[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6602201,"mediaKeyId","3005665-234e3c52862d5d3793f6afe6cfe4aa9d","parentId",3005665,"title","Assembly hears introduction of ordinance to fund Central Peninsula landfill leachate improvements","audioSeconds",325,"startMs",1667000,"endMs",1992000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3005665-234e3c52862d5d3793f6afe6cfe4aa9d&start=1667&end=1992","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3005665-234e3c52862d5d3793f6afe6cfe4aa9d/thumbnail_1667000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6602201/Kenai-Peninsula-Borough/Alaska/Assembly-hears-introduction-of-ordinance-to-fund-Central-Peninsula-landfill-leachate-improvements","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6602201-a33ede939db3e8e786390f345dc759a8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153628&Signature=W9sPGNAJLRvRj6ITY-2NrBinrDHgebV2HyeZxJsiMApizWsr1dFVZiLYZ8pgc5JfHYA7PuykQlA219P3lAIvUSpK2~IbobRF5zHCr8dwVDjIE5GvHfR~owJDBT7cYT26I-eQXNk2RHn3qTyqQuQHbl-sQtkvYGfV2VZUQ-zIV~JvI9K6iW-VVQRxZfZMNz0opFllt-U1i5N8PmTWXu8oJ4gzt577tKY8EgX84tFz79uGTL1qqjNqM08852Mx4ROAB3iM9jtV2v87kraOAaUEK9YveAu6ZqS4E5KvHdIl1YcZ37VTYnGer9nMCNJlGVtNqAHCNXV3JiwM-hpqd02JYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Kenai Peninsula Borough","date","2025-04-15T00:00:00Z","article","The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly heard the introduction of Ordinance 2025-1935, appropriating funds for the Central Peninsula Landfill Leachate Infrastructure Improvements Project. Mayor Michicky presented the item and borough staff described changes after initial construction bids exceeded the project’s budget.

Public works staff explained the original early-2024 project was released for bid and returned at amounts above the budget. To respond, “we compartmentalize[d] that project and began a design effort to reduce the scope based on feedback we got from the contractors that bid the project,” said Mr. Hedges (staff). He said the team reduced scope and focused on a building automation system and other value-engineering measures. Hedges said the current contract awarded for construction stands at about $6,300,000 and that a SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) system was estimated at roughly $550,000 and was out to bid.

Hedges said the borough had anticipated an additional appropriation originally around $1,200,000 but had scaled that back to the amount now requested to proceed with awarding the building automation system and related expedited redesign work.

Assembly Member Cox asked whether the appropriation would materially reduce the borough’s general fund balance. Finance staff Brandy Harbaugh said the borough would remain “well within our minimum fund balance policy” and provided projected figures: without the appropriation the projected FY25 fund balance was $44,972,947; after the deduction for this project the projection would be approximately $43,000,995. The borough’s fund-balance policy maximum was described in committee as approximately $33,000,000 and staff noted the policy requires coming into compliance within three years.

Assembly members asked for a more holistic update on landfill operations, including the baler, leachate efforts, previous depot injection discussions, and the potential for methane capture. Mayor Michicky said the “injection well has not come by the wayside. It's the only solution that's viable for the future with fuel costs on leachate,” and said the evaporative approach is costly as natural gas availability declines. Hedges said borough staff remain in discussions with HEA about extracting methane from the landfill and that HEA has indicated continued interest, although grant and tax-credit programs that previously supported such projects are uncertain.

