Port bond will go on Oct. 7 ballot

MAT-SU -- Commenting on their happiness to be part of borough history, the Mat-Su Borough Assembly cast a unanimous final vote Thursday to put $10 million in general obligation bonds on the Oct. 7 borough election ballot.

"It's been a real pleasure to watch this project grow and develop and get to sit here at this table and forward it to the voters," said borough assemblywoman Jody Simpson, who's been working on the port project since her first term on the assembly began in 1999. "That this firm, NPI, is willing to meet our $10 million and match it with another million is unheard of."

The assembly held a special public hearing on the matter Thursday after the state attorney general's office requested the municipality allow voters to weigh the matter. Previously, the borough had planned to issue certificates of participation -- an arrangement through which investors are guaranteed a portion of the future profit made from leases at the port. No vote is required for such certificates. Because the $10 million is, through the passage of House Bill 528, scheduled to be repaid with appropriations from the Alaska Legislature, the attorney general's office weighed in.

When the assembly heard of the state's recommendation last week, it set up a second public hearing to change the ordinance in time to get on the October ballot. Thursday, about 10 people turned out to speak to the assembly about putting the port to a vote of the people. Those who spoke had a few questions for the assembly, but every speaker voiced at least some measure of support for the project. One attendee, former assembly member and frequent audience member Jay Nolfi, informed the assembly she had created a political action committee -- Port MacKenzie Now -- and said she was taking donations. Others came to share their vision of what they believe the port will bring to the Valley.

"I'm all in favor of this bond and this issue -- Port MacKenzie is a very important project for this borough," Walter Pippel told the assembly. "I see a new cargo airport being built at Port MacKenzie … and it will be a main supply hub for the Interior. The sooner it gets moving, the better. The Mat-Su Borough, in my opinion, will see many, many returns. I see Port MacKenzie being larger than the Port of Anchorage in 30 years because the Mat-Su Borough has more acreage … and better land, by far."

Borough Clerk Sandra Dillon told the assembly Thursday the programmers who translate what goes on the ballot into a form usable by the Accu-Vote machines used for voting across the borough were waiting on her word to finish the program in time for this year's election.

Although some assembly members asked if the port issue could be placed on a separate ballot, Dillon said it didn't appear that way.

"It looks like, from what the programmer says, we can't put it on a second ballot," Dillon said. "At this point, it'll be one ballot -- a large ballot."

With 10 people running for five seats on the assembly and six bond issues -- four school-related bonds, a parks and recreation bond and now the port construction bond -- Dillon said the ballot will be full on both sides.