Susitna Community Council discusses use of state grant

The Susitna Community Council in their regular meeting last week discussed how to take advantage of a state grant that was awarded last year to non-profit community councils statewide.

The grant is worth $22,000 and is administered by the Mat-Su Borough. Before the borough can release the money, the community council must submit a plan on how the funds are spent for the benefit of the community.

In this context, the council voted on re-activating a planning committee to take up the issue. The committee will meet on October 15 to toss around ideas on worthy projects. One idea floated was to put the money towards paving a bike path to connect the dirt path in front of Cubby’s with the new Susitna Valley High School building on the west side of the Parks Highway.

However, until the particulars on how the grant money is released and deadlines are worked out with the Borough, the council will hold off with a public notice to formally ask for the public’s ideas on how to spend the funds.

Council member Tami Hamler commented that she hopes for area residents to view the council as an effective forum to have community issues heard, discussed and brought to a resolve. To that end, the council urged the community’s active participation.