[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6533851,"mediaKeyId","3654319-ea973c3fbef4cfac3790aa5122731fd4","parentId",3654319,"title","Peninsula Community Health Services outlines expanded services, economic impact to assembly","audioSeconds",396,"startMs",1458000,"endMs",1854000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3654319-ea973c3fbef4cfac3790aa5122731fd4&start=1458&end=1854","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3654319-ea973c3fbef4cfac3790aa5122731fd4/thumbnail_1458000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6533851/Kenai-Peninsula-Borough/Alaska/Peninsula-Community-Health-Services-outlines-expanded-services-economic-impact-to-assembly","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6533851-18a639be486ef2506828ac88e1bc37df/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199814&Signature=Fxlmp8yjqH7UozsiYjBX4CuwV5FOr7k9tPQVQceqIzHVO60GjfDXUtFpRpQZBmgnn7wo1ijCaWojBCyklagD6g4u9gFpSKgUHsJWK-BW9a5cJPZMJ2oDKSUNTYyJEoLd0EEQKQRR5B9BzN04uF2nAS6KdDXwJEO9ue9qgVrU0Mi7QhLqwliMq0mp94Ckp~g-ZkWxc9O5xyFs1csWWYigOCGrRLjN3mzXOiXfDGoxhzlIGkhxsVCyDAlA7zxkA-UysdIeSKKX581Lnuaas6LurhLCKnZ6MNEpRA326RaoSLGe4ESwumP0WXqeX3458KPAJ7hi-AqVT73nIcYrGXCL3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Kenai Peninsula Borough","date","2025-06-03T00:00:00Z","article","Ben Wright, chief executive officer of Peninsula Community Health Services of Alaska, told the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on June 3 that the nonprofit federally qualified health center (FQHC) provides a broad range of services across the borough, serves anyone who walks in the door and reported approximately 40,000 patient visits per year.

Wright described medical services (primary care for all ages, preventive care and women’s health), dental services (with limited dentist capacity and three months’ appointment wait for general dentistry), optometry services, physical therapy, and a behavioral‑health clinic that includes psychiatry and psychiatric nurse practitioners. He also described the 340B prescription program, which Wright said offers medication at substantially reduced costs to patients served at the health center (the program is not available to Medicaid recipients, he said).

Assemblymembers asked clarifying questions about PCHS operations and service locations; Wright said the main administrative office is in Soldotna and the organization operates clinics in Soldotna and Kenai, with dental and other services located across facilities. Wright said PCHS is governed by a 12‑member local community board, employs local staff and brings federal and state dollars into the peninsula economy.

Why it matters
FQHCs are designed to increase health care access in underserved communities. The presentation highlighted local capacity gaps — most notably dental care access for Medicaid patients — and the role of the community health center in workforce and economic activity.

Provenance (transcript excerpts)
- topicintro: \"Peninsula Community Health Services has been around... became an FQHC... we provide services to anybody who walks in the door.\" (presentation opening, transcript block ~1458.79)
- topfinish: \"We have over 40,000 patient visits a year...\" (summary of services and economic impact).

Speakers
- Ben Wright, CEO, Peninsula Community Health Services of Alaska
- Assemblymember Tonseth (question about location)
- Mayor Peter A. Michicky (comment and questions)

Clarifying details
- PCHS became a federally qualified health center in 02/2008 (stated by Wright).
- Reported services: primary care (all ages); optometry with two optometrists; dental (1.5 dentists currently; wait approx. three months); behavioral health including psychiatry; three psychiatric nurse practitioners; physical therapy clinics; 340B pharmaceutical program (availability described and limited to non‑Medicaid patients).
- Wright said PCHS employs local staff and that federal/state funds brought to the center circulate locally.

Community relevance
PCHS serves borough residents across the peninsula, provides services that fill gaps (notably dental access for Medicaid patients), and is a local employer; changes to health‑care capacity affect public health and local economics.

