Library location in question after soil survey reveals odor of deisel

The Friends of the Talkeetna Library are scrambling to compile a survey of the community to determine what should be done about the location for the proposed new library. Last week the Mat Su Borough Community Development department said the land that had been selected for the new library in 2007 had loose soil that would would require post foundation. While the geotechnical work was being done, the operators detected an odor of diesel, which means the Borough must now perform an Environmental assessment if the site is to be used.
At a meeting on Thursday night, the Friends of the Talkeetna Library evaluated six locations for a new library, including the originally selected site, which is downtown on the Spur Road, North of the Playground and South of the former gas station.

Peg Vos was at the post office on Friday conducting surveys with townspeople. She said the other pieces of Borough property being looked at for potential library sites include a parcel next to the Elementary school, a site on Comsat Road near the junction with the Spur road, another site on Christiansen Lake Road, and two locations near fish lake.

The survey period lasts just through the weekend, as the Friends of the Library want to return their decision to the Borough Assembly by Monday. Surveys can be found at the Post office and at the library, and completed surveys can be left in the library’s book drop by Monday morning.