New Wasilla council members sworn in Monday

WASILLA — Four candidates had their chance tell the Wasilla city council why they were the best selection for two open seats at Monday evening’s regular council session. After discussing the group for 17 minutes in closed session, unanimous choices Mike Dryden and Glenda Ledford were sworn in by city clerk Jamie Newman.

The two, along with Chris Anderson and Lee Mitchell, addressed the council on why they sought the position. Each was asked the same four questions — two each submitted by councilmen Stuart Graham and James Harvey. The vacancies were created by resignations of David Wilson and Colleen Sullivan-Leonard. Both ran successful state campaigns, with Wilson moving up to a state Senate position and Sullivan-Leonard a House post.

The first question dealt with candidates’ public service and volunteer organization experience, any leadership roles associated with the topic and how their efforts resulted in a better community. Graham’s second question concerned the area’s expected future growth and the debate of increasing the city’s sales tax over the introduction of property tax to help pay for related services.

Harvey’s first question asked each candidate what they felt were the most important issues the city and its residents faced. His second focused on candidates’ perceptions of current city spending and any perceived need to change the process. The new appointees will fill the posts through at least October when the seats will be up for grabs via the regular election process.

A second closed-session topic, a purchase offer on the Meta-Rose Square, was removed from the agenda prior to the meeting’s start. Mayor Bert Cottle said the offer had been withdrawn. The complex and surrounding property has been on the market for some time.

Council seat appointment took up a majority of the session, which included a light agenda. One item on the consent agenda dealt with the city’s bid at taking over all public safety dispatch responsibilities with the exception of the Palmer Police Department. The borough recently approved Wasilla’s approximate $8.6 million, five-year bid. Placing the topic on the consent agenda allows the body to move it to a public hearing and an action item at its Jan. 23 regular meeting. Approval is expected and Cottle is on record stating the city had a planned Aug. 1 start date.

The meeting began with Friends of the Wasilla Public Library President Jeanne Troshynski presenting Cottle a $25,000 check. The amount was the final reimbursement due the city from the recently opened $15 million facility.

Troshynski said her group had to borrow approximately $4,000 from its own operating funds in order to fully match a $25,000 Rasmuson Foundation matching grant. She said the dollars were taken from the group’s popular summer reading program.

Cottle asked Troshynski to share information on how the public can make financial donations to the new library. Troshynski said PayPal is still an option and that her group continues sending out request letters.

“Its’ such a great bang for the buck,” she said about the summer reading program. She added there are no administrative costs involved and all received monies are fully earmarked for it.

Janice Downing, education specialist for Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska, addressed the council. She provided a brief overview of the agency and services provided. Downing also shared information on the current and projected numbers of those afflicted with the disease. Michael Pugere of Wasilla Area Seniors Inc. (WASI) provided the monthly update on various activities going on at the center.

Under public comment, self-styled government watchdog Eugene Haberman alleged Cottle did not allow him additional time to respond to the way the council appointed its two new members, citing that the move was a violation of state law. Further, for not permitting him to address his concerns, Haberman held Cottle in contempt. Cottle reminded Haberman that he had his allotted three minutes to voice his concerns.

The council approved resolution 17-01 which transfers $5,200 from the city’s general fund to its police department’s general investigations division. It also gave a thumbs-up on several action memorandums including confirming goals and initiatives for fiscal year 2018, approving a number of appointments and spending $36,613 on the design of a wastewater plant office building.