting park over there.

The Finance Department highlighted that $100M in bonds were sold, with $42M in new schools and transportation, with $68M refunded, generating a 7.8% savings to taxpayers. Also highlighted were upcoming changes to the system people use to pay their taxes, with a big change that will allow taxpayers to schedule their payments ahead of the due date, as currently the MSB does not send out additional tax bills.

Public Works Director Tom Adams said that under the Facilities Division, there are plans in the works for three new charter school buildings, which he said was a good thing as other districts are closing schools. The new buildings are for existing charter schools that have outgrown their current buildings including American Charter which will be relocated off Church Road, Birchtree which will be relocated next to Shaw Elementary, and Academy Charter, which is adding a high school to their facility.

Adams said that the Central Landfill, which is on 49th Street in Palmer, will have a new entrance.

“For anybody that uses it, you know that sometimes the line can back all the way up to Palmer-Wasilla Highway, so we’re building a brand new entry,” he told the audience. Additionally, they are working with IT to build a kiosk that will allow people to enter and leave the facility without having to wait for an attendant.

They are also working on pipe assessments and replacements, and new water sources and tanks for the Talkeetna Sewer and Water.

Alex Strawn, Planning Department Director, spoke about the waterbody setbacks, which has been a multi-year project, and addressed the needs to update the 70-foot setback has not been well-enforced, and following analysis found that 750 property owners are out of compliance, which can impact homeowners’ ability to sell their properties.

“It’s been a very interesting project,” Strawn said, having formed a working group that met nearly two dozen times and came up with recommendations that have been sent to community councils and the planning commission to garner feedback, which will have a public hearing at their next meeting.

“This is a 50-year-old law that is going to affect a lot people when we go to change it.”

He also highlighted a new project to address derelict properties in the MSB. “We received the message loud and clear…that if this is going to be the best place to live and play, we can’t have all these blighted properties.”

The MSB is partnering with the non-profit Adult and Teen Challenge to coordinate a new program to clean up private properties at minimal cost. “Last year, we cleaned up 18 properties, some of the worst. This year, we’re on track to beat that,” Strawn said, adding that they are also working with the District Attorney’s office to create a diversion program, so instead of going through the entirety of the courts for a low-level crime, people can help cleanup properties as a positive alternative to prosecution.

There is also a junk car removal program that will remove up to three vehicles to a legally permitted junkyard.

During the luncheon, attendees were asked to fill out a survey which provided real-time results about the state of the Borough. When participants were asked what words best describe the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, with most responses being “growing,” “good,” “proud,” “excited,” “growth,” and “great,” reflecting both the momentum and optimism within the region.

Tammy Hansen, Chair of the Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, added: “Our community business members showed up in force to hear from all the MSB departments. Growing from a ‘Frontier’ to an ‘Urban’ community takes a lot of work and MSB is doing a great job for all of us.”