Mat-Su veterans monument talks continue

PALMER — Debate and discussion over the future of the Mat-Su veterans’ monument continued at Tuesday’s meeting of the Mat-Su Borough Assembly, even as preparations for budget planning gathered steam for the upcoming fiscal year.

Monument discussion largely focused on whether an unplanned relocation of the Wall of Honor memorial would void the sale of borough-held land. The borough assembly approved the sale of the land on Nov. 3 to a company that plans to build a transitional care facility.

The sale also includes a condition preventing the monument’s relocation. Assembly members voted 4-3 against stripping that condition. Assembly members Barb Doty, Steve Colligan, and Dan Mayfield voted in favor of changing the conditions.

Some veterans strongly oppose relocating the monument, saying it’s a sacred site where veterans have had cremated remains spread. The group responsible for maintaining the monument, the Areawide Service Council, comprised of John and Hazel Schwulst and members of their family, asked the assembly to reconsider, saying they had planned to expand the monument, and construction may prohibit expansion. The Schwulsts have separately negotiated a low-cost lease with the city of Wasilla as a potential alternative site for the monument.

Assemblyman Dan Mayfield opposes the relocation, but honored the group’s request to revisit the subject.

The vast majority of the proceeds of the $1.2-million land sale are earmarked for the construction of the Gateway Visitors Center and new home for the Mat-Su Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, but $50,000 has been set aside for possibly relocating the monument.

Mayfield’s amendment led to discussion over whether the original condition for sale was binding, or if it constituted grounds for liability, and brief confusion over who was in charge of the monument.

“My understanding, and the mayor just put it down, if that thing is moved off the property there, the sale’s canceled,” said assemblyman George McKee.

That isn’t true, said borough land management officer Nancy Cameron. The deal would continue, but relocation would result in an ordinance violation, Cameron said. The restriction placed on Idaho-based Spring Creek Capital LLC, and owner Doug Clegg are unusual, and have tied the hands of anything other than incorporating the monument into construction, Cameron said.

Assemblyman Steve Colligan said he felt the veterans groups needed to hold formal talks on the future of the monument, and concerns about the future site were foreseeable.

“I’d be remiss tonight if I didn’t take the opportunity to applaud all of you for the napkin legislation the night this passed, knowing this would be an issue,” he said.

Colligan said $50,000 wasn’t enough to cover the cost of relocation. He tried to raise the amount to $100,000, but the motion failed.

Colligan also said the Areawide Service Council was the wrong group to approach.

“It’s like negotiating with the janitors when talking about the Mat-Su Borough School District budget,” he said. “They’re not the veterans groups.”

Clegg has repeatedly said he intends to keep the monument at the location.

In other business:

• The assembly unanimously postponed action on other issues, ranging from a controversial Trapper Creek Gravel pit — which drew about 20 residents to testify — to he borough’s 84-page, five-year perennial Capital Improvement Program, a wish list of equipment and construction projects.

• The assembly voted 7-0 with little discussion to buy a self-contained breathing apparatus trailer for $140,000 and acknowledged several residents who aided in reconstruction from this summer’s Sockeye Fire.

• The assembly voted 7-0 to approve a resolution to call for the Alaska DOT to perform adequate maintenance on local roads.

Contact reporter Brian O’Connor at 352-2270, brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com, or on Twitter @reporterbriano.