Voters give green light to water upgrades

PALMER — Local officials won’t have to rely on the wishing well to fund upgrades to the city’s water utility following Tuesday’s $2 million bond approval.

Overall, 66 percent of voters in Tuesday’s election said “yes” to city Proposition 3, which allows the city to pay for new additions to and upgrades of its water system. The bond debt will be paid through utility revenues and not with taxpayer money, the proposition says.

The nod from voters will go a long way to provide matching funds to state and federal grants, according to Bill Allen, Palmer’s new city manager.

The $2 million is an important step in the funding process, but grants and loans are expected to provide the main source of utility funding, Allen said. The amount of the grants and loans is undetermined. Funding obtained through these processes will be used for several projects, but most of the work is part of a larger picture.

“We have an extensive master plan for replacing the pipe that has been in the ground for years,” he said, adding that although the proposition passed just days ago, crews have already begun work.

Replacing up to 3,500 feet of steel water pipe in the 2007 construction season has been a goal for the city, as outlined in its 2006 annual Drinking Water Quality Report.

“Normally what we see is the pipe is just wearing out,” said Greg Wickham, public works superintendent.

This summer work has focused on Arctic Avenue between Academy Charter School and Alaska Street, which represents about 2,000 feet of water pipe, Wickham said. Most of the pipe being replaced has been in the ground since the 1960s. Even if a section isn’t leaking, crews are replacing old with new pipe expected to last even longer.

Leaking pipes create many problems, Allen said. Not only do leaks weaken the pipes by causing corrosion, but the leaks can also damage roads as excess water softens the road bed. A former Mat-Su Borough assemblyman, Allen has been in his position as Palmer city manager position less than a week. His predecessor, Tom Healy, gave Allen a useful briefing to bring him up to speed.

“Mr. Healy has done magnificent job developing a five-year plan,” Allen said.

As winter approaches, work crews are shifting to the design phase of the project, Allen said. Although preliminary design work is completed, the plans must be finalized to prepare for next spring.

Contact Chris Gillow at 352-2284 or chris.gillow@frontiersman.com.