[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6024645,"mediaKeyId","5759048-baa4499acfc87f3f6b5dcfd79ed08a39","parentId",5759048,"title","Interim finance director schedules special ERP meeting; audit and hiring timelines updated","audioSeconds",190,"startMs",640000,"endMs",830000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5759048-baa4499acfc87f3f6b5dcfd79ed08a39&start=640&end=830","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5759048-baa4499acfc87f3f6b5dcfd79ed08a39/thumbnail_640000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6024645/Wasilla/Matanuska-Susitna-Borough/Alaska/Interim-finance-director-schedules-special-ERP-meeting-audit-and-hiring-timelines-updated","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6024645-29701088ae20047dfc89e546d1d42b0f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770760330&Signature=RIeyLmFyHVz-PZWwR9X9a2hpN0iaAh0Vvbj0E6VnBhi3EmgDCqk-vGj23KeT3AMQ1OgWTWpsuW7yl~K9Tv94jnPVhsaE8t8021yQVnKT8CZ4lNG2ol-CxdKdwZHZr2BbjPkm5RvlejBxgYutNn2hW4g-QR10zhfWO0vPnqFY-wQnAb8AfoQR01FtMUhhyDETpRKm~jceCcHImWLG6u8zWmZ-Sy4kPURt56Cc8ocRh9FbXQyinTU8C6y~30W6YTtc~OK2bf~qNUTTeDjuV9UbklfB7~BeiBd8i47Ynrpf~CPB0voJe0WA54BhkVay5-286c6jm02WG-B-TWiMpR1EmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Wasilla","date","2025-09-10T00:00:00Z","article","Interim Finance Director Ted Leonard told the Wasilla City Council he requested a special meeting on Sept. 15 to brief council on an enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation and to discuss bringing on a strategic partner (CoHills Consulting) to assist with project management, implementation and policy/procedure development.

Leonard said the city expects to deliver a trial balance by Oct. 1 and that auditors plan to conduct field work in November; based on auditors’ schedules the final FY25 audit report is likely by mid-January. He said outstanding invoices are being collected to complete records for the auditors.

On hiring, Leonard said the finance director recruitment closed with seven applicants; staff screened the field to two finalists who will be interviewed on Sept. 15 and that the city hopes to present a candidate to the mayor in September, allowing for notice and start timing that could put a permanent finance director in place by October/November. Leonard cautioned recruiting for senior finance roles is taking longer than in prior years.

He also reported the finance team and attorneys are revising the city’s P-card (purchase card) policy, travel policy and procurement rules, and that the city is considering switching travel meal reimbursement from an itemized reimbursement to a per-diem approach.

The council agreed to the special meeting date and council members asked staff to distribute the ERP assessment materials in advance so members could review before the Sept. 15 session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Regular - 08 Sep 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Interim Finance Director Ted Leonard requested a special council meeting for Sept. 15 to review an ERP implementation plan and said the FY25 audit fieldwork is expected in November with final reporting likely by mid-January; he also outlined the finance director recruitment timeline.","taxTitle","Wasilla, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska","taxId",52178,"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},6024652,"Council ratifies three-year police contract after executive session; officers and dispatchers praise settlement",5323,5444000,10767000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5759048-baa4499acfc87f3f6b5dcfd79ed08a39&start=5444&end=10767","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5759048-baa4499acfc87f3f6b5dcfd79ed08a39/thumbnail_5444000.jpg","/articles/6024652/Wasilla/Matanuska-Susitna-Borough/Alaska/Council-ratifies-three-year-police-contract-after-executive-session-officers-and-dispatchers-praise-settlement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6024652-4f43011fa027cc3041c6b5dad2db8747/orig.mp4?Expires=1770760330&Signature=Xi1smUs~vVeOBHKr24rqdPEG6AY5wsN7JEWn-8FmDqfoSSrLYTT95DRhmHp5ciRlIx7hnOIx~jXqos1RdCnmUlFugik-VD505eYvyNjds-J1D9anV~DWHQwBKK~kFL5SXuwciUJVoDvKuL75ENVrECN2wcR3E99siiRYq0WsCnh019fDoFfYDHUxSQ3KL-TE3uDrVJUPqGM73FD3pD-TjnfR5A2CMobDM9HkfXgecRHsRYSByIMm~9Ks9KjM6gxaHgX98RVXqMlc08no-JFH-rnEWprdrQXcmOIA1OTgMlmvdBDOTUYRXYo3orB8TJx-rwF9bhOXQr5JK0iGsffKsg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Wasilla City Council unanimously ratified a three-year collective bargaining agreement with the Wasilla Police Department Employees Association that covers July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028. The item was discussed in executive session and returned to the council for a public roll-call vote; the clerk recorded a unanimous yes.

