Planning commission seats filled

PALMER — The Mat-Su Borough mayor’s standoff with the assembly over planning commission nominations has ended.

Mayor Talis Colberg has said during each discussion over his nominations to the commission that he is hoping to create a planning commission wherein a variety of opinions are expressed. He said the community’s perception is of a body of like-minded individuals who tend to vote against development.

The planning commissioners, by and large, dispute that perception.

At any rate, Colberg had tried and failed, due to assembly opposition, to appoint a handful of nominees. Last week he finally succeeded when Gary Foster was appointed to the commission. Foster is a 13-year Valley resident who works as a contractor and runs Foster’s Fine Finishes LLC.

Colberg said Saturday since getting his pick, he would now put forward a name the assembly has expressed approval for — John Anderson. Anderson has lived in the borough 31 years and works as a homebuilder in the Willow area.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.