An already stuffy hot
night at the assembly meeting got a bit more steamy when the top almost came
off one tea pot that has just become used to getting his way.
So pull up a chair
while we report on what you missed or try to unwind what you might have heard
that left your ears bleeding. In this
tardy summer heat you might want to consider a nice ice tea (of the long island
sort) to dull the pain while you read this rather long report on this ongoing
Monty Python play they call governing the borough.
CITIES SERVE UP REPORTS
•
The City of Palmer
announced it has tweaked its sales tax to make it more "business
friendly', eliminated some dated language from the city charter and accepted a
voters initiative to place a question to the voters on the city October ballot
to determine if Palmer will become the first Smoke Free Community in the valley.
•
The City of Wasilla
handed out praise for the meeting of stakeholders to explore a regional
emergency dispatch center that Assemblyman Colligan managed to lasso a big
chunk of taxpayer money to study. The
city also patted their own back for hosting a successful annual 4th of
July parade. No mention though of the so
far failed proposal being kicked around for a increase in sales tax for COW some
of what was to be directed to the new on hold library.
•
The City of Houston
handed out thanks for the grant funding the borough provided for the Zero Lake
parking lot and had a shout out for support of the Moose Federation.
The Ceremonial Borough Mayor
served up his own thanks to Houston that hosted the last meeting of the borough
and city mayors. We should maybe wonder what
happened to the joint meetings between the City of Anchorage Assembly with our
own Borough Assembly of days past? Seems
like with all this angst about where to park a shiny new ferry on the other
side of the pond might invite some dialog huh?
WHAT WE HAVE IS A
FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE
The sparsely attended
Joint School Board-Assembly Committee Meeting that occurred earlier this week
focused mainly on that old reliable breakdown in communication issue. The districts concern was explained as a lack
of information from the borough regarding progress on the mega school bond
projects contained in the 5 year bond voters passed last fall. The borough is
the sole project manager and central piggy bank for the long laundry list of
projects and land acquisition. The
district described it as being left "on the side line of what's going on
the field". In addition to the bonds there is a page full of projects and
procurements that need to be completed with money in grants passed through the
borough via special legislative kisses (appropriations), and even though it has
been several months since the end of the session the district isn't getting
answers as to the status of those projects and supplies either. The questions
falling at the feet of the district from parents, teachers, boosters and
community members and are getting louder and with school just around the corner it
is only going to escalate. Everyone is
aware that there are projects across the district underway or on the plate
making the district anxious to get the problem solved. The district has gotten
up to speed in keeping the public informed on financial matters along with much
more community outreach helped by a new website design
and online registration is in full swing.
With several new programs, cyber learning opportunities etc. (as well as
the launch of a new Alaska Middle College School) it is difficult for the
district to continue that standard without cooperation from the borough. There was no real finger pointing at any one
person but the district was serious about finding a remedy and fast.
For those of you not
keeping track Assemblyman Colver termed out after six years on the assembly,
bounced over to the school board for a term then boomeranged back to the
assembly where he is now seeking yet another term and if elected and will
likely serve until termed out once again. You would think after spending that
many years on both bodies Mr. Colver, who didn't vote for the bonds by the way,
would have had enough practice to get this communication problem ferreted
out. Unless of course, perhaps Mr. Colver
is the problem? He did suggest a webpage
be built to document the progress and current expectations for completion of
the projects with some pictures of the progress being made. The district offered to build and host the webpage
staffed by some talented student tech interns as soon as the info is
received. So put that in your hope for
the best and "wait and see file".
NEW LONG TERM
RESIDENTIAL FACILITY YOU DONT WANT A ROOM IN OPENS
Manager Moosey
delivered what most would consider good news (unless it was about you) that the
first "guests" (ie: inmates) have been arriving at the brand new and
much discussed Goose Creek Prison with many more on the way.
