Palmer candidates square off

PALMER -- Three candidates for Palmer city council appeared together at a chamber of commerce meeting to introduce themselves and discuss city issues. As might be expected, the theme underlying all of the questions and answers was growth. Incumbent council members Brad Hanson and Tony Pippel are joined by challenger Detlef Wanke in the race for two seats. Palmer council seats do not represent specific neighborhoods but represent city residents at-large. Voters will be asked to choose two out of the three candidates on the ballot next Tuesday.

Hanson said the current city council is addressing city issues in a more pro-active fashion than past councils. Hanson has been a council member for four years and described a "paradigm shift" at city hall.

"We've gone from a maintenance mode into an investment mode," Hanson said and pointed toward recently paved streets, replacement of aging steel water pipes, sewer lagoon and treatment plant improvements, downtown beautification, and the rebuilt railroad depot building as accomplishments of the last four years.

Pippel -- who has also sat on the council for four years -- said Palmer needs to continue its annexation plans and focus on extending services to the new neighborhoods.

"We have real values here, and they need to be protected," Pippel said. "The growth is here. Frankly, you need a strong city council to prevent us from turning into Wasilla."

Pippel claimed that recent sewer treatment improvements allow Palmer to triple its population and still provide sewer and water service. Pippel said Palmer is efficient at providing basic services.

"It's not for nothing that when it snows here, the streets get plowed in 24 hours," he said.

Wanke said he favored a "balanced" approach to commercial and business development. Wanke is a retired U.S. Postal Service letter carrier who has been serving on the city planning and zoning commission, a position appointed by the city council. Wanke called for better communication between the commission and the council and said he wants the city to promote commercial development at its airport. He also said the city should invest in property for a parking garage downtown.

"The downtown area is very vibrant, but I don't see it as a hub for new commercial activity. One of the reasons for that is that there's no parking available down there," Wanke said.

One chamber member asked about building inspections in Palmer and why the state fire marshal's office in Anchorage needs to approve new buildings in Palmer.

Hanson said the city could and should take responsibility for both fire inspections and building permits.

"What it comes down to, is, we have to have the expertise inside the city to cover the fire marshal's part of he process," Hanson said, and added that the city was working on a plan for that.

Pippel said the state is trying "to get out of all the business they can get out of," adding that Palmer once

offered fire inspections but stopped because of a lack of funds. Pippel also said he wanted to add fire inspections to the current city permit process.

"I would like to see it happen all in one place. But until we're ready to step up to the plate and pay for it, we won't be able to do it," Pippel said.

All three candidates said Palmer should continue with its annexation plans. Palmer has one phase of annexation currently before the State of Alaska Local Boundary Commission (LBC). The LBC is expected to hold hearings in Palmer on that annexation in December. The current city council passed the annexation petition to the state unanimously. The proposed annexation covers about 920 acres and consists of about 200 properties in 13 separate areas.

Wanke said Palmer should develop a "long range economic plan" to go with its comprehensive land use plan and annexation strategy. Wanke pointed out that much of the future economy lies outside Palmer's current city limits and even outside the current annexation.

"The next economic boom is going to be when the Trunk Road re-alignment comes along," Wanke said.