Palmer offers cheaper service, more growth

Hospital utility provision remains

a hot issue

By DANIEL SPOTH-Frontiersman reporter

PALMER -- Palmer could provide cheaper and more efficient water and sewer service to the new Mat-Su Valley Medical Center facility near the intersection of the Parks and Glenn, should the city succeed in securing the lucrative service rights for the hospital, according to an independent study.

"In terms of construction costs, we're pretty balanced," said Tom Healy, city manager for the city of Palmer, noting that the benefits provided by Palmer's plan would come into effect with time, once maintenance costs for the respective utility lines become an issue.

According to a study released by MWH America, operation and maintenance of the Palmer extension line would cost roughly half as much as the Wasilla line: $42,390 per year for Palmer, $80,472 per year for Wasilla. The savings, over time, may be an enticing prospect for the new construction project.

Construction on the Palmer line could also proceed more quickly and efficiently than on the Wasilla line owing to the fact that the land along the Glenn Highway where the Palmer line is slated to run has seen little development in recent years. Conducting construction operations in developed land creates countless inconveniences for residents in the area, and excavation must proceed carefully for fear of damaging existing private utility lines.

While Wasilla's claim to the utility deal is largely made by virtue of its advantageous location, Palmer boasts a larger system. Palmer's potential for additional utility provision is much greater than Wasilla's, according to the MWH study, and the city is currently receiving only half of the 750,000 gallons of sewage per day it is allowed to handle. Though both cities have sufficient water and sewer capacity to provide service to the property, Palmer's situation could mean a greater potential for growth in the area.

The Wasilla plan calls for construction along the Parks Highway, providing water and sewer service to numerous existing developments. However, according to Healy, numerous large facilities in the planned hospital area, such as Mat-Su College and the Trunk Road corridor, are under consideration for eventual inclusion in the hospital line. Palmer's greater capacity could mean more extensive service to these areas, which are currently handled primarily with wells and septic tanks.

Besides, placing a utility line in a developing area could attract more residents and businesses to the land along the Glenn. "I think that a water and sewer line would certainly make the area a more attractive place to live," Healy said. Since the Parks Highway has already seen extensive development, Healy believes that the addition of a Wasilla public sewer line alone is unlikely to attract new establishments to the area.

Healy believes that perhaps the greatest benefit offered by the city of Palmer, however, is a long history of positive customer relations on the part of the city.

"Palmer has a very good system," he said. "We've consistently invested in our customers over many years. As a result, rates are low, we're pleased about it, and it's a good story to tell."

Like Wasilla, Palmer stands to proceed with construction at minimal cost to the city, following an appropriations grant of $5 million to build the lines.

The decision on utility rights to the new facility is scheduled to be made in late March.