It was a pretty rocky road getting that prison built and located in what
some would argue is too far away from everything. But with that water under the bridge (and a
fancy small water treatment plant) the top priority is filling it with inmates
and prison personnel. If it is the huge economic engine some have promised or
the social drain and new problem child for the borough is yet to be seen, but
be assured the doors are clanging shut and the "open for business"
sign is being lit up.
MORE FAIRY DUST FOR THE
PESKY FERRY
Some things are just as
hard to explain as Mitt Romney's missing tax returns.
But since we are out in
the port neighborhood talking about the prison why not jump into the topic de
jour of the meeting- our big new fancy ferry that is sitting at a dock in
Southeast ringing up the bills now that the feds have officially signed the
birth certificate for the boroughs new bouncing baby. Meanwhile the hand wringing continues about
"what to do, what to do" at every meeting of the assembly.
Suffering from an
apparent memory lapse on just what they instructed the manager to do last time
they were flailing their arms screaming about the accruing costs to taxpayers
of the ferry, the wild west legislating cowboys took it up again with two
resolutions on the agenda. One quickly
passed authorizing another $66,970.63 out of the budget for one month of
financial responsibility for the ferry.
The second one brought forth by Assemblyman Salmon authorizing the
manager to list the vessel on the federal register and with a ship broker disappeared
in vapors. Apparently the arthritis has
set in from the ongoing finger pointing that some members of the assembly have
been enthusiastically participating in and who have now turned their efforts to
giving the manager a case of whiplash.
Poor Manager
Moosey. This mega problem was dumped in
his lap practically before he got his coat off the first day of work at the
borough a year ago. He has been slowly treated like the lamb being led to the
slaughter for it. Each meeting he has to
sort out the rants and raves and go down a different path directed by the
noisiest of assembly members, which normally is Mr. Arvin speaking from his
perch in China or Mr. Colligan red faced and invoking his favorite
"hairball" and "hideous" quips.
Up to this point the
howling direction to stop the money hemmorhage has been pointing to work
something out with the Fed's. However, the borough will owe a bundle of money
if they sell it or use it for other than the intended purpose of operating a
ferry
A few meetings ago the
noise from the voice in China, Mr Arvin started strongly questioning if the M/V
Susitna should be sailed up here (a $125,000 proposition) and be beached at the
port. This idea was highly discouraged
by feedback from the ship builder and the handsomely paid ferry consultant,
maybe having seen what shape things end up in storage yards. Undaunted and supported by a recent
resolution from the Port Commission and testimony of one member Dave Cruz of
Cruz Construction (rumored now to be a CIRI company) Arvin insisted a study be
done toute suite. You know, a search for another answer that is more suited to
the solution perhaps he now wants. Putting the manager on the spot for a cost
and timeline of a vaguely described report from an unknown provider was
hesitantly estimated at $20,000-$60,000 and possibly 6 weeks in getting, but
that the manager wanted the assembly to know doing that was their
decision.
Working off their
previous instructions the manager may have struck an agreement with the
FTA (federal agency) to let the borough dump the ferry via the register and that the sale price
would likely pay off the boroughs obligation to the feds. After all isn't that
what the conservatives of the assembly wanted last meeting? Turns out not so much. The member speaking from China quickly gathered
support from the usual assembly members and convined them to put off trying to
sell it on the register until this new STUDY is done. The assembly can take it up at their September
21st meeting. A quick dance of the
calculator tells us that the costs of mining for the answer some powerful
members of the assembly and port commission want will at the least include
another nearly $68,000 portage, an estimated $125,000 to get it up here to keep
the empty port terminal company. Then there is the $20,000-$60,000 for a study not including the
cost of staff time to find and put through procurements to get the study
started and who knows what else. And all the while it stays off the federal
registry for a likely buyer. Genius
huh? If you just cannot get enough of
all things ferry we have covered it pretty well in earlier posts and you can be
sure it will be back next meeting in preparation and the only question is
whether Mr. Manager will come prepared wearing a neck brace for yet another
whiplash in direction from the assembly.
MESSING WITH YOUR VOTE
AGAIN...
