An ordinance accepting U.S. Treasury local assistance and tribal consistency funds to support Central Peninsula Landfill infrastructure improvements (Ordinance 2025‑19‑14) was discussed at the finance committee and placed on the assembly consent agenda on Oct. 14.

Finance Committee Chair Tom Tonseth summarized the ordinance as ARPA funds totaling roughly $1.7 million, with about $1.2 million allocated for a new compactor and $450,000 for removal of the old baler building and feasibility/design related to that building. "This includes $1,200,000 for the new compactor and then $450,000 which will be used to remove the old baler and to look at feasibility and design of the baler Building," Tonseth said during the committee report.

Public comment emphasized recycling operations and transparency. Alyssa Murphy, secretary of the nonprofit Regroup and a Soldotna resident, said Regroup had submitted a public‑records request for recycling and solid‑waste cost records and urged the borough to provide detailed cost breakdowns. Murphy noted that borough staff had discussed purchasing a used baler and that a local recycling operator indicated the borough might obtain a used baler for roughly $10,000; she asked the assembly for clearer numbers on how ARPA funds would be used. "The total appropriation ... gave us $1,700,000 specifically for landfill infrastructure ... we're planning to purchase their old baler for only $10,000. So that leaves a huge surplus," Murphy said.

Ben Bedger and Brian Shackleton also addressed the assembly in support of financing a baler and asked that the larger ordinance not remain on consent so the public could hear details. Bedger requested the item be removed from the consent agenda for fuller discussion; the item remained on consent after committee briefing and public testimony.

Committee and consent process

The finance committee reviewed the ordinance and recommended it be placed on the consent agenda. Assemblymembers moved to add Ordinance 2025‑19‑14 to the consent agenda during agenda amendments; no objections were raised and the ordinance was added. When the assembly approved the agenda and consent agenda by unanimous consent later in the meeting, items on the consent agenda (including this ordinance) were approved or set for public hearing as noted on the agenda.

Other landfill items

The finance committee also discussed a sole‑source resolution (Resolution 2025‑039) to SCS Engineers for a phase‑1 feasibility evaluation of a Class I underground injection control well at the Central Peninsula Landfill (approximate phase‑1 cost roughly $60,000). That resolution was placed on the consent agenda as well.

Ending

Assembly action placed the ordinance and related landfill items on the consent agenda and approved the agenda and consent agenda without objection. Public speakers requested more transparency about the detailed cost breakdown for the baler and building work and asked the borough to produce requested records; borough staff and the mayor said they would provide further updates and that solid‑waste planning is ongoing.