Legal public access is the mission for the new Benka Lake Access Committee. Twenty-nine people attended the committee’s first meeting in person. More than 250 people have viewed the meeting video on Facebook as of Friday morning.
What began as a discussion at the Susitna Community Council last week is now a formal committee with officers. Chris Campbell was elected as chair. Also within a week, the Friends of Benka Lake Facebook page has captured hundreds of pictures and memories from visitors and residents alike. Some residents gathered documents and began reaching out for help in preparation for the meeting.
Hannah Rosamond, elected as a Committee member, consulted with attorneys before the meeting to determine if residents have a case. Forrest Cook, elected as the new co-chair of the committee noted that the legal representation has been one-sided in favor of the landowner that fenced the only public access.
The group says it will scour all the documents, including a vast file of historic and more recent records collected by residents. The original plat from 1965 shows the road and public access. That easement was not included in the latest sale to the private landowner who fenced the access.
The Alaska Mental Health Trust included the access on Lakeview Street in their information, but a formal easement was not captured in the sale documents. The State transferred the property to the Mental Health Trust. Local resident Eric Chappell says that the State reviewed the public access 20 years ago and noted it in their documentation. He asked what changed between 20 years ago and today.
Several residents noted that it would be helpful to have Borough representation. District 7 Assembly member Ron Bernier was invited to the meeting by several Committee members, but he did not respond.
The Committee moved onto discussing how to involve the larger community and anyone who has used Benka Lake for fishing or boating. The group plans to develop a petition to ask the State to thoroughly review the case. That will be discussed at the next meeting on August 10th at the Sunshine Fire Station.
