By Roger Baty
Turnagain Times
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Rodger Baty/Turnagain Times The December GBOS meeting was attended by state and city representatives. The Agenda included road maintenance, future development and the presentation of community grants. |
The Dec. 17 Girdwood Board of Supervisors meeting featured a full agenda. GBOS members welcomed Brian Epley to Seat C, and Tim Cabana as the new Chairman. Girdwood’s representatives from Juneau, State Senator Con Bunde and Anchorage Assembly Members Chris Birch and Jennifer Johnston were on hand to update the board on state and city matters.
Senator Bunde presented his legislative report, weighing in heavily on Alaska’s potential financial shortfall with the respect to oil revenues declining.
“My big concern continues to be the coming deficit,” Bunde said. “It will happen.”
Bunde believes it’s important that the state implement some sort of savings that it can draw upon during times of need.
“One. Be saving,” Bunde said. “Two. Have it somewhere accessible for the deficit that’s coming.”
Bunde also spoke briefly on the future of the TransCanada gasline, a project that could cost over $30 billion. His comments were focused on who will actually build the pipeline, but said there is still uncertainty, but he did see TransCanada as a frontrunner, but he said the company couldn’t do it alone.
Birch and Johnston, Girdwood’s Assembly Representatives, presented a report on current agenda items.
Several issues arose, including the approved of the $440 million municipal budget. They also addressed the inability of Girdwood to do anything at this point about the protest over the road maintenance contract.
“It’s not your problem, the precedent that has been set here,” said Johnston. “We have to let it go the course.”
Regarding local issues, GBOS member Jake Thompson addressed the Assembly members about the necessity to develop Girdwood’s industrial site.
“You can’t develop as a town without a site like this,” Thompson said. “We have an area dedicated for that.”
John Gallup of the GBOS explained the municipalities past position on the site was that “development costs are in the way.”
Birch and Johnston explained that if contractors and businesses expressed interest in purchasing lots at the industrial site, and then would move things along in giving Girdwood the industrial site it wants.
Johnston went on to remind the board that the Girdwood School renovation is being considered as part of a bond package.
Customer Service Supervisor of Solid Waste Services in the municipality, Mia Nistler, sent a memo to board member Tim Cabana, who cited the memo as stating in part that solid waste services is looking for ways to save money. Several cost cutting options are being considered, including reducing hours of operation and types of waste they will accept at the city transfer site, close the 54th entrance, eliminate spring cleanup and free passes, or close the Girdwood Transfer site. These options may be used in total, part, or not at all the memo stated.
Cabana expressed his ire and disbelief over the mention of closing the Girdwood Transfer Station, saying “They’re not really going to close the Girdwood Transfer Station or we’ll all go throw our trash down there in a heap and say ‘what do you think of that.’”
Fire Chief Bill Chadwick reminded the assembly members about a vote Tuesday (Dec. 17) on a grant for the Girdwood Fire Department’s operation outside its service area.
The grant amount is for $60,000.
“That’s a no brainer,” Birch said.
Brooks Chandler announced that the library’s fundraising was successful, surpassing their goal of $100,000 by $13,000. He said they have already begun spending it on furnishings, books, and media. The library is expected to open a month or two later than the original date of February ’08, and now is expected to open either late March or early April,
Jacques Boutet of the Boutet Company was present to give a power point presentation on the beautification of Town Square Park and the roads and parking surrounding it. The board professed their extreme discomfort with the incorporation of reverse-in parking at the park and ride location. Reverse-in parking is where the driver will drive past a diagonal parking space and back into it. It is meant to be safer for both drivers and pedestrians, because drivers can now see where they are going when pulling out of the parking space. Boutet said this type of parking design becoming a national trend.
The Parks & Recreation non-profit grant requests were voted on. All mentioned received their grant. Four Valleys Community School received $25,000, the Ski Education Foundation received $11,000, the Forest Fair Committee received $6,538 for a camp ground and $18 thousand for park pathways. KEUL, a non-commercial radio station in Girdwood, received $14,839 for all around use, and $1,270 for a roof replacement. Station owner Lewis Leonard submitted a request for $19,785—over half the station’s reported annual operating costs last year of $35,353.
Diane Livingston made a presentation on behalf of the trails committee, reminding everyone that signs are posted warning users that motor vehicles are not permitted on Girdwood trails. Enforcement will come from citizens who see the violation occurring, she said. The phone number for complaints at the Parks & Rec. office is 783-8146.
The meeting then veered into discussion over the zoning and subdivision of new lots planned for the Crow Creek Neighborhood Lower Matrix development. Boutet presented the board with a new look at the development, which is expected to exceed its original lot number of 36 with and additional 13 lots presented that evening. The plan is still in the initial planning stages and could be adjusted, said Boutet.
The meeting was adjourned shortly after 10 p.m.