[{"_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",6470418,"mediaKeyId","5779597-af6896470fb35904b19e362fecca6fef","parentId",5779597,"title","Assembly urged to expedite landfill fence repairs after DEC letter and rising public attention","audioSeconds",143,"startMs",4552000,"endMs",4695000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5779597-af6896470fb35904b19e362fecca6fef&start=4552&end=4695","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5779597-af6896470fb35904b19e362fecca6fef/thumbnail_4552000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6470418/Kodiak-Island-Borough/Alaska/Assembly-urged-to-expedite-landfill-fence-repairs-after-DEC-letter-and-rising-public-attention","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6470418-ce01fb1746ebde78c70eaff5a1453696/orig.mp4?Expires=1774828959&Signature=nZgiRTli9l3V9tGN~QHpE-E9k14nqGy9iNHQHq4EVKpIIrcccjp4PQzJ6NzNAkCWnhVcC-rEPP8RHGjcTiZoQPP2ZyHJEfNbsluTv5TCKIuRWzaYLnjCfndpFZrRiLqRbg4Tstk4ktWJdCTdZSOyoBGh3kcyqFIMIt1dJdoy-zQ-3H~HAXZ-NdG8trP4CCXl2E423wX2SFILse9IrV7-mjD9neuRw1rHJjQh-gNmpG-IkG52jg1eYthPi1e6RiY4yGp6CIch2UTuisShNEVGcy1tUNuU1AI9Hi5YItb0Lelgm40JNg74zqGBxYj9gQfKgbSfqNLyPrtEujd3mzbjng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Kodiak Island Borough","date","2025-09-12T22:35:23Z","article","Assembly members on Sept. 11 urged Kodiak Island Borough staff to treat repairs at the borough landfill as urgent after staff reported penetrations in the fence, installation of a new energizer and a DEC letter raising concern about bears.

Manager Amy Williams told the assembly that a new fence energizer was installed and small fence penetrations were being repaired but that the borough lacked a current facilities contractor to complete all repairs. \"We were hoping to be able to move forward with our new contractor on those fence repairs, but now we don't really have a facilities contract. So we'll have to go out for a new project to get those repairs made, and we're still hoping to get those done by October 31,\" Williams said.

Several assembly members described the situation as urgent. One said the borough will likely face fines if repairs are not completed and that the issue has been forwarded to Alaska Wildlife Troopers. \"We are gonna start getting fined. ... This has been forwarded to the Alaska Wildlife Troopers,\" the assembly member said, adding that social media was amplifying public attention to the dump and attracting visitors.

Assembly member Scott urged rapid action and suggested the manager be given authority to proceed with emergency appropriations or expedited procurement if needed. \"If that requires an emergency appropriation, let's give the manager the authority to do that,\" he said. Members also noted staff and the borough have been communicating with DEC and that measures already taken include the new energizer and plans to repair fence penetrations.

Williams also warned that delayed repairs could create public‑safety hazards for staff and residents and said the borough is coordinating with stakeholders to identify contractors for fence work. She reported the borough hopes to have repairs completed by Oct. 31 but that the timeline depends on procuring a contractor and securing funds.

