Wasilla council accepts DHSS grant for vaccination

WASILLA — The Wasila City Council approved acceptance of a $413.017.11 grant from the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services to continue promoting COVID-19 vaccinations. Resolution 21-14 passed with the consent agenda at the Wasilla council meeting on Monday to allow for the Mat-Su Health Foundation to partner with the city.

“DHSS is providing an opportunity for the city of Wasilla to transfer the funds and full grant responsibility to the MSHF for deployment of the CDC community-driven COVID-19 outreach program to include further testing, vaccinations, and community enhancements to the public health infrastructure in Wasilla to end the pandemic and prevent future lockdowns that hurt our businesses and residents,” reads the ordinance.

Each meeting since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic has contained an agenda item under new business for an update from the administration on relief efforts.

“There is nothing new on the covid-19. We have not taken any actions, any new actions,” said Mayor Glenda Ledford.

Councilman Tim Burney questioned what the end determination would be for COVID-19 prevention in Wasilla.

“I’d like to get kind of a clarification if I may on kind of where the state is at, what the administration has in mind, how we’re moving forward. Where’s the touchdown, goalposts,” said Burney. “Is it safe to say that we need to keep this emergency response effort in place to receive further funding if it comes up.”

Ledford confirmed to Burney that the update was needed to continue to receive Federal funding for COVID-19 relief.

Burney moved to discuss Action Memorandum 21-26, a $129,200 contract to Big Dipper Construction for the townsite parking lot improvements to new business.

“I’d like some discussion on what our RFP process is, if we’re getting proposals or are we just going to keep seeing Big Dipper over and over,” asked Burney.

The vote on AM 21-26 passed unanimously after discussion. Public Works director Archie Giddings detailed the bid process to Burney.

“He sharpens his pencil really well. We advertise in the daily news, we put it on the website. It goes out to all the members that are interested,” said Giddings.

Councilman Jordan Rausa noted the three year contract to First National Bank of Alaska under AM 21-27 as his preference for a bid request process.

“Our pub improvement projects our civil projects, I would personally like so see us move away from a low bid award to more of a comprehensive scoring system like what we saw for the banking services today where we’re seeing approach and methodology, experience and qualifications analyzed and weighed in along with the cost,” said Rausa. “My preference would certainly be a bit of a broader view on the subject so that we’re not always choosing low bid.”

Following the meeting, the council held the annual review of city Clerk Jamie Newman in executive session. Upon returning from executive session, the council voted to issue a step increase in Newman’s pay.

“Madam Mayor, I think we have a gem of a city clerk and the clerk’s office as a whole and I think the city of Wasilla is better for it,” said Burney. “I think the residents are better off for it and as I said when I opened my comments, I don’t think there’s anybody more deserving of a step increase than our current city clerk.”

Under the consent agenda, the council also passed Resolution 21-15 to renew a contract with Matanuska Telephone Association for a three-year lease on the turf at the Menard Center. The three-year agreement is for $62,500 annually or $187,500 over the three years.