Palmer passes trash ordinance

PALMER — The Palmer City Council dealt with two ongoing issues at their meeting on June 22. Introduced and passed at the first council meeting in June, the council approved a $30,000 passthrough grant from the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services to be directed to the Palmer Chamber of Commerce for distribution of ‘bingles,’ a depression-era currency that has been revitalized to be used at Palmer businesses. Though the motion to accept the grant funds passed 4-3, City Manager John Moosey said that the program will not take place as initially described.

“That program has not started, had a meeting with the chamber today but based on the information we’ve gotten, we’re reexamining that. The intention was to do something positive to really kind of allow our businesses to be promoted and that’s really kind of key, so we will be doing that. We will not tie those directly to vaccinations but we’re looking at something that will be generally acceptable to the public and make it a positive thing as opposed to something we wish it would not be,” said Moosey.

At 6 p.m., on June 22, the council entered into executive session to discuss recruitment of a new city clerk. After five years serving the city, Norma Alley handed in a letter of resignation earlier this month. At Tuesday’s meeting, the council unanimously approved a motion to formally accept Alley’s resignation to allow the council to begin the process of searching for a new city clerk.

Also previously introduced this month, the council finally passed Ordinance 21-008 dealing with the garbage collection service area in Palmer.

“The recommended changes will bring the code in line with Mat-Su Borough landfill requirements and current City of Palmer standards and operations,” reads the ordinance.

Discussion between the Manager and City Attorney Michael Gatti halted the ordinance when it was originally introduced. On Tuesday, the council was presented language to clarify Chapter 8.2 of Palmer Municipal Code that was reviewed by the Solid Waste collector and Public Works Director for an update. The council was presented with an amendment to the ordinance, similar to what had been presented earlier this month.

“The language that was given to correct it met with a thud at the last meeting if you remember and so the attorney gave us specific information on this and so I have to read that in the 3 spots that it needs to go. ‘City garbage containers shall note be provided to city residents / businesses outside of the city garbage collection service area,’” read Moosey. “This should correct it I think based upon the advice of our attorney. This handles the deal, we’re cleaned up and we can dump our trash in peace.”

The council unanimously approved resolution 21-023 to amend the employee pay plan, which will be reflected in the mid-year budget amendment. The council also unanimously approved statements of non-objection for liquor licenses for Humdingers Gourmet Pizza Co. and Bleeding Heart Brewery.