Vote to retain Palmer mayor is approved but council member votes no on election certification

Palmer residents’ vote to retain city Mayor Steve Carrington was certified by the city council Tuesday, May 27, but there was one member of the council, Victoria Hudson, who didn’t accept results of the vote.

Hudson voted no on certifying the election, which was unanimous among the council except for her. Election certification is normally a formality but is is legally required.

Hudson, a first-term council member, did not explain her vote but she has been at odds with Carrington over procedures at council meetings. Her action may also reflect views on alleged election irregularities in the group of local conservative voters who pushed for the mayor’s recall.

Later in the meeting Jackie Goforth, a local conservative activist and a leader in the effort to recall the mayor, complained about the vote counting in the special election during the audience participation portion of the council meeting. Goforth didn’t call for the election to be thrown out but she suspected fraud, she said.

Hudson is also unhappy with the Palmer city clerk, Shelly Acteson, and said that Acteson has failed to put items on the agendas for council meetings that Hudson had asked for. This led to Hudson being the sole no vote on adopting an agenda for last Tuesday’s meeting because an item Hudson requested was not included. All other members voted yes, so the agenda was adopted but not until after discussion.

Hudson also made a request for a special performance review for Acteson. That has been delayed. However, the city attorney, Sarah Health, did prepare an analysis of the functions of city officials including the clerk which was discussed at length last Tuesday. No conclusions were reached.

In other matters, new city manager Kolby Zerkel told the council that the work will be underway to prepare for the building of a new public library, replacing one damaged by a roof collapse in February, 2023.

The city will issue a call for bids May 21 to demolish and remove the older, damaged, library with a deadline for proposals of June 11, Zerkel said.

Zerkel also reported that the city’s search for a new Human Resources Director is well along and that there are strong candidates for the position. Palmer is also recruiting for a new development director to replace Brad Hanson, who has retired, along with a new chief of police. Dwayne Shelton, the current chief, is retiring at the end of May.

In other, more routine actions, the council passed a resolution honoring “Gold Star” families and honoring veterans of recent military conflicts. It was Resolution 25-024.

Other resolutions authorized three loan agreements with the state Department of Environmental Conservation for $500,000 for the Headworks Rehabilitation Project at the city’s wastewater treatment facility for the first loan; a second loan of $500,000 for a new well and well house project also at the wastewater treatment facility, and a third loan of $750,000 for the Reservoir 1 Upgrade Project.

The resolutions are Resolution 25-021, Resolution 25-022 and Resolution 23-023.

Action Memorandum 25-048 authorized a utility water connection outside the city limits at 871 Blunk Street in Palmer. Action Memorandum 25-049 authorized a $49,465 amendment to a contract with HDL Engineering Consultants for an intersection and improvement project at the Fireweed Avenue and Colony Way juncture. Action Memorandum 25-050 authorized the city manager to conclude a contract with Affinity Security Services for a cybersecurity risk assessment for $33,975 with funds from a state and local cybersecurity grant program.