RSA membership ordinance for the Assembly postponed until April 1

During the March 18 meeting of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough (MSB) Assembly, a proposed ordinance to amend the number of supervisors on the Road Service Area (RSA) Boards in District 7, including Meadow Lakes, Greater Talkeetna, Trapper Creek, Caswell Lakes, Greater Willow, and Gold Trail from 3 to 5 members was put before the Assembly members.

The RSAs all in the proposed ordinance are all in District 7, though there is some overlap as the Meadow Lakes RSA extends into Districts 4 and 5, while the Gold Trail RSA extends into District 6.

Most service areas in the MSB have an RSA the serves to advise the Manager and Assembly as to the operations of the service area and are focused the particular services for the area in which the service area exists. In accordance with MSB 5.15.010, there is provided a default rule that boards of supervisors consist of three members unless otherwise provided by ordinance.

According the Information Memorandum that accompanied the ordinance, the need for an increase to the membership is in part due to a high level of public interest and attention to the delivery of road services in these areas. The IM also points to an expanding population for the Borough and abundant land in District 7, which are poised for future growth and development. “Expanding the membership on the boards allows for more involvement in the road service area activities and also helps bring more people to the table to be involved with and vote on the wide variety of issues the board must discuss.”

More people can provide input for issues like improvement lists, maintenance plans, and tax rates.

The memorandum also cited the Open Meetings Act and that with only three members on an RSA advisory board, no two members can talk about roads or road services outside of an advertised meeting, or risk violating the OMA.

“If the RSA or the residents wanted five members, they can ask for it, and they have yet to have done so,” said DJ McBride, who serves as Chair of RSA 15, Caswell Lakes said this was her third time making the long trek from Caswell Lakes to speak against the proposed ordinance. McBride also said that her RSA and the Susitna community council have sent letters and resolutions stating their objections to the ordinance.

She pointed to the current 5-member RSAs and their apparent dysfunction, specifically a resolution that was introduced to remove all of the members of RSA 21 in Big Lake because it is “dysfunctional and at odds with each other, internally combative, and provides average to poor service.” McBride went on to say that there is also a resolution being introduced that would reduce the RSA 17, Knik, from five members to three members due to a lack of participation.

“That means that all 5-member boards have failed 100% of the time…This will only make things worse. This will not make things better.”

Ned Sparks from Caswell Lakes asked the Assembly to not consider the ordinance, citing lack of public input and the potential lack of availability to gather more members to the existing 3-member RSA.

“We are being tasked with a 5-member board without anybody inquiring from anyone that lives in that area.” He told the assembly that in his area, there is a Fire Service Area, a 3-man board that has been absent a member for quite some time. “How are we going to come up with three more members to man a board? Community participation is at an all-time low. My council has struggled to get a quorum half of the meetings a year. It’s a battle.”

Sparks also held MSB Assembly member Ron Bernier, who sponsored the ordinance to task, saying he has yet to engage with anyone in the Caswell Lakes area.

“I’m really, really disappointed in our representation, and the fact that this was presented without any input from the community. I urge you to keep things at a three-man board to function. They won’t function if they go to a five-man boards. There will never be a quorum.”

The ordinance was postponed until the next MSB Assembly meeting, when Bernier could be in attendance in person.

The next regularly scheduled MSB Borough meeting is slated for April 1, at 6 p.m. at MSB Chambers in Palmer.