Ending
Wright invited assembly members to visit PCHS clinics and said the organization will continue outreach and coordination with local partners.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Kenai Peninsula Borough - Assembly on 2025-06-03 6:00 PM - Meeting ID: 835 6358 3837 Passcode: 606672 - Jun 03, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Peninsula Community Health Services (PCHS) CEO Ben Wright presented an overview of the nonprofit federally qualified health center’s services — primary care, dental, behavioral health, optometry, physical therapy and 340B prescription program — and reported about 40,000 patient visits annually and economic benefits to the borough.","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},6533857,"Residents, volunteers urge assembly to retain Bear Creek Fire mill rate; amendment to cut rate fails",1278,4142000,5420000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3654319-ea973c3fbef4cfac3790aa5122731fd4&start=4142&end=5420","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3654319-ea973c3fbef4cfac3790aa5122731fd4/thumbnail_4142000.jpg","/articles/6533857/Kenai-Peninsula-Borough/Alaska/Residents-volunteers-urge-assembly-to-retain-Bear-Creek-Fire-mill-rate-amendment-to-cut-rate-fails","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6533857-7babf0a7382660cc7bb2aa0817a25f1e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199814&Signature=AF-KOjICQBRd10PQlT-NCymPmeTq4pQib81KNNTnpnL0lHf-Nrcosk9uQn0IrRVxhP-DN4Olj8oXKIy2tHpRIrUEcAGLQgsbQ7~KPJNY~qPIy2TqpK5DxP~H42NYZ094-szMwQ~29QedFK4kJsndLiSyJZrfr5dIkVX6wy6Ttmm~gTNxQNEozS~F-dDFdipsmoVc5DSJs7lolhkQdh4LF7VnxlCHX83lx-IH~WoWtpE~d~gDZP2bz8eNfk4z8iCNb4CJ6yY0PuKHe6CYyhroJ57UE4C~D86nJAi2Km9WyO-35wN-j-7RLSk-7YezhKp1cASWwiAOrnhMmbWwXTDh6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Assemblymember Cindy Eklund introduced an amendment on June 3 to reduce the Bear Creek Fire Service Area mill rate from 3.25 to 3.00 mills for fiscal year 2026. The amendment was debated during the assembly’s consideration of the borough’s mill‑rate resolution and ultimately failed on a recorded tally of 6 no, 2 yes (yes: Eklund, Dunn).

Members of the Bear Creek volunteer force and service‑area board provided public comment before the assembly vote, telling the assembly the proposed reduction would harm training, equipment purchases and the department’s ability to reach parity with neighboring service areas. Testimony included multiple volunteers and elected service‑area board members who said the board had vetted the budget and voted to set the 3.25 mill rate after community input and conservative fiscal assumptions.

Assembly discussion
Assembly members who opposed the amendment cited process concerns: multiple assembly members said advisory‑board review and a service‑area board recommendation should be respected and that the board had not been given the opportunity to consider the overnight amendment before it appeared in the assembly agenda. Supporters of the amendment said constituents in the Bear Creek area had asked for a reduction — citing the original mill increase in 2007 was meant primarily for bond debt on a fire station and that property tax growth had reduced the need for the original level.

Public testimony (highlights)
- Josh Bennigan, volunteer, Bear Creek Fire Department: urged the assembly to reject the amendment, saying \"reducing funding for our volunteer department would negatively impact that service\" and expressing concern the amendment had limited public notice.
- Jeff Wolf, Bear Creek Fire Service Area Board member and department captain: said the board applied conservative budgeting and that cutting the rate from 3.25 to 3.00 would affect training and parity with neighboring service areas; requested assembly reject the amendment and retain the board’s recommended rate.
- Karen Wright and other Seward residents and board members described rapid response times and said reductions would harm community safety.

Outcome
A motion to call the question passed earlier in the discussion (7 yes, 1 no). The amendment to reduce the Bear Creek Fire Service Area mill rate failed on a recorded vote of 6 no, 2 yes. The mill‑rate resolution itself was adopted by the assembly later in the meeting.

Provenance (transcript excerpts)
- topicintro: \"I was just are is your office here in Soldatina...\" (questioning PCHS location, leads to later public comment); more relevant: \"I was notified today that our budget was gonna be reduced...\" (Jeff Wolf testimony beginning 4142.06)
- topfinish: \"I have 6 no, 2 yes. The yes votes were cast by miss Eklund and mister Dunn. The motion fails.\" (vote result).

Speakers relevant to this article
- Cindy Eklund, Assembly member (mover of the amendment)
- Jeff Wolf, Bear Creek Fire Service Area Board member and department captain (public commenter)
- Josh Bennigan, Bear Creek volunteer (public commenter)
- Karen Wright, Seward resident (public commenter)
- Andra (Andrea) Lillard, Bear Creek Fire Service Area Board member (public commenter)
- Doyle Bruckner, Bear Creek Fire Service Area Board member (public commenter)
- Assemblymember Dunn (voted yes on amendment)

Clarifying details
- The amendment would have set the Bear Creek Fire Service Area mill rate at 3.00 mills (reduction from 3.25).
- Witnesses said the Bear Creek board had examined the department budget and voted to set the 3.25 mill rate; several speakers said they learned of the amendment on the day of the meeting and asked for more public notice.

