Palmer to put $10 million bond proposition on October ballot for library

Palmer is taking a $10 million bond issue to voters in city elections this fall. It would be a backstop for funds to reconstruct the local library damaged by a roof collapse last winter.

The hope is that the bond money will not be needed and that insurance on the building, originally built or $18 million, along with a $5 million state capital appropriation secured by state Rep. DeLena Johnson will over the cost.

But if it doesn’t, and if voters approve the bond proposition in the Oct. 3 election the money would be available if costs are highe, or the city decides to build a bigger library.

“We’ll work hard not to have to use this,” city manager John Moosey told the city council.

The insurance settlement will be negotiated after architect John Wolfe completes an assessment of the rebuilding cost. The state money will be added to that and with the bond proceeds available if more money is needed.

A similar situation developed when Palmer financed its wastewater treatment plant upgrade. An $8 million bond package was approved by voters as a backstop but state and federal grant funds covered the bulk of the costs.

Approval of the bonds was not unanimous, however. Council member John Alcantra said he felt $10 million is too high, and that a lower figure would be more appropriate. “I think it would hurt us in raising other money if there’s a perception that we don’t need all of the $10 million,” he said.

Council member Joshua Tudor disagreed. He worried that lower amount could cause the city be caught short if costs are higher than expected.

Mayor Steve Carrington said he looked at the bond proposal, if it passes, as a kind of pre-approval for funds to be available if needed.

Alcantra made a motion to lower the amount of the bond proposal to $8 million, but it failed to pass. The council then went to approve the bond proposal to appear on the October ballot with only Alcantra voting no.

In other actions the council gave the city manager authority to negotiate a five-year agreement with the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District to put a student resource officer at Colony High School and Colony Middle School. The school district will pick up 75 percent to the cost with the city covering 25 percent.

The arrangement already exists for schools within the Palmer city limits, and the school district had asked for the service to be extended to the other two schools.

In a separate action the council approved the city accepting a state grant to expand enforcement of Driving Under the Influence laws. This will be particularly helpful at state fair time, police chief Dwayne Shelton told the council.

The council also gave the city manager authority to negotiate a new lease at Palmer’s airport with Blue River Aviation to maintain a flight school along with aviation operations.