Ribbon cut on water project

PALMER — Dignitaries met Friday to cut the ribbon on a water project next door to Mat-Su College.

First, however, they had to explain why it is important. After all, this isn’t a new building or a fancy new road. Everyone seemed to agree that a 1 million-gallon tank isn’t the most flashy project going. Indeed, water infrastructure is something that’s usually largely invisible.

“It’s not going to be something people necessarily notice in the long run, but this is important for the college,” Mat-Su College Director Talis Colberg said.

The college has water service now, but also has big plans. It’s going to need more than it has, which is why the college agreed to hand over five acres to the city of Palmer.

“The university is not easily persuaded to part with property under any circumstances,” Colberg said.

But being able to expand is important, Colberg said, and future students will appreciate it even if they don’t know they’re appreciating it.

“As they sip at their futuristic cappuccino water products and swim in the college pool, they’ll probably have no idea,” he said.

For the city, the expansion is also a part of larger plans. The water tank, after all, isn’t just for the college.

“This expansion carries a vision of growth,” Palmer Mayor DeLena Johnson said.

Expanding water service west from the city will attract more commercial development, she said.

“The city of Palmer has a great water supply to meet the needs of the eastern side of the Valley,” she said.

Johnson totaled up the expansion project. To bring water to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center took $13.5 million.

To the college thus far was a $2.5 million project. A planned water tower at the college is likely to cost $7.5 million, and a private developer is chipping in $800,000 or so to bring water up to the Four Corners area of Trunk Road and the Palmer-Wasilla Highway. All told, that’s $25.5 million.

It makes the area more attractive, Johnson said, pointing for evidence to the arrangement with Mat-Su College.

“The university will be able to concentrate on the business of running a college and let the city work on the provision of public utilities,” Johnson said.

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