Palmer water tower, state fair liquor license among topics discussed at Palmer City Council Meeting

PALMER — The Palmer City Council detailed its priorities list for the legislature in the Jan. 22 meeting, which included a potential purchase of the iconic Palmer water tower and the land it sits on. The council also discussed the arrival of a new hire for the part time administrative assistant position, among other regularly scheduled business during its meeting at Palmer City Hall.

City Manager Nathan Wallace presented the capital projects priorities for projects seeking funding by the city. Listed sixth on the priorities is the ‘Historic Palmer Water Tower Purchase.’ The value of the land and tower itself is listed at $100,000. Currently, the water tower is owned by an Anchorage man, and Wallace said it has been listed on the city’s priorities since he took office four years ago. According to Wallace, Palmer has not received funding of this type since 2009. The price of the water tower was increased in the priorities from $70,000 to $100,000, and Councilman David Fuller had questions over the assessed value of the water tower. Wallace felt that $100,000 was appropriate due to possible costs of painting and maintenance.

“It’s not on it’s own parcel so that would be part of the purchase. I guess we could just purchase the structure but then we would likely have to move it so this estimate was estimated to buy the property,” Wallace said.

Fuller wanted a more accurate assessment for the price. Wallace said that these were not, “hard numbers.”

“Not that there’s going to be much of an issue probably this year anyway, but I think you’re muddying it up a little bit if you put in operations and maintenance,” Mayor Edna DeVries said.

The water tower is listed behind three “shovel ready” projects. Improvements to the Waste Water Treatment Plant, the Bogard Road Booster Station, and Gravel Road paving were all listed as the city’s top priorities to send to state and federal representatives in search of funding. Cobb Street improvements and the Public Safety Building improvements were also listed ahead of the water tower. The vote on the capital project priorities passed unanimously.

DeVries passed a letter to the council during her report in support of the Alaska State Fair’s liquor license from the Alcohol and Marijuana Control Board. DeVries described the non-renewal of the liquor license as a “hostage situation.” Senate Bill 16, introduced by Sen. Peter Micciche (R-Kenai) the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee, would create a new liquor license for the state fair. The bill would also create specific licenses for performing arts theaters and concert permits. To receive a state fair liquor license, the entity would have to exist for 10 years as a nonprofit.

“In this section, ‘regional fair’ means an annual gathering of residents of all or a portion of the state that offers competitive exhibitions of livestock and agricultural crops, carnival amusement rides and games, displays of arts and crafts, or outdoor entertainment,” according to the bill.

The cost of a state fair liquor license is $800. Fuller asked that the letter not only be shared with officials at the Alcohol and Marijuana Control Board, but legislators and the governor. ASF General Manager Jerome Hertel thanked the council for their support.

DeVries asked if the city could delay penalty charges on water, sewer, and garbage bills for furloughed workers. Acting City Attorney Cindi Cartledge chimed in to tell DeVries that it would likely violate city code to not charge penalty in interest if they fall behind in water, sewer, and garbage bills. Cartledge contacted City Attorney Michael Gatti to discuss the code.

“We looked quickly at the code. There is specific permission with regards to sales tax but the same is not true with regards to utility fees,” Cartledge said.

Cartledge recommended that the council place an item on the agenda for the next meeting to discuss delaying payments from furloughed workers. Wallace pointed to a different area of code he felt was applicable.

“We want to assist our citizens in whatever way we can, but we also want to do it fairly and lawfully,” DeVries said.

The council unanimously passed Action Memorandum 19-010 nominating Howard Bess,

Richard Best, Janet Kincaid and Mari Jo Parks for the Golden Heart Lifetime Achievement Award. The city clerk will have a new part time administrative assistant starting Jan. 29 to help ease some of the workload on the clerk. The council approved Ordinance 19-002 relating to short term rentals unanimously. The ordinance was a fix to a clerical error in the original amendment, but Fuller asked to reconsider the ordinance at the next meeting to discuss Air BnB’s in R1 zones under a conditional use permit. Fuller and Councilwoman Sabrena Combs both stated that they wanted to get another “schwack” at it.

Wallace did not present a written report, but discussed the possible acquisition of new equipment for clearing snow on the sidewalks. Sidewalks have not always been cleared by the city. This year’s winter conditions have especially provided a difficulty for the city’s four employees who clear the sidewalks. Previously, equipment for clearing sidewalks has been priced at around $100,000, according to Wallace. Wallace informed the council that the Ventrac equipment was only priced at $27,000. The Ventrac would come with four attachments, a broom, a brine, a snowblower, and a drop spreader for rock salt. Wallace said that he feels the city is doing a great job of clearing the sidewalks, given the amount of staff and resources. Palmer only has $15,000 budgeted for equipment.

“It’s an evolution of how we do business in Palmer. We do a pretty good job of keeping the streets trafficable,” Wallace said.

Contact Frontiersman reporter Tim Rockey at tim.rockey@frontiersman.com.