Palmer gives wish list to legislators

PALMER -- Palmer city officials are hoping local legislators can insert money for several city projects into the fiscal year 2005 budget when lawmakers convene for the upcoming session.

Among the priority jobs is extension of Dogwood Avenue and construction of an intersection at Mile 41 Glenn Highway. The state Department of Transportation and Public Facilities already is funding $1 million for signals, turn lanes and other intersection costs in the current budget.

Palmer City Manager Tom Healy the state estimates the overall project cost at $3.4 million, including right of way acquisition and extension of Dogwood west of the Glenn Highway. About one-third of that amount is pegged for land acquisition, he said, although the construction of the Fred Meyer store should decrease the amount of money that is needed.

"Fred Meyer has already donated a good portion of that right of way" where the company is building a store, he said.

The intersection was needed to lessen traffic congestion in downtown Palmer and around the post office even before Fred Meyer announced its construction plans. Work on the intersection probably will not start before 2005, Healy said.

"The intersection will provide an additional east/west cross street that will alleviate traffic congestion on Evergreen Avenue," according to a city document outlining the project.

The city also wants $300,000 in state funding for part of the costs of Phase 2 of the Palmer Ice Arena. Palmer voters approved a $1.5 million bond for Phase 1 but another $1.5 million is needed to pay part of the cost to build rest rooms and showers in the arena.

Palmer also is seeking $260,000 in state funding for the reconstruction of Felton Street between the Palmer-Wasilla Highway and Woodstock Drive. Felton is a collector road serving three subdivisions and a rock quarry, and is a major north-south traffic link in Palmer.

If the money is received, it would be used to widen and pave parts of Felton and improve its intersection at Palmer-Wasilla Highway.

Money for reconstruction of Dolphin and Caribou avenues between the Glenn Highway and North Alaska Street also is being sought by city officials.

About $350,000 is needed to reconstruct about 2,000 feet of gravel roadway to include curbs and gutters, storm drainage and pavement on the two access routes to the Glenn Highway from north Palmer neighborhoods.

Three capital projects for Palmer are in Gov. Murkowski's proposed fiscal 2005 budget, Healy said. One is Phase 3 of the Palmer water system improvements, which the state funded with $1,045,000 in the current budget. Palmer will provide 50 percent matching funds to replace 50-year-old steel water mains in the city's central water distribution system.

Also in the governor's proposed budget is money to help extend water to the Helen Drive and Palmer West Subdivision area where groundwater is inadequate. The state 2004 capital budget includes $500,000 for the purpose, with Palmer providing 50 percent matching funds.

The state 2004 capital budget also includes funding of $3.5 million -- including $2.275 million in federal money -- to convert a portion of the Palmer Pioneer Home for use as a state veterans' home.

The governor's proposed 2005 budget adds additional money to the project.