No silent sufferer of
things not going his way, Assemblyman Colligan brought forth a resolution to
add an advisory question on the October ballot to move all borough elections to
the same date in November. The same month that state and national elections are
held would make for one big happy Election Day. Convinced that it would be just
the ticket to spark a much larger voter turnout and having the marching orders
of the local tea party tucked under his arm he brought it forth despite the
fact that it was voted down by the assembly earlier this year. Most elected
officials would have the good sense to let it go, but Colligan didn't.
Apparently his patriarchal world view wouldn't let him.
Introduced as a
resolution it gives little time for a public response that seemingly and
increasingly has become the strategy. But this time enough assembly members got
it. Knowing this did not come to the assembly by citizen initiative,
Assemblyman Salmon breaking with usual ranks was first out of the chute to
speak out in opposition. He reasoned
that that it was not the government’s job to wonder if the people should vote
on things or should they create an idea in their mind of what they should vote
on. Makes sense to us. Assemblyman Keogh
commented about the estimated $133,000 costs for equipment (since using the
state equipment would no longer be possible with side by side elections) that
could climb even higher by the need to find, hire and train more election
workers. Assemblyman Halter said he worried that local concerns would get mired
in the mix of state and national election noise. Assemblyman Colver added that
he thought ownership of our own election time serves ground roots democracy
better and had the same concerns as Halter about losing local focus.
Taking the undaunted
route Assemblyman Colligan quickly amended his own resolution to move the
borough election to occur the same day in April as Anchorage elections. That
started the questions flying about costs, employees and about
adjustments to terms of office. Mr. Colver, often the man wearing the punting
shoe successfully postponed action on this until the next meeting August 7th. More questions that will be seeking answers
and squeezing staff time. We are hoping Mr. Colligan's pending legislation to
move the election date to match neighboring Anchorage that there is no
intention of having their election officials keep track of borough ballots
since that doesn't seem to be Anchorage’s strong suit lately.
TRANSITING HATCHER PASS ALL ABOARD?
Nothing like a 25 plus
year in progress project making a move forward with found money to bring out
the supporting crowd. In this case it
was an element in the ongoing project in the Hatcher
Pass Nordic Ski area that so far with
$2,575,973 in federal money, $53,698 in state funds and $797, 745 in borough
funds has resulted in a 4,900 foot access road, parking lot and trailhead. A transit center and bus accommodations were
originally presented as an option not selected when the project ran short on
funds. Turns out the borough was alerted by those pesky fed's that building a
"transit center" or (8 foot unheated hut) wasn't optional but part of
the money that had already been accepted and spent as a grant. Assemblyman
Colver, (visualize donned in his cape) with a long history of successfully
asking for just "a little more money" for things like expanded
charter schools and building additions happily stepped from behind the
curtain. Colver who masterfully lined up
undeniable support (Olympic skiers, top rated coaches, tourist supporters and
even one mayor) presented his plan to move the money beans around to not only
fund the transit center (about $400,000) but include other things so the
facility can be used for public functions such as a warming and ski tuning area
for local, state and maybe national Nordic events, a community center for
council meetings for the Fishhook Community Council (which threw in $20,000
from revenue sharing), meetings and other social events and gatherings . The estimated total budget with some basic
design from borough public works set at $893,000.
There had been some
worries circulating about the additional funds and how they would affect
current trail work by non-profits particularly in the Big Lake and Willow areas
that although supportive have their own critical needs. Both Assemblymen Halter and Salmon were
assured that support via grant from the borough would not be affected. To ease some concerns by Halter and Keogh
about leaving the bed tax account nearly drained was promised to be partly rectified
by some more money beans moved and the project was approved by a 6-1 vote.
Assemblyman Woods the lone no vote still had concerns as to the cost of
managing the facility. Interesting since Palmer will likely benefit greatly by
the economic boost it provides.