Public commenters and department representatives praised the agreement. Ryan Hellman, president of the Wasilla Police Department Employees Association, thanked the council for the unanimous vote and said the result was the first time in his tenure the association had a unanimous yes among members on contract ratification. Hellman urged continued efforts on retention and recruitment, noting the department still lags Anchorage and Alaska State Troopers on pay and that smaller departments have fewer specialty opportunities.

Several other residents and employees commented during the public hearing and audience comment periods. Kim Johnson, a Wasilla resident, said she supports higher pay for police but opposed a contract provision (Section 21) that adds two floating holidays, warning that the precedent could expand costs across city departments. Michelle LaCour, a MatCom dispatch supervisor, spoke in strong support of the contract and explained MatCom’s heavy workload and recruitment challenges; she said better pay, time off and other contract improvements help recruitment and retention.

Council members who spoke in public session thanked officers and dispatchers for their work and noted the agreement aims to improve retention and recruitment in a competitive market. The council’s final roll-call vote in open session recorded unanimous support for the ratification.

Copies of the ratified agreement will be retained in the city clerk’s office; the contract’s implementation and any operational changes will be coordinated by the police chief and human resources.","After executive session, the council voted unanimously to ratify a three-year collective bargaining agreement with the Wasilla Police Department Employees Association covering July 1, 2025–June 30, 2028; public commenters including officers and dispatch supervisors voiced support while also urging continued recruitment work.",{"_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},6024654,"Wasilla pledges up to $1.3M to expand West Hill Public Library",1500,9900000,11400000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5759048-baa4499acfc87f3f6b5dcfd79ed08a39&start=9900&end=11400","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5759048-baa4499acfc87f3f6b5dcfd79ed08a39/thumbnail_9900000.jpg","/articles/6024654/Wasilla/Matanuska-Susitna-Borough/Alaska/Wasilla-pledges-up-to-13M-to-expand-West-Hill-Public-Library","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6024654-a28ba0ec89e80418e082c81b23b018d4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770760330&Signature=dYjxFFaMD-rPifhVvfsiEg8MRhZ8VIawFfsc-AbD6FH8UQ6VKtZuUnvH2imZmh4tP31laCpYGMrTfwDbQampowD6W3GKe5oGPKgdy4JrfEN~4gwjjU3M4D8IC09BYme80mKc0oqeThSw2RWrSLO9aFVaAaj98uHxC0GxtaNP27i3g-Phr4t14EL7fAjd5~QmRkfirRTh~YvJh9Ew-Mi-VbW~eTaivmd-abJDjOQR5~xPSDPiJdqvtjrdRP54d0PlImWE36XHmWRaLrdJ8E-YwiTX59VOU-S1drx0ITqh4X6cBXIxgSIP3n~x1dJ1R6V4UqNm3hbKppQARqTe0gjStQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Wasilla City Council on Wednesday adopted Resolution Serial No. 2530 to support an expansion of the West Hill Public Library and to commit up to $1,300,000 toward an estimated $3,000,000 construction cost.

Library Director Zane Trish presented the project goals in council discussion and said the upgrade would add space for staff workstations, processing and public services, and would create capacity to add operating hours over time. Trish told the council the library currently operates about 40 hours per week with 12 full-time equivalent staff and that the state’s public library assistance grant definition begins at 50 hours per week for communities over 10,000 population; the city’s population figure places the library near that threshold.

