Willow residents ask Matanuska-Susitna Borough for funds for parks, library upgrades and rec center; assembly continues budget hearing

WILLOW, Alaska — Residents of Willow and nearby Big Lake pressed the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly on April 24 for local budget help on several community projects during a public hearing on the boroughproposed fiscal 2026 budget, and the assembly agreed to continue the hearing to April 29 for further deliberations.

Speakers at Willow Community Hall urged the assembly to fund a long-planned Jordan Lake Park project, improve ADA access between a senior housing complex and the Roseley White Community Center, pay for acoustic treatments in the Willow Public Library meeting room, and consider taking over or otherwise assisting the Big Lake Lions Recreation Center.

The hearing opened after the clerk read the ordinance under consideration. "Ordinance serial number 25Dash025 and appropriating monies from the central treasury for the borough operating funds, enterprise funds, education operating fund, and capital funds, establishing the rate of levy for all borough functions for the fiscal year beginning 07/01/2025, and ending 06/30/2026 and setting the surcharge rate for the wireline and wireless enhanced 9 11 systems for the period of 07/01/2025 through 06/30/2026," the clerk said.

Why it matters: The ordinance (25-025) sets the boroughwide property-tax levy, operating budgets and capital spending for FY2026; resident requests during the hearing asked the assembly to prioritize local capital projects and one-time improvements as the assembly prepares final budget deliberations next week.

Jordan Lake Park and Jolly Creek drainage

Speakers from Big Lake described a 22-year effort to build Jordan Lake Park and asked the borough to fund remaining clearing and hydroseeding. "We submitted a CIP for $52,000 to improve the park," said Jim Fakes, a Big Lake resident who said the community had raised $37,000 toward that request. Lorraine McKinstry, a volunteer on the Jordan Lake Park development committee, told the assembly the project was ranked No. 2 by the planning commission and had been approved unanimously by the Big Lake Community Council.

Residents said the park also ties into a long-standing drainage and flooding issue involving Jolly Creek; one speaker described the water flow as varying "between 0 and, 98,833 gallons an hour" and said routing and controlling the drainage through the park is intended to reduce flooding in nearby subdivisions.

Big Lake Lions Recreation Center

Bill Heller, speaking for the Big Lake Lions Club, urged the borough to consider acquiring the Big Lake Lions Recreation Center, which his organization built and has operated largely with volunteers. "We have about 400,000 in debt," Heller said, adding that the borough assessor lists the facility value at roughly $4,000,000. Heller said the clubhas run out of volunteer capacity to continue operating the center and that the club has previously transferred community facilities to public ownership.

Library acoustics and other facility requests

Willow library advocates asked the borough to fund improvements to the library meeting roomacoustics so events and remote meetings are audible. "The quote from Elite was $19,000 19 thousand 2 hundred dollars for tectum and felt panels," said Sid Burts of the Willow Library Association, and the association requested the assembly add $25,000 to the library budget to cover acoustic panels and related work.

Senior-center connector and ADA access

At the start of public comments, residents from Willow described a proposed paved connector to link a senior housing complex with the nearby Roseley White Community Center and library to improve wheelchair and stroller access. "A paved walkway connecting the senior center to Roseley White Community Center seems like it would be a good addition to the property," one speaker said, citing a letter from the Community Development Department. Volunteer Rodney Cambridge added, "This would help with the ADA compliance, would help in the safety of this building," and said volunteers and donors have already contributed planning work and some labor offers.

Roads, RSAs and other requests

Tom Phillips, a volunteer on the Greater Willow Road Service Area (RSA) advisory board, urged the assembly to address unmaintained RSA roads and suggested the borough consider a bond to fund repairs. Other residents thanked the assembly for prior funding commitments (Links Lake Road) and raised concerns about utilities and services: one Willow resident said some neighbors lack electricity needed for home medical oxygen; another asked the assembly to ensure library materials comply with federal grant conditions before accepting certain funds.

Opposition to outside annexation of Willow land

Representatives of Willow community groups also urged the assembly not to approve a land acquisition by the City of Houston that would annex Willow-area land for a municipal airport without resident approval. "The Willow Area Community Organization is firmly resolved, against any and opposes any land acquisitions of Willow property," Brian Grenier, president of the Willow Area Community Organization, said.

Assembly action and next steps

A motion was made to continue the public hearing on Ordinance 25-025 to April 29, 2025, in the Assembly Chambers in Palmer; the assembly continued the hearing "seeing no objection," and clerk staff said deliberations will begin the following week. Assembly members and staff told residents that final budget deliberations will be the venue for amendments and that staff can prepare amendment language ahead of deliberations if members request it.

What the record shows: No final votes on the budget ordinance were taken at the Willow hearing; the only formal action recorded was a continuance of the public hearing to April 29, 2025. Residents seeking specific budget additions asked the assembly to consider: $52,000 (Jordan Lake Park CIP request; community-raised $37,000), $25,000 to improve Willow Library meeting-room acoustics (quote from vendor Elite Acoustics and Interiors: $19,200), support or acquisition for the Big Lake Lions Recreation Center (club reports about $400,000 in debt), and funding or scheduling changes for local infrastructure (roads, wood lot opening for beetle-kill wood disposal). The assembly noted average property values and an anticipated roughly 3% tax increase for the average home as staff and members weigh priorities.

The hearing resumed April 29 in Palmer for the assemblyto continue budget deliberations; staff advised members to file amendments in advance and said staff would be available to prepare amendment language.

Sources: Public testimony and remarks recorded at the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly special budget public hearing, Willow Community Hall, April 24, 2025.