New public safety building gets a name

MAT-SU -- Despite agreement that Pat Carter warranted recognition for his contributions that helped bring the Valley fire department to reality, the new Mat-Su Borough public safety building in Wasilla will not bear his name.

Carter, according to information submitted by the naming committee, was a World War II veteran and an organizer and director of a Civil Defense Team that provided fire service to people in the Wasilla area.

This decision was agreed upon by assembly members at their Tuesday meeting after several firefighters from the area testified that, although they respected Carter's contributions, they felt, since the facility was run by volunteers, no one person should receive recognition that may discount another's future bravery.

"Even though I'm fairly new, I know that the fire department was made up of a whole collection of people," one fire department volunteer told the assembly.

"It stands for all of us," said another.

Testifiers said they would prefer that a plaque honoring Carter's contributions be placed on the wall, similar to plaques honoring other volunteers such as Colleen Karnofsky, who servd as a member of the Wasilla-Lakes Board of Supervisors for nearly 20 years.

Several assembly members spoke of their reluctance to set aside a decision that was reached in good faith by the Public Safety Site Naming Committee, a five-member board appointed by the mayor and charged with coming up with an appropriate name.

Assembly member Talis Colberg explained that he was on a naming committee at one time and, after holding meetings and public hearings at which no one showed up, the committee picked what they felt was a suitable name. The name was forwarded to the assembly at the time, and the committee received complaints for the choice they made. The ultimate decision, he said, was that the building -- a school -- was not named as the committee suggested.

"I've been through this … you can't start up a committee, give them a job and then just say 'Nevermind,'" Colberg said.

Assembly member Sara Jansen said she had intended to support the committee after reading their recommendation, but she felt the building should also reflect the wishes of the volunteers who serve there.

"I came into the meeting thinking, 'Of course I would support the hardworking committee's work,'" Jansen said. "But I am wondering if buildings that are operated by volunteers are maybe different than [those that are not]."

Assembly member Jody Simpson proposed to remand the decision back to the naming committee, but found that borough code states that, once a naming committee forwards its recommendation to the assembly, its task is finished and it disbands. In lieu of that option, Simpson amended the motion by changing the building to "Central Mat-Su Public

Safety Building."

Jansen said while she thought the process was flawed, she felt it was still important to respect the decision made by the appointed committee.

"I appreciate the amendment, but I think if you have a [flawed] procedure, the thing to do is change the procedure, not to do it in reverse," Jansen said.

Assembly member Kelly Lankford Ladere argued that the assembly was tasked with making a balanced decision that took the public's opinion into account, not simply forwarding a suggestion.

The motion to name the building the more general "Central Mat-Su" passed with assembly members Colberg and Jansen opposed. Jansen requested that revisions be made to the borough code as it pertains to naming commitees so situations such as this can be avoided in the future.

Assembly member Dan Kelly also requested that a plaque be placed at the building in Carter's honor, a suggestion that all assembly members supported.