Council Member Graham said council members toured the library and supported the proposal’s operational and efficiency improvements. Council Member Crafton asked whether the expansion would immediately add staff; Trish said the building expansion creates capacity for future staff increases and would make it feasible to add hours without overburdening current employees, but that additional FTEs would be evaluated after the expansion.

Public comments included an appeal from Jeanne Trishinski, Friends of the Wasilla Library president, who said the facility has seen heavy use (the group cited roughly 107,000 annual visits) and asked the council to “jump start” the project. Several council members said the project responds to demonstrated public demand and long-term growth expectations.

The council approved the resolution without objection. Staff said project planning and next steps would continue through the library director and the city’s capital projects processes.","The council adopted Resolution Serial No. 2530 supporting a planned expansion of West Hill Public Library and committing up to $1.3 million toward an estimated $3.0 million construction project; library director said the expansion would add capacity and allow longer hours if staffing permits.",{"_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},6024660,"Council approves $8.24 million contract for Taxiway Kilo; FAA grant covers majority of project",660,7260000,7920000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5759048-baa4499acfc87f3f6b5dcfd79ed08a39&start=7260&end=7920","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5759048-baa4499acfc87f3f6b5dcfd79ed08a39/thumbnail_7260000.jpg","/articles/6024660/Wasilla/Matanuska-Susitna-Borough/Alaska/Council-approves-824-million-contract-for-Taxiway-Kilo-FAA-grant-covers-majority-of-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6024660-161b2e12d158b4962d5c38eb9de3b1a7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770760330&Signature=IYf91ASWb83U08WgoON8ULcSIBVPFI3nYee00Oe2cltoojdfWs61wOIO8lu-F2Q2H3ig~cPVNX2bqI0LKfekNdEIna~rJ2kKuz5V78eoGfJ7jJbv-ER47WmiihqIi9oEr4ZP7Re6dRlhe3mRerlUTM-wqcV6T2TMrgrZfgcMgog1HImoHZ5YRAZUV4RRmzMVq5J6KltOkbkTIXJNCSStidcuvuw6brnEjaQU08iwVX0702xqHtXX-AYPCqQylxDrfXxluW6y-C5NClZabyvS85QOdArVt8kgIxUMlWZH8CpDi8wRAc91~a3cLum~rdBmsFxyG9Xg-5F-QxznwXRq~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Wasilla City Council approved AM 2550 on Wednesday to award a construction contract to Ahtna Construction and Primary Products Company LLC for construction of Taxiway Kilo and related improvements at the Wasilla Municipal Airport. The contract award is listed at $8,243,859.20 and is pending receipt of a Federal Aviation Administration grant.

Council Member Rubio asked for clarification about the grant and the city’s share. A city staff member explained the grant arrangement is a cost-share relationship with FAA reimbursement tied to final contract amounts. The staff summary given to the council stated the FAA is expected to provide about $7,200,000 toward the project, with the city’s share and other ineligible costs totaling roughly $3.3 million when all ancillary contracts, contract administration and inspection are included. The overall project cost including ancillary work is described in council discussion as “just above $10,000,000.”

Council members were told the $12 million figure discussed earlier in project planning represented a planning ceiling used for FAA purposes. Actual federal reimbursement is determined by the final contract amounts and allowable cost categories under the FAA agreement; because the bid results were lower than the top-range estimate, the final grant reimbursement adjusts accordingly.

The contract award motion was moved by Council Member Caudill and seconded by Council Member Rubio and passed without objection. City staff noted a remaining project contingency of approximately $750,000 that would cover change orders; any significant change orders were said to be returned to council for approval.

The AM and the ordinance appropriating FAA funds for the airport project were presented together; the council earlier adopted Ordinance Serial No. 2528 to accept and appropriate a 15% increase to the FAA grant in the amount of $596,763 for the airport project. City staff indicated they had the grant award paperwork and were coordinating final funding and contract administration steps with both FAA and the city’s finance department.

