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Mona Painter/Turnagain Times Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor David Carey addresses Cooper Landing residents with enthusiasm as his Special Assistant Susan Wilcox watches. Mayor Carey held forth at a town hall meeting format at the community hall recently. |
By Mona Painter
Turnagain Times Cooper Landing Correspondent
KPB Mayor Carey discusses many subjects at community meeting
Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor David Carey and Special Assistant Susan Wilcox were guests recently at a meeting at the request of Community Club President and Vice President, Gary Galbraith and Sandra Holsten. Thirty or more interested residents turned out to meet and greet the mayor and hear his thoughts on a number of subjects, many of which had been given to him in advance. Property tax relief for emergency services volunteers and for all property owners; Homer Electric Association’s proposals for several small hydroelectric facilities and the more desirable alternative energy sources such as wind tidal, and geothermal; recycling, trail powers for the borough, the local highway in need of upgrading and the bypass, tourism marketing, the 50 foot setback from the river, safety path extensions, borough department heads requested to answer “What did you do this week?”, the necessity for a clinic in Cooper Landing, economic development and PILT funds, CLES support, peninsula bridge repairs this summer, Cooper Landing property assessments and the selection of a new borough assessor, opening of more borough land in Cooper Landing, winter employment opportunities and the importance of personal initiative, the mayor’s willingness to be part of a synergistic process, the mayor’s relationship with federal and state land owners, and keeping Cooper Landing School open. Mayor Carey is a dynamic speaker who doesn’t beat around the bush. Now don’t you wish you’d been there?
Cooper Landing Community Club had full agenda
Gary Galbraith chaired the Community Club meeting March 26 and talked about changes he would be making for the club. He would like to have programs and guest’s speakers and some fun community events.
Yvette Galbraith reported for the Parent Advisory Committee that annual St. Patrick’s Day dinner fundraiser brought in around $1,000. Yvette gave credit to Mary Louise Molenda of Sunrise Inn for the dinner success. School kids have enjoyed several field trips including ski days at Alyeska.
Cooper Landing Community School participant days in Feb. totaled 388; obviously some people attend several events. Cheryle James spoke for the Cooper Landing Clinic’s feasibility study questionnaires mailed out to about 1,000 people and 250 have been received back so far.
The Chamber of Commerce will be manning a booth at the Great Alaskan Sportsman Show in April. Anna Wheeler and Shelby Lubich spoke for the community garden project. A piece of ground has been located on the Senior Campus. Shelby also spoke for the Recycling Center and commended Carrie Williams on her work with recycling.
Sandra Holsten talked about trails and the possibility of grooming for skate-skiing in the Quartz Creek area.
Scott Davis of Cooper Landing Emergency Services said eight new EMT’s recently finished their training. CLES plans to repeat their successful mid-summer open house.
Deb Carlson spoke for a Walkable Community and a motion passed to provide her with an $800 budget administered by Secretary-treasurer Phil Weber.
Marjorie VanKooten, Cooper Landing Senior Citizens Corp. President described the status of the second unit of independent housing, Ravens View, which is expected to open by May 1.
CLCC joined the Chamber of Commerce in supporting an Easter egg hunt for kids April 11 to be handled by Heather Harrison. Kenai Lake Baptist Church is sponsoring a community breakfast open to all on Easter morning at the community hall at 8 a.m.
Volunteers are needed for the Snug Harbor Snail-a-thon May 16 and the softball tournament playoff dinner June 7.
The lightest dusting of ash
We are still watching for ash from Mt. Redoubt’s eruptions but have only received a very light sprinkler so far. Anna Wheeler had to take me to her garage to feel the gritty gray stuff on her car windows for me to believe it! We have samples of ash from several local volcanic eruptions at the museum thanks to Marie Barker.
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