Context
The debate came during the assembly’s statutory mill‑rate setting process. Borough staff and several assembly members noted advisory‑board recommendations and service area board input normally guide changes to service‑area mill rates. Several assembly members cited fiduciary caution and respect for locally elected service‑area boards in explaining their votes.","Assemblymember Cindy Eklund proposed reducing the Bear Creek Fire Service Area mill rate from 3.25 to 3.00 mills; the amendment failed after public testimony by volunteers and service‑area board members urging preservation of funding for training and operations.",{"_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},6533860,"Assembly approves consent agenda, sets mill rates and enacts local zoning; budget appropriation hearing postponed",5286,150000,5436000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3654319-ea973c3fbef4cfac3790aa5122731fd4&start=150&end=5436","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3654319-ea973c3fbef4cfac3790aa5122731fd4/thumbnail_150000.jpg","/articles/6533860/Kenai-Peninsula-Borough/Alaska/Assembly-approves-consent-agenda-sets-mill-rates-and-enacts-local-zoning-budget-appropriation-hearing-postponed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6533860-981b11402f71f11b310bf9833608ad94/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199814&Signature=a3qCeHN4UfYNH3U5vA26n7-4WswoXEWF4yyxhRLGhh4v2ztn5pOMxgQ47XUd8yHbsrz804llFeYWVa1lao~PRWbW7~LPJUKjUmZ0hE0H1tRidT484YGiCDX5z~euUF13-R0Q-PejOjsVWE6gN9Rk2f07JJC0uPnP3WKcKkYnxyMc~yrC6K-7jMbZQ3itVkiHsF2UFuveGG2awdhQ2i1lmlF06QaADMruojew5458zx0R4pLuXApmtqgdWV8dKSTJrwiu3cEIqMPeEJUR3oIpfj5-APvNP9GOGiIRg1foPFV1HaQuWlWMc2~jjx9n6Id1jBxFA2e4jbEqRSU9soe3xw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on June 3 approved its consent agenda, enacted a local-option zoning ordinance for Humpy Point, and passed a resolution setting property tax mill rates for fiscal year 2026 (tax year 2025). The assembly postponed final action on the borough appropriation ordinance for fiscal year 2026 to its June 17 meeting.

The consent agenda — which passed as amended without objection — included minutes from the May 20 regular meeting; KPB6990, a resolution in memoriam commending the contributions of Roberta Hyland; and several items referred to public hearing or introduced for later hearings, including ordinances authorizing sales of borough parcels and amendments to the comprehensive plan and conditional‑use definitions. The assembly enacted ordinance 2025‑0 8, approving the Humpy Point R‑1 local option zoning district, and scheduled public hearings for several other ordinances on future dates as shown in the meeting record.

The assembly also adopted resolution 2025‑025, which sets the borough’s mill rates for fiscal year 2026. Most service areas saw reductions in mill rates; a single increase was approved for the Seldovia recreation service area at the request of Seldovia leaders to support pool operation.

Separately, ordinance 2025‑19, the borough’s fiscal year 2026 appropriation ordinance that includes school contributions, received a public hearing but the assembly voted to postpone final action to June 17 to allow an additional hearing and further review.

Votes at a glance
- Consent agenda (multiple items as read by the clerk): approved as amended by unanimous consent. Items included: May 20, 2025 meeting minutes; KPB6990 (in memoriam Roberta Hyland); Resolution 2025‑023 (Alaska Land Mobile Radio membership agreements, referred/approved on consent); Resolution 2025‑024 (27 unincorporated communities for FY26 community assistance program, amended to be retroactive to 06/02/2025); Ordinance 2024‑1939 (Station 4 septic replacement; hearing June 17); Ordinance 2025‑10 (parcel sales by live public outcry auction; hearing June 17); Ordinance 2025‑11 (accepting Safe Streets & Roads plan into comprehensive plan; hearing July 8); Ordinance 2025‑12 (clarify conditional use permits and define “water dependent”; hearing July 8); KPB6970 and KPB6971 (appointments): all included on consent and moved forward.
- Ordinance 2025‑08 (Humpy Point R‑1 local option zoning, amends KPB 21.46.040): enacted by unanimous consent.
- Ordinance 2025‑19 (appropriating funds for fiscal year 2026): public hearing held; assembly moved and approved postponement to June 17, 2025 (motion to postpone passed by unanimous consent).
- Resolution 2025‑025 (setting rate of levy for real and personal property — mill rates for FY2026): enacted (no roll‑call names recorded in the minutes; chair and mayor presented details). Most mill rates reduced; Seldovia recreation service area increased from 0.75 to 1.00 to support pool operations per Seldovia request.

What the actions mean
- Adoption of the mill‑rate resolution meets a state deadline (the assembly’s legal counsel noted state statute requires mill rates be set by June 15).
- Postponing the appropriation ordinance preserves a public hearing schedule and allows the assembly more time before they take final action on the budget and school funding amounts.

Provenance (excerpted from meeting transcript)
- topicintro: \"The finance we had 1 public hearing on ordinances... Ordinance 2025‑5‑19 appropriating funds for fiscal year 2026... This will have an additional hearing on the June 17, and was postponed until June 17 as well.\" (transcript block starting 150.72499)
- topfinish: \"Unanimous has been requested. Or is there any objection? Hearing and seeing none, the resolution passes.\" (transcript block near 5433.595)

speakers[\"assembly\"]:[{","The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly approved the consent agenda including a memorial resolution for Roberta Hyland, enacted a local-option zoning ordinance for Humpy Point and set 2025 mill rates. The proposed fiscal year 2026 appropriation ordinance was postponed to June 17 for further consideration.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Peninsula Community Health Services outlines expanded services, economic impact to assembly

Residents, volunteers urge assembly to retain Bear Creek Fire mill rate; amendment to cut rate fails

Assembly approves consent agenda, sets mill rates and enacts local zoning; budget appropriation hearing postponed