Wasilla City Council approves training for police officers, funds for airport improvements

The Wasilla City Council approved training for three new Wasilla Police Officers and matching funds for a federal grant for airport gate improvements along with their regularly scheduled business at City Hall on Monday.

Mayor Bert Cottle began the meeting with a proclamation declaring October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

“There is no excuse for domestic violence,” said Cottle.

The council unanimously approved two upgrades during public hearing. Ordinance 19-25 appropriated $33,205 for training at the Department of Public Safety Academy in Sitka for three new Wasilla Police Department officers. The council additionally approved Ordinance 19-26 unanimously. For 19-26, the council appropriated $24,150 to transfer to the airport fund for a local match requirement on a federal grant which covered the other 94 percent of the grant. The upgrades will allow for fiber optic communications to that gate, which will be the primary access point for the new Apron E at the Wasilla Airport. The new airport expansion will allow for 27 new tie down spaces, giving aviators who had previously been in the old tie down areas first choice at the new spaces. Cottle said that though the new spaces will significantly decrease the amount of aviators still on a waiting list for tie down spaces, there are still plane owners looking to find permanent storage at the Wasilla Airport.

“It’s a federal deal so we match what, six percent? We can’t get any cheaper money than six percent on this,” said Cottle.

Jim Palin addressed the council on budgetary issues at the Museum of Alaska Transportation and Industry. Palin had sent a letter to the mayor and council asking for assistance in funding from the city and was disappointed that he had not heard a response. Palin presented details of the success at MATI, totaling over $50,000 in gross income over the last two years, and more than 300 members from all over the world. Palin stated that MATI runs on 80 volunteers donating over 5,000 hours of their time, receiving 6,971 visitors in 2018. MATI hosts evens and is involved with organizations in the community, including school groups. Graham detailed to Palin why council members could not respond, as to remain in compliance with the open meetings act.

“Right now there is no for lack of a better term extra money for a project like this,” said Cottle.

Cottle encouraged the council to bring the matter up as they enter their budget deliberations next month. Council members asked Palin for a marketing plan on how MATI will proceed into the future.

“When you look at what the city’s spending for their own museum and visitors center, it’s just out of whack in my opinion,” said Palin.

The council took no action on MATI, but passed the consent agenda unanimously with $2,000 for the Veterans Memorial Wall of Honor, and a contract award for a new vacuum street sweeper. Wasilla will hold elections on Oct. 1 where Nikki Velock and James Harvey are both running unopposed. The Council will meet again on Oct. 14 with the new council members. Wasilla will host the canceled July 4 fireworks show on Oct. 18 at 9 p.m. at Iditapark.