No formal appropriation was adopted at the Sept. 11 work session. Assembly members asked staff to prioritize repairs, explore emergency procurement or appropriation options, and return with a status update and cost estimate at an upcoming meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Assembly Work Session of September 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Assembly members pressed borough staff to accelerate repairs to the landfill fence after recent bear activity, a DEC letter and growing social-media attention; staff said parts of the repair are ready but lack an active facilities contract and hope to complete repairs by Oct. 31.","taxTitle","Kodiak Island Borough, Alaska","taxId",13713,"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},6470423,"Assembly hears update on Chiniak school water system after waiver denials raised by residents",1117,1838000,2955000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5779597-af6896470fb35904b19e362fecca6fef&start=1838&end=2955","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5779597-af6896470fb35904b19e362fecca6fef/thumbnail_1838000.jpg","/articles/6470423/Kodiak-Island-Borough/Alaska/Assembly-hears-update-on-Chiniak-school-water-system-after-waiver-denials-raised-by-residents","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6470423-11b4e329997a1801534e9b41f7e49fa7/orig.mp4?Expires=1774828959&Signature=HSjlMscpoze0p2bXGWXF94e2BUM8MD65wmrB3aTYIIgovAjmkCen7XLbt8A-UFr6jTexxYUDJGmHtz120sPP4pccKI~gRFPfhxJSd6dZ4U0zUSTPkTgwJ6VmKx-QEhYoKRqw7x4~-1-rOZL821ISy4HC36L36FMRqGzpRfR730yqNleDfTUwYixnsbQ09hz6PxG8PCtAgqjHLWNOmx1p~nMBqSq-QGmT7iYqFFpLMVBeqvhfr~naVYkHKPMCCGHtpeUfhhS23fFEyOW-NswGWsiFJzAyzCtM1M0ZCe3Y5uiXRYPc4F5oSFaDjGa5ghX3zQGF~Pg1oA1U0~aUxzdRCg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents and borough staff told the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly on Sept. 11 that the Chiniak School water system remains classified as a nonpublic system and that recent enrollment changes prompted the Kodiak Island Borough School District to deny out‑of‑area waivers to avoid exceeding the regulatory threshold for a public water system.

During citizen comment, Cheniak resident Sandy Dawes said two children from Bells Flats were denied waivers this school year because of the water-system threshold and urged the assembly and school board to hold more joint work sessions. \"The children that were denied the waiver, they weren't even born when this all started, but they're being the ones that are being held responsible for it,\" Dawes said.

Manager Amy Williams told the assembly the system is classified as nonpublic if it regularly serves 24 people or fewer; once it regularly serves 25 or more, the system must be upgraded to a public water system and different regulatory requirements apply. Williams said for the 2025–26 school year a combination of a family enrolling three children and an incoming teacher who also brings a school-aged child pushed enrollment to the district’s internal limit of 24. \"In order to not cross the threshold of the water system serving 24 and under to the point where it's serving 25 or more, the Kodiak Island Borough School District has denied waivers for students from the Bells Flats area to be transported out to the Chiniak School,\" Williams said.

Williams said borough staff and the advisory school board have reached out to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and to other local operators that have public water systems to learn how those systems are handling similar thresholds. She said the borough supplied a packet that includes a history of the Chiniak system back to 2005, a 2017 reclassification to nonpublic, and a study with interim options and cost estimates for treatment approaches such as reverse osmosis and cartridge filtration.

Assembly members pressed for clarifications on testing and timing. Assembly member Jared asked how DEC would respond once the system crosses 25 people; Williams said DEC will not begin formal guidance until the regulatory threshold is crossed, which complicates advance planning. Assembly member Dave suggested budgeting next year for a class 1 operator in case Chiniak moves above 24. \"I think it would be prudent for next year's budget to start looking at what that class 1 operator might cost, in case Chiniak does go over 25,\" he said.

Several assembly members noted practical interim measures used in other rural Alaska communities — temporary hauling of potable water, separation of potable and nonpotable supplies, or increased busing — but also emphasized those are short-term fixes. Assembly member Scott observed past problems with theft and vandalism at the site and said a permanent solution will be required if the school regularly exceeds the 24‑person threshold.

