The Talkeetna playground committee recently met with Borough officials.  

The committee has realized that since the goal is to have the proposed playground on Borough property, that the Borough ultimately makes the decision on where the playground will be placed.

Karey Larson, the force behind the proposed playground, was excited to hear that the Borough Assembly passed the accommodation grant proposals without question. She says any amount the playground committee receives will be spent on site assessment. She said her recent meeting with Borough Director of Community Development, Ron Swanson, was productive and he was very supportive of the playground idea and the proposed site at the Talkeetna Library grounds.

The committee has already received a letter of support from the Friends of the Library in Talkeetna agreeing to the idea of a playground on the library grounds.

The next steps in the process include choosing the type of playground the community wants: either a prefabricated unit or one similar to Girdwood. The committee is looking at fund raising through grants and is hopeful that some funding can come from the cruise ship industry. Larson emphasizes that the playground will not only be for the community but for those visitors traveling with young children.

Construction on the Su Valley High School began last week during spring break. Students came back this week to changes in classrooms and are dealing with a number of issues.

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The Mat-Su Borough is looking at growth and safety of all the Borough’s airports. The Borough wants to determine how to encourage aviation, promote aviation safety and compatible development.

There will be a public meeting Monday, March 26th, in Willow for all residents interested in commenting on, and obtaining information on, the propsed Borough’s Regional Aviation System Plan.

Brad Sworts, the Mat-Su Borough Transportation and Environmental Manager, says the purpose of this very large project is to try and get a handle on all the airports in the Borough and prioritize which ones need improvement. He believes that the Borough has the densest grouping of airports of any area in the United States. Only two-thirds of these are registered with the FAA.

The Regional Aviation System Plan, otherwise known as RASP, includes locating all airports, both on land and areas where float planes land; identifying future commercial float plane centers; updating the Borough website so it lists each airport, even the very smallest, so that future land owners know in advance if they are buying property adjacent to an airport and how large it may be.

Sworts says that their website has a survey for all residents and pilots to fill out if they wish. The survey asks everything from what improvements are needed at area airports, to safety information, to radio communications questions and restrictions needed. Sworts emphasizes that the Borough is trying to have a balanced approach to the study.

This project started last year in April and is on-going. DOWL Engineers are the project engineers involved with the Plan and most recently gave a presentation to the Talkeetna Community Council. The public meeting next Monday is the second in a series and more will be held this summer.

Host Holly Stinson talks with Joyce Borge, Elinore Ebling, and Terry Holt.

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(MP3, 30 min)

Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Tom Irwin announced today (tues.) that the timber sale seven miles east of Willow IS in the best interest of the state and the sale will proceed as planned this spring. Harvest is likely to take place this summer, he says. Irwin was responding to appeals of the earlier decision on the one thousand acre timber sale seven miles east of Willow.

The Division of Forestry proposed the Copper Timber Sale in its January 2005 Five-Year Schedule of Timber Sales. Following public hearings on that schedule, the division received 32 letters from agencies and the public on the Preliminary Forestry Land Use Plan.

Two individuals supported the sale, three agency letters supported the sale with stipulations, and six organizations and 21 individuals opposed the sale. After receiving five eligible appeals on the Final Best Interest Finding, then-Acting Commissioner Marty Rutherford decided to allow review of the decision. After carefully considering all the requests, and responding in writing to each issue in the letters, Irwin has decided to stand by the Division of Forestry’s original decision.

About 300 skiers crowded onto Fish Lake this weekend for the 7th Annual Oosik Ski race.

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The State Department of Environmental Conservation issued a decision against allowing the Alaska Railroad to spray over 500 miles of railbed with chemical herbicides. While an appeal is possible, it is unlikely.

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Construction on the Su Valley High School began last week during spring break. Students came back this week to changes in classrooms and are dealing with a number of issues.

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