Borough examines motorized area in Hatcher Pass

aired wed -The Mat Su Borough Assembly has tabled a proposal to have a motorized corridor through the non-motorized area of Hatcher Pass Ski Area.  The motion passed 5 to 2  to table the resolution indefinitely.

Over 100 people filled the Assembly chambers to listen to testimony Tuesday night.  At least 70 of those individuals signed up to testify.  The comments lasted for over 4 hours.

Some of the testimony drew laughs from the audience.  One man stood opposed to the proposed motorized area and said, “why would you put a smoking corridor through a non-smoking restaurant?”.  The room filled with chuckles and laughter after the comment.

On the other side of the issue, dozens of motorized users stood in favor of the corridor and expanded parking areas AND asking that everyone just get along.  Many snowmachiners called for better law enforcement in the area.  Other comments included pleas for better planning.

A twist to the discussion came in the form of the State’s draft Hatcher Pass Management Use Plan that was released on Tuesday for public comment. Assemblywoman Cindy Bettine asked that the Assembly hold a work session on April 13^th to discuss the plan.

It was almost midnight when the Assembly tabled the clearly divisive resolution introduced by Ron Arvin and Mark Ewing.

The Assembly had covered most of their other business before diving into the Hatcher Pass issue. Funding a new Talkeetna ambulance and an update on the Su Valley school insurance were discussed.