No formal action was taken during the work session. Assembly members asked staff to follow up with DEC, supply recent water‑quality and testing records in the meeting packet, and provide options and costs for compliance if the system reaches the 25‑person threshold. Residents and the advisory school board requested closer coordination between the assembly and the school district, including additional joint work sessions outside the annual budget-focused meeting.","Assembly members and staff reviewed the Chiniak School water system classification and recent waiver denials after public comments and told residents that regulatory thresholds (24 vs. 25 people) determine whether the system must be upgraded to a public water system.",{"_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},6470428,"Kodiak Community Health Center asks borough for land to secure construction grant",1508,311000,1819000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5779597-af6896470fb35904b19e362fecca6fef&start=311&end=1819","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5779597-af6896470fb35904b19e362fecca6fef/thumbnail_311000.jpg","/articles/6470428/Kodiak-Island-Borough/Alaska/Kodiak-Community-Health-Center-asks-borough-for-land-to-secure-construction-grant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6470428-88512c0e14ec935d3b095e38d8ff30ee/orig.mp4?Expires=1774828959&Signature=jT1iXbwGS35jvHHnVJG1kygnJPPtXmDqyBQxIzDM-nm7CZnfngutLQ2C4yO7X0p4s50iRXASfO5VDqezkB34h~l7VkNrVvJIHXEYawNro-NuVUPOmLKLJSFAAqzXZVh7d51kgZOjXamAnUHbfdH8ecmRzm-2Sa7LWXtri5E-tuHXeXq-RlSx8lbWUBoyibQLRIfpJ9D4Z95jVYxYxyCYcxQdWuS2jcHiD6qwog7Ymq5esCJArG0ixiv5OFjNisl8Xbr3TYL9HvkbPm9dtYhh~E2z1-Pv~N-udEn0Q~nrAbBBmlYQGuvsJghu-w~aNEByfzvz00WTM9CDV7aTCnZb0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kodiak Community Health Center CEO Oliver Wilson told the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly on Sept. 11 that the health center needs borough help securing a site so it can use a federal construction grant to expand services for Kodiak Island residents.

Wilson said the center received roughly $7,800,000 in 2023 for construction but cannot use the award to purchase land or an existing building. \"We cannot use that funding to purchase an existing building. We cannot use it to purchase land,\" Wilson said. She said the center must have a site and architectural plans before it can pursue additional funding and that the grant must be obligated within the next year or the funding will be lost.

The request prompted questions from assembly members about whether the borough should donate land, provide a long-term lease, or identify an already-developed parcel with utilities. Assembly member Bo said the borough should consider a long-term lease rather than permanently disposing of public land. \"A long term lease that offsets some of that, I think, would be a good use of taxpayer resources and, borough land,\" he said. Assembly member Steve raised concerns that the $7.8 million alone is unlikely to cover development costs in Kodiak and asked whether the grant requires land ownership; Wilson said the grant does not require ownership but does require a site \"that we can build on.\" She also said she has requested a minimum of $15 million from a rural health transformation fund and that other funders have signaled interest if the center can show a plan.

Assembly and staff discussion identified several borough-owned options to investigate quickly because of the short timeline. Assembly members and staff pointed to a flat, utility-served parcel at the intersection of Mill Bay Road and Benny Benson Drive as a practical near-term location, and they discussed former college/university property and the North Star site as possibilities. Assembly member Jared noted the borough also owns other large parcels but warned development costs can vary widely depending on access to utilities. Manager Amy Williams said staff will follow up with the college, the city and borough departments about available, utility-served sites and report back to the assembly.

Wilson described expected service expansions from a larger facility: more exam rooms to reduce waits, behavioral-health capacity, a recently launched pharmacy, and continued care for uninsured patients as a federally qualified health center. \"We see everyone. Everyone that walks through our door, we will see them regardless of their ability to pay,\" she said.

There was no formal motion or vote during the Sept. 11 work session. Assembly members expressed broad support for exploring options, asked staff to investigate lease versus donation arrangements, and requested regular updates from the health center on site and funding progress. Wilson said she is conducting outreach to the city, the college and potential funders and will keep the assembly informed.

For now, the health center is seeking either a donated borough site or a long-term lease so it can finalize architectural plans and pursue additional construction funding before its existing grant obligation window closes.","Kodiak Community Health Center told the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly it needs donated or leased borough land to use a roughly $7.8 million construction grant and meet a tight obligation timeline; assembly members asked staff to explore borough, city and university parcels and consider lease options.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Assembly urged to expedite landfill fence repairs after DEC letter and rising public attention

Assembly hears update on Chiniak school water system after waiver denials raised by residents

Kodiak Community Health Center asks borough for land to secure construction grant