Although the process
was messy which has become the norm for what we find Mr. Colver involved in,
and even though there have been some questionable decisions made in the past,
the lovers of Hatcher Pass seem to have this new scope right. This is just the type of economic engine that
can reward the borough's small business operators and take advantage of the
huge opportunity of drawing a very profitable base of folks to recreate in
Hatcher Pass leaving places like Kincaid Park in Anchorage in the rear view
mirror. Having said that we should not
let our eye get off the ball as this project and future development moves
forward. Empire builders with or without
a cape need to stick to what they say the plan is, who it is being built in
mind for and what the costs will be as it marches up the trail. Let's
hope that this development does not become the scotch tape and bailing wire, glorified
ATCO trailer and portable building project. We still have too many of those
sitting next to schools trying to educate kids in.
REFRESH YOUR DRINK AND
GRAB A SNACK THERE’S MORE…
And in order to prevent
heads exploding we will avoid what could be a lengthy explanation of what
happened when the assembly tackled accepting “for sale” properties from
property owners. For the most part located in the northwest part of the
borough. (about 60 less than the huge numbers the ceremonial mayor has at times
claimed the borough was making homeless) owners of the list haven't been paying
their property tax bill. Several came
through at zero hour to avoid foreclosure by satisfying the debt and getting current on what was owed. There
is much to debate on how to assist those that are struggling and even after
giving years of grace to some owners last year a number still didn't catch up.
So far this assembly has done what all others have done to fix a continued
problem which is cherry picking a few to give another year to catch up which
clearly in most cases is not the answer. We will leave it for now just saying
there was testimony that you can listen for yourself preserved on the podcast
at Radio Free Palmer of the testimony and how your leaders handled it.
The ice in your drink of
choice has probably melted by now and the chance of sun hopefully is calling us
to step away from the madness and refuse to give in to a temptation of a two part
post. We will resist wading in too far into the fun that was had with the
resolution Mr. Colligan brought forth casting disdain on the voter’s initiative
on the state ballot concerning Alaska Coastal Management. Suffice it to say he
sees conspiracies. Others saw possible APOC issues but were ruled out by the
attorney.
Since he is busy most
of the time using facilities in China, Mr Arvin brought forth a list of
increases you can expect on fees for use of borough facilities. What a guy. You can always seem to count on
his vote to lessen the burden on businesses real or perceived and increase the
burden on the people.
In a last bit of good
news, the folks in Big Lake will finally get to roll up their sleeves and
utilize the $250,000 in grant monies from the legislature to conduct a
community impact study. With the
railroad plans to roar through, proximity to the port, and a major truck route
still proposed to divide the community this step might answer some questions on
how the people that live there will plan and prepare for the challenges. Likely sooner than later the highly organized
involvement by some residents to become
the fourth city in the borough
will once again go to the local voters.
As you might expect there is no shortage of opinions of how that should
go.
WHAT’S UP IN THE NOT SO
HOT MONTH OF AUGUST?
More fun can be had as
we head into the next assembly meeting August 7th with others on the schedule
for August 9th and 10th just in case the tea pot boils over, and some extra
time is needed to decide what to serve up on the ballot coming to you in the
October election. Speaking of elections there is one more week to pick up, fill
out and return packets to file for office for 3 seats on the assembly, 2 on the
school board and that of the ceremonial mayor for which you don’t have to grow
carrots to file. In addition there are vacancies coming up for the same
election on the Wasilla
and Palmer
City Councils. We only report it like we see it but we all have to live
with the consequences of our political choices or inactions.
At least keep yourself
and your neighbor informed by tuning into Radio
Free Palmer which has some snazzy
new programming you can find all about on the site. Your citizen lobbyist finding the need to
have an extra day to let things soak in has now made the move to the live radio
showtime (by radio dial or streaming) on Thursday mornings in the 8a-9a spot
with a recorded replay of the show at the drive time later the same day between
5-6pm. Financial support by underwriting
of the segment and huge and vocal encouragement keeps us all going doing our
best to make a community that thinks public involvement is the grease that
really keeps the wheel turning.
Do your part pay attention and pass this on to someone that might not be that should.
No comments:
Post a Comment