The contract award and grant documents will be finalized after FAA documents are executed and the city completes its internal contract processing, and the city advised council members that staff would return with any required change orders for council approval.","The council approved AM 2550 awarding construction contract to Ahtna Construction and Primary Products Company LLC for Taxiway Kilo and related improvements at Wasilla Municipal Airport; the Federal Aviation Administration is the primary funder under a grant arrangement.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6024663,"Wasilla council adopts code change allowing yearlong interim director appointments",4204,1376000,5580000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5759048-baa4499acfc87f3f6b5dcfd79ed08a39&start=1376&end=5580","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5759048-baa4499acfc87f3f6b5dcfd79ed08a39/thumbnail_1376000.jpg","/articles/6024663/Wasilla/Matanuska-Susitna-Borough/Alaska/Wasilla-council-adopts-code-change-allowing-yearlong-interim-director-appointments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6024663-d5cc9d9c462e5181e7c78be23151e15a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770760330&Signature=LHuISCkPPTi-ro-l-vFBsltqCLoFlhL~YGZ1Gc12lvek6WHuCmLHizhxhcPdSXyQZv3uvn88KiH87qkCSGi0-hue9SQI9C1rHoaFA7yIwAYRM33wH2opdpfqp7hH9TnL7TK1loJa5WeOcj9VBqnayNIQd3Ai4cxgXWiVSHsiS70FVTla9ZkfqnWPys0GlRbMz75suCD3EgRPxd6iWw6TJBMjJOcv~VWhjlBfQXuTv2cXOZ4xtmU0bfVyFZE1vY7fnqbbHFqWiZDoJ2dalKPnNcImvtrUd4un2Cp0kgidANpqFtqf62-46LUUvJ760ZwzKke8lal81bI0mVB2Um6iBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Wasilla City Council on Wednesday adopted Ordinance Serial No. 2529, amending Chapter 3.5 of the Wasilla Municipal Code to clarify temporary employment limits and to authorize mayoral interim appointments for certain director-level positions for periods up to one year. Mayor Glenda D. Ledford presided.

Council members debated at length whether one year was too long for an interim appointment. Council Member Graham moved to amend the ordinance to change the limit from one year to six months; Council Member Cottle seconded that amendment. The amendment failed, 4–2, with Council Members Graham and Crafton voting yes and Council Members Cottle, Schmidt, Velock and Rubio voting no. After the amendment failed, the council voted to adopt Ordinance Serial No. 2529; the ordinance passed with Council Members Cottle, Schmidt, Velock and Rubio in favor and Council Members Graham and Crafton opposed.

Supporters of the one-year provision, including Mayor Ledford and other council members, said the change was intended to allow the mayor flexibility to bring experienced interim managers into director roles when needed and to let those interim appointees work the full hours the job requires without being constrained by the temporary-employee hourly limits currently in code. City Attorney Jennifer Alexander explained the code-based concern: the city’s temporary-employee definition ties eligibility to hours worked and that classification affects other obligations, including participation in the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS).

Opponents, led by Council Member Graham, argued a one-year interim appointment is effectively close to a permanent placement and risks altering department culture and enabling extended policy changes by nonpermanent appointees. Graham proposed six months with potential short extensions through the council; the council rejected that approach.

The ordinance text applies only to the positions identified in the code section cited during debate (chiefs and director-level roles) and does not alter the classification rules for other temporary employees. The council record shows members asked for clarity that the change is a definitional one — it changes how certain interim positions are treated within the city’s temporary-employee framework rather than creating a separate mayoral authority to appoint indefinitely.

The new code language will be reflected in Wasilla Municipal Code Chapter 3.5, section 350.02(c), per the ordinance approved by the council.

Questions about how the change will interact with PERS contributions and other code sections were raised during discussion; the city attorney said those compliance considerations were part of the reason for the draft language.

Council votes and the full ordinance text will be available in the council minutes and the city clerk’s office.","The Wasilla City Council adopted an ordinance that changes how certain director-level interim positions are treated, allowing interim appointments up to one year despite debate from council members about whether six months would better protect organizational stability.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Interim finance director schedules special ERP meeting; audit and hiring timelines updated

Council ratifies three-year police contract after executive session; officers and dispatchers praise settlement

Wasilla pledges up to $1.3M to expand West Hill Public Library

Council approves $8.24 million contract for Taxiway Kilo; FAA grant covers majority of project

Wasilla council adopts code change allowing yearlong interim director appointments