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Residents urge borough to press legislature for faster eviction process amid squatters problem
Summary
Several Fairbanks residents told the assembly that existing state law favors long removal timelines and leaves property owners with costly, months-long court processes. Speakers asked the borough to add expedited eviction measures to its legislative priorities so the Interior delegation will consider changes.
Several residents told the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly on Aug. 28 that repeated, lengthy legal fights with people occupying private property have driven them to ask the borough to press the Alaska Legislature for expedited eviction rules.
Ed Davis of Bunchberry described a neighbor’s house taken over while the owner was away and said the owner spent “about a grand on the lawyer” and waited months for a court judgment. Sean McGuire, who said squatters severely vandalized rental cabins, said the occupants used fake leases and “knew what to do” to delay removal. “It was really a painful situation…you have to go through the process and it’s expensive and stressful,” McGuire said.
Assemblymembers asked for details about the legal timeline and evidence; staff and members noted the issue raises questions of state law and police authority. Assemblymember Haney asked whether testimony about statutory changes had been brought previously to the Interior delegation; speakers said they had presented earlier and urged a bipartisan bill to speed landlord remedies.
Why it matters: Residents say the current process leaves owners unable to quickly recover control of property, exposing them to theft, damage and lost rental income. Speakers proposed that the borough include a narrowly tailored request on its legislative priorities asking the state to shorten procedural barriers where owners can prove title and show occupancy by non-residents claiming fabricated leases.
What happens next: Public commenters asked the assembly to add language to the borough’s legislative-priorities resolution and to coordinate with state legislators. The assembly did not adopt the priorities that night; it postponed the complete priorities package to Sept. 25, allowing more time to craft legislative language and solicit broader regional support.