No committee vote on the appropriation ordinance was recorded during the session; the ordinance was introduced for further consideration and formal action at a future meeting. Staff said SCADA bids were scheduled to open later in the week and that further budget adjustments could follow based on bid results.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Kenai Peninsula Borough - Finance Committee on 2025-04-15 3:00 PM - Meeting ID: 835 6358 3837 Passcode: 606672 - Apr 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Ordinance 2025-1935 was introduced to appropriate funds for leachate infrastructure improvements at the Central Peninsula Landfill after bids returned above the original budget. Staff outlined revised scope and costs, and finance staff explained the projected fund-balance impact of the requested appropriation.","taxTitle","Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska","taxId",27490,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6602205,"Assembly agrees to 30-day extension for tourism industry working group to finalize recommendation",264,1372000,1636000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3005665-234e3c52862d5d3793f6afe6cfe4aa9d&start=1372&end=1636","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3005665-234e3c52862d5d3793f6afe6cfe4aa9d/thumbnail_1372000.jpg","/articles/6602205/Kenai-Peninsula-Borough/Alaska/Assembly-agrees-to-30-day-extension-for-tourism-industry-working-group-to-finalize-recommendation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6602205-562aaa65830f757023fad71965d79a0b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153628&Signature=d-w5W2sCw0EoaQaDrb-GZubVpJYux6kInhzRgLTZE5TuKk5Xqf1z0m8zZpZoREkFjcJo3TiZb~U46sCo9K4kQbPy9AOzJOhpK9FH5hhNjNwOUreygGPMbhlf5OjBcJhl-FgtM0~h19UUFYVqPgxYw76a94F2t~MrrPCNn6mT1yhEAS0PiVlRxX1WsWmVemLqUhchLNKnMAcuWJNK4r1gLGIjyG7RCdkbJl2uF7wkSBnHOCOgVXN03wgAweF19gjFuwMvqi1cY85sWU3~pXf1BtSHIQaDBSw7rk-MbGKPavrz~abhylfFZ2aEcyGYg15UaLPYSKsjrbuZTgoiwGNyYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Assembly Member Cooper requested a 30-day extension of the tourism industry working group's deadline, explaining the group “met last week and were not able to come to a recommendation for the assembly.” Cooper said members should submit additional items for the next meeting so the group can consider them before finalizing a recommendation.

Assembly Member Cox and others said the extension made sense because non-industry community members had asked for more options to be considered; Cooper said the group will accept submissions and may allow a section of the next meeting for conceptual discussion before taking up a final report.

Ms. Turner clarified that the lay-down item had been misplaced on a committee agenda and will appear under new business. The item was identified in the packet as Resolution 2025-19; no formal vote was recorded in committee. Cooper asked the assembly to extend the working group’s final report deadline by 30 days to allow further discussion and potential amendments.","Assembly Member Cooper asked to extend the tourism industry working group's final report deadline by 30 days after the group failed to reach a recommendation; assembly agreed to allow more discussion and asked members to submit additional proposals in advance.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6602210,"Kenai Peninsula Borough considers asking state to allow local cap on assessment increases",575,258000,833000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3005665-234e3c52862d5d3793f6afe6cfe4aa9d&start=258&end=833","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3005665-234e3c52862d5d3793f6afe6cfe4aa9d/thumbnail_258000.jpg","/articles/6602210/Kenai-Peninsula-Borough/Alaska/Kenai-Peninsula-Borough-considers-asking-state-to-allow-local-cap-on-assessment-increases","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6602210-3ac82149854d940ed900af7662de636a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153628&Signature=hfUF6JeqErvw1LsTcbCdxi6pJHKKlZVV5y3bY1jgPNhnbICHzIWfpcpHuY5QkyMthwjjo7oBMImgHfW0Y96Y7QIy4uoIlV6MIyfJVLPvGJcBlC8WdjLxn0thJO1neBf5Lua-NruSnvHo3Yb0M3GIA0GVgoNBrpzkmWYpUZ-Gth7V-FHtxpCOkL18IwtGFbM3IC1~28Ou74If~aCr-MuMA7NKgxNzE5Z9kjSVT804eY082AwDdzv1QTU9UjbABibU~flup9jiS~N4ocX6j02ZRza2bnTfSi8X6DG5JbX56GITMWfj4IbSe4kHbB0vse7xn8DzsQPSWBl7pVh2RCBIqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly discussed Resolution 2025-17, a request from Mayor Michicky and Assembly Member Cooper asking the Alaska Legislature to give municipalities the authority to cap year-over-year real property assessment increases.

Mayor Michicky said the draft resolution would merely provide local governments “a tool in the toolbox” to limit sudden valuation increases and described 5% as an initial threshold that “more dovetails with our system.” He told the assembly the borough’s average year-over-year escalation over the past 34 years is 4.33%, and that “5% would be rare here.”

