By Willow Hetrick
Turnagain Times
Moose Pass Correspondent
Kenai Peninsula
Borough Assembly Meeting Report
By Sue McClure
East Peninsula
Assembly Member
Once each year, the assembly meets in Homer and once in Seward. This was the Homer meeting, and the City Hall meeting room was packed. Several of the items on the consent agenda dealt with Homer-area issues. These included classifying some 80 acres in the city limits to “preservation”, a resolution requesting Governor Parnell to include the gas pipeline extension from Anchor Point to Kachemak City in his FY 2013 budget, and moving to public hearing on 11/1 an ordinance incorporating the 2010 Homer Spit Plan into the City of Homer’s Comprehensive Plan.
We held public hearings on nine ordinances and enacted all nine by unanimous consent. Ordinance 2011-19-09 accepted and appropriated $4.5 million from the State for the borough roads, Ordinance 2011-19-11 accepted and appropriated $8,998,000 from the State for the Homer solid waste transfer facility construction project, and Ordinance 2011-19-14 accepted and appropriated $6,289 from DNR for Bear Creek Fire under the volunteer fire assistance program.
We also authorized adding 52 acres to the Tsalteshi Trail System lease, and approved a fee schedule for the borough. We once again dealt with resolution 2011-087, which is a personnel policy for administrative employees, the Borough Clerk and Deputy Clerk. A motion to postpone failed by a 4-4 vote, and the resolution passed 7-1. In other consent agenda business, we confirmed appointments to Advisory Planning Commissions: Cheryle James and Heather Harrison to the Cooper Landing APC, Ben Ikerd and Ruth D’Amico to the Moose Pass APC, and Erica Miller, Dave Scanlan, and Jim Skogstad to the Hope/Sunrise APC.
Kevin Lyon was also confirmed as the Capital Projects Director. At our next meeting, October 11, we will hold public hearings on Ordinance 2011-33, accepting $5,235.72 from the State for installation of Smart boards at Seward Elementary, Ordinance 2011-34 establishing an enforcement process for violations of Title 21, and Ordinance 2011-35, providing an 8-year upper limit for consecutive Assembly member service without a break of at least 180 days. Our IT director, GS Director and others are looking into possibly establishing videoconferencing in Seward and Homer for all assembly and school board meetings.
I will keep you posted on that. I will be holding community meetings to establish legislative priorities and to discuss revenue sharing on October 1 in Cooper Landing at 10:30 a.m., Hope at 1:30 p.m., and Moose Pass at 3:30 p.m. I hope to see a good turnout for these meetings. As usual, I can be reached at 224-6784, or smcclure@borough.kenai.ak.us. The borough’s website is www.borough.kenai.ak.us. The Seward Annex office in Sea View Plaza is available as well.
Miles Knotek Wins 3A Boys State Championship Anchorage
Miles won the 2011 1-2-3A Boys State Championship for Cross Country Running this past weekend. He ran with a Delta Junction runner, Andrey Ioanshku, whom he has never ran with before and his athletic capabilities along with Dan Marshall’s coaching skills got him the first place title. Miles said that his coach told him to “stay conservative and make a move at the right time.” He also praised the rest of his team saying most of the runners either ran their personal best or close to it. The Seward Boys placed third overall in the state. Meg Berry of Moose Pass was on the Girls team at State and and Tannen Berry was on the boys team running along with Miles. Other moose pass runners this past year included Kara Knotek, BrookeEstes, Sam Stauble, Jaz Odhner and Annie Hood.
Photo courtesy of Erin Knotek
Miles Knotek and his parents, Erin and Kevin Knotek after his first place finish at the state Cross Country Running Championships.
