MEA should cooperate with the borough and university

Spectrum/Carol Kalehmainen

A Native friend of mine has often stated that use of the English language is very complex and difficult to explain. Take for example the word "right." It would seem to be such a simple word, but it is a word that can be used in a variety of ways to have very different meanings.

My 1989 Webster defines right as obeying the moral law and moral law as conduct standard among good men and independent of legal or moral prohibitions. In other words, to do the correct or right thing. A year later, my smaller dictionary included a definition of right that is power, privilege, etc., belonging to one by law, nature, etc. So now that we more fully understand the meanings behind the word we can discuss recent events within our community and two very different interpretations of "right" to get better insight into the conflict that has ensued.

Matanuska Electric Association has repeatedly said that it has the right to use a section-line easement to erect a massive power-transmission line through the heart of the Crevasse Moraine trail system. MEA applied to the borough for a permit to do so and the borough, rightfully, elected to allow the public to comment. And the public did. And the borough listened. And the university listened.

The members of the MEA cooperative also commented at several MEA meetings and during community council meetings to urge MEA to consider alternate routes that would spare the trail system and not devalue private properties.

MEA has chosen not to listen. In fact, MEA has said that the borough violated its own regulations by allowing the public opportunity to comment and not providing their permit on time. MEA also said that if it did not get its permit or an acceptable alternate, MEA would have bulldozers and chain saws at the trail system the next day and exercise its right to clear a 100-foot-wide easement through the landfill office and the trail system, using the section-line easement.

In fact, MEA did show up at the landfill gate in a flagrant show of rightful power and privilege. The courts will decide this right, but we as cooperative members have good reason to pay attention. For just because a right may exist, does the exercise of that right accomplish doing what is right?

I am a founding member of the Crevasse Moraine Trail Association. The CMTA grew from conflict. At contention was the right of equestrians to use the trail system. A couple of hundred horse owners showed up at the first meeting and verified that, in fact, the Crevasse system was very important to riders. A core users group formed to work together to enhance the trail system for all non-motorized users. The group consists of mountain bikers, runners, horseback riders, walkers, skiers and others.

Perhaps most importantly, the group is made up of people who are a reflection of our community - emergency managers, business owners, well drillers, teachers, program directors, military, retired people, and moms and dads and their children. People like you and me.

It would be very easy to characterize the CMTA as a bunch of tree-huggers or anti-development and dismiss our concerns. I hope you won't.

What is at stake is the irreparable damage of one of the last great trail spaces in the core area. It is an area so important that a very diverse group of users have come together to make it better for all under the banner "Shared use, Shared vision." All of us would like to see MEA work with the borough and the university to do what is right and morally correct.

I urge you to join us by making a difference in the outcome of this and future situations. MEA has made it clear that it does not care about public process and has taken cooperate out of cooperative. It is amazing to go to an MEA meeting and see the attitude of the people on the other side of the table. This time when your ballot comes to your mailbox, I urge you to take a minute and vote for those who will do what is right.

Carol Kalehmainen is a Valley resident.