Assembly Member Johnson, drawing on his experience on the borough board of equalization, asked how a property that rose 50% in value would be corrected and whether that correction required a sale; the mayor said catch-ups used to happen when properties had not been assessed for many years and that modern processes and imagery have reduced that problem. Johnson also asked whether the mayor’s percentages were borough-wide averages; the mayor confirmed that the figures include real property, oil-related, and personal property.

Members pressed the mayor for data and examples. Mayor Michicky said staff had requested specific questions in advance but had not received them and that the resolution is more conceptual than a specific ordinance. He cited recent periods of rapid escalation — a 19.28% increase from February 2021 to February 2023 and a 30.11% increase over the last four years — and said the borough could consider a higher cap or a temporary activation of a cap during periods of rapid valuation growth.

Assembly members also asked whether a cap would substitute for mill-rate adjustments; the mayor said it would not replace control over the tax rate but would provide a way to “smooth” rapid assessment increases that can price out young families and seniors. The mayor said the resolution is a request to the state to allow local discussion and legislation; he noted Title 29 currently restricts municipal authority on this issue and said the borough “doesn’t have the right to have the discussion” without state authorization.

There was no committee vote recorded on the resolution during the session. Members asked for more data, including average escalation over recent five-, 10- and 20-year spans; the mayor provided some period averages on request and offered to provide additional property-level examples and historical data for further consideration.

The resolution was identified in the packet as Resolution 2025-17 and was presented by Mayor Michicky and Assembly Member Cooper.","Assembly members questioned a mayor-sponsored resolution asking the state legislature to give municipalities authority to limit annual property assessment increases to 5%; the mayor argued the tool could smooth rapid valuation spikes that hurt seniors and lower-income residents.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6602215,"Kenai Peninsula Borough to consider exception allowing late senior grant applications",191,198000,389000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3005665-234e3c52862d5d3793f6afe6cfe4aa9d&start=198&end=389","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3005665-234e3c52862d5d3793f6afe6cfe4aa9d/thumbnail_198000.jpg","/articles/6602215/Kenai-Peninsula-Borough/Alaska/Kenai-Peninsula-Borough-to-consider-exception-allowing-late-senior-grant-applications","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6602215-b65ca67ec63d61d502781704f73d53e8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153628&Signature=iLKYaVDzYrvOX5MM2~XKaFJfR7GXrWtedr41-oI6GEpxRFQvKkHYSCF3v8v9o2IDrTsCv2~6L9FnDtZMdh56kiJffxQeS41-5Q7chjSYEyOVxGhOgERSH0zvXWjMLzP9DZAslZKUo29yPtFRRRE~C3Ypg646B0Y4EdG8w2-N2KrAG8nlSZSBoj~tyEw2l2LoWPmxaiU8UdWRYuuiwFDoHZXn9bOVOqsEBec3adLC1BuxSHvI0UnKTU8lknBhWMRNRp0fJD~4XOpBHk81OGmpttWpD5kfU2zoT1Pe0KYpyGngsUG1VX39iHN5kjnjImPwUYe~w2WhOdkH0ApdyIYlgA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday heard an introduction of Ordinance 2025-06, which would provide an exception to borough code to accept late-filed fiscal-year 2026 senior citizen grant applications.

Mayor Michicky brought the ordinance forward and turned the presentation to Brandy Harbaugh, who said the late filings were caused by “medical issues as well as others” and asked the assembly to accept the applications so the borough can introduce a budget that includes funding for those senior services.

Harbaugh told the assembly the number of late applications was small and that the ordinance is a procedural step to allow the proposed awards to appear in the FY26 budget. No vote or formal action on the ordinance was recorded during the committee discussion.

The item will return to the assembly for consideration at a future public hearing and possible vote; the ordinance text in the packet was identified as Ordinance 2025-06 and the sponsor listed as the mayor.","The assembly was asked to introduce Ordinance 2025-06 to permit acceptance of a small number of late-filed senior citizen grant applications so those requests can be included in the borough's budget.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Assembly hears introduction of ordinance to fund Central Peninsula landfill leachate improvements

Assembly agrees to 30-day extension for tourism industry working group to finalize recommendation

Kenai Peninsula Borough considers asking state to allow local cap on assessment increases

Kenai Peninsula Borough to consider exception allowing late senior grant applications