Borough Assembly denies latest Planning Commission appointment

The Mat Su Borough had a somewhat heated debate about Planning Commission members at their meeting on Tuesday evening.

District 7 Assemblyman, Vern Halter, asked for the mayor’s selection of Planning Commission members to be moved to the front of the agenda.  Discussion on the item lasted over a half hour as the Assembly and the mayor debated Commission selections and how they are appointed.

Mayor Colberg wanted to appoint Willow resident Jim Norcross to the Planning Commission.  Assembly member Halter respectively wanted that selection denied.  Debate centered on how selections are made and fairly representing all areas of the Borough, as well as the selection of Norcross.

In the end, the vote was 4 to 3 to deny the selection of Norcross. Assembly members Ewing, Arvin and Woods accepted the nomination and all other members denied the selection.  The mayor will now go back to the drawing board to look at other applicants in District 7.  Halter recommended that a woman be selected to fulfill Colberg’s goal of diversification on the Planning Commission. No women currently sit on the Commission.

District 7 covers Trapper Creek, Talkeetna, Meadow Lakes, all the towns in between, and as far north as the Borough boundary.