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Assembly approves consent agenda including election code updates, fire reimbursements and commendation for Soldotna girls wrestling
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Summary
The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly unanimously approved an amended consent agenda on Jan. 20 that added two ordinances: additional funds for a road plow and forestry reimbursements for the Goldstream Creek fire; the consent agenda also included election-rule updates, a fisheries allocation resolution, and a commendation for the Soldotna High School girls wrestling team.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly approved the Jan. 20 agenda and a consent agenda that included appropriations, election-rule updates and a commendation for the Soldotna High School girls wrestling team.
Vice President Cooper moved to approve the agenda and consent agenda; Chair Neeson requested adding two ordinances to the consent agenda — "Ordinance 20 25 19 22," authorizing additional funds from the road service area capital project fund for purchase and installation of a plow on a new vehicle (the finance report noted $120,000 had been allocated previously and the road service board requested an additional $10,000 to complete the project) — and "Ordinance 20 25 19 23," directing forestry funds to reimburse personnel expenditures incurred supporting the 2025 Goldstream Creek fire. Both additions were made by unanimous consent and the amended consent agenda then passed without objection.
Other items on the consent agenda read by the clerk included: • Resolution KPB 7406 commending the Soldotna High School girls wrestling team for winning the 2025 state championship (Chair Truesdale read coaches and team members and noted it was the program's third straight title). • Resolution 2026-006 adopting an alternate allocation method for the FY26 shared fisheries business tax program for the Cook Inlet Fisheries Management Area. • Resolution 2026-005 requesting the Alaska Legislature provide municipalities authority to set a "not-to-exceed" amount for the volunteer firefighter/EMS optional real property tax exemption (the legislative report noted the state currently mandates a $10,000 exemption, which yields roughly a $100 annual benefit to volunteers). • Ordinance 20 26 02 to update borough election rules after voter approval of Prop 5; committee discussion highlighted several changes: election worker pay can be set competitively in the budget, the candidate filing window shifts to Aug. 16–30, a seven-day candidate withdrawal period was added, and terms for current elected officials would be extended until November results are certified; the ordinance hearing is scheduled for Feb. 17. • KPB 7404 confirming Paul Siko to the Soldovia Recreational Service Area Board (seat B) with term expiring Oct. 2026.
Public comment: Joan Core of the Kalifornski Beach area thanked the assembly for the election updates and urged a separate ordinance to require ballots be received by election day, saying, "I would really like to see that happen, which other states do, and it would eliminate..." She noted she was supportive of the election-code updates already under consideration.
The assembly also recognized the Soldotna High School girls wrestling team's accomplishments with a commendation that took effect immediately. The meeting adjourned after a series of short assembly liaison reports and final announcements; the next assembly meeting is Feb. 3, 2026.
