Wasilla considers $17.2-million capital budget

June 21, 2005

DARRELL L. BREESE/Frontiersman reporter

WASILLA - Better streets, improved utilities, state-of-the-art public safety, parks and trail enhancements could be in the works for Wasilla if the city council approves the fiscal 2006 capital improvement plan budget.

Council members will vote at the June 27 council meeting on accepting the budget, which includes about $17.2 million in projects.

Wasilla's budget is handled in two parts - the operating budget and the capital budget. The council passed the operating budget in May, and released its capital budget for review last week.

At the end of the fiscal year, city finance director Ted Leonard predicts there will be approximately $400,000 remaining in reserve.

"As has been true in recent years for the city, the money that comes in (that) is greater than the money spent," Leonard said. "is placed into a reserve account. And It's unlikely officials will need to use any money from the reserves this year."

The largest single appropriation under the capital project fund is $2.55 million for phase 1 development of the Wasilla-to-Big Lake trail system, which includes $2 million for land purchase and $550,000 for design services. The total estimated project cost is $9 million, which will be spread out over the next four years. Other recreation projects account for $123,000 of the proposed budget.

Funding is also included to study future development in the city. About $195,000 is dedicated to a downtown enhancement study, development of area master plans, economic studies and a review of police staffing.

Expansion of the city's water and sewer utility is also set to receive a big bite of the budget.

Connection of Mission Hills subdivision to the main system, extension of water lines to Garden Terrace and completing Phase III of the Palmer/Wasilla highway water improvement are the three main projects for the utility.

A $40,000 economic study will examine the impact of major events such as the Iditarod and the Iron Dog. It will also identify ways to reestablish and improve the city's identity and brand as home of these truly Alaskan events.

Wasilla Police Department is also set to receive $986,643 for a mobile computer wireless network system, which will allow patrol officers access to the department's computer network, improving the level of service and communication. The police department will also receive money for three new patrol cars, a new radio tower and an indoor storage facility.

Improving the city's 60 miles of roads is a top priority, with $2 million committed to the continuance of the gravel-to-asphalt program for the paving of collector roads. The program will have paved 70 percent of the city's existing gravel roads upon completion.

Another $2 million is budgeted to perform preliminary engineering and begin the environmental impact analysis for an alternative highway corridor for Wasilla. Officials believe the Parks Highway corridor is not sufficient for the traffic flow through Wasilla and that an alternative route is needed to avoid future gridlock.

A $3.9-million expansion of the airport is also budgeted, but most of the funding comes from a $3.8-million federal grant and $100,000 in state funds.

Darrell Breese may be reached at 352-2267 or darrell.breese@frontiersman.com.