MAT-SU—A wet, slow-to-arrive spring, eight months after a federal flood disaster has officials at the Matanuska-Susitna Borough monitoring and responding to saturated roads, wet neighborhoods, and high water in creeks and rivers.

“The ground is so saturated that the water has nowhere to go and so is running fast on the surface,” said Borough Emergency Manager Casey Cook on Monday.

MAT-SU—Due to wet conditions, Borough Public Works had to close a 2.2 mile section of Caswell Lakes Road—from Amundsen Ave. to Hidden Hills Road—possibly for a week.
A heavy frost is holding water on the surface. Driving on it is leading to road failure. This is the third year in a row that Public Works had to close this road, says the road superintendent.
 

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough hosts three sites where you can safely dispose of your unused, unwanted, or expired medications. It is an anonymous service where everything collected is boxed up and taken for incineration by Alaska State Troopers.

MAT-SU—Thursday at the Menard Sports Complex more than 65 economic development volunteers met to share their progress and ideas on executing the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Economic Development Plan.

MAT-SU—Salmon passage is featured in the 2013 poster for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. Artist Ruth Hulbert was selected to portray the significance of Mat-Su salmon fisheries to Mat-Su residents.

MAT-SU—The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Public Works Dept., and HDR Alaska, Inc. invite you to see what is happening with the South Big Lake Road Realignment project. A new road alignment will improve safety and mobility. Improvements have been indentified and all right-of-way easements have been acquired.

Last weekend the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Mayor, Manager, and Assistant Manager rode 48 miles roundtrip on snowmobiles from Big Lake to the future Fish Creek townsite in the Fish Creek  Management Area. The 160-acre site will be located west of Big Lake. The actual site has not been identified yet among the 10,000 acres of the management area.

MAT-SU—The Matanuska-Susitna Borough and partners will be gearing up for a global economic development conference in Anchorage in 2015. Today, Bill Popp of the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation said the global meeting will put Alaska on the world stage.

MAT-SU—The Matanuska-Susitna Borough has created a new wetlands website with comprehensive information about wetlands: www.matsugov.us/wetlands. The web site was developed to provide information about wetland identification, the functions of wetlands, project planning and permitting.The website contains links to a wetlands map viewer that covers the central areas of the Mat-Su and answers many frequently asked questions about wetlands.

Anchorage—Coordinated action to conserve coastal habitat in Southcentral
Alaska has captured national attention.  On Thursday February 7, 2013 at
the Alaska Forum on the Environment conference held at the Dena'ina
Convention Center, Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Interior for
Alaska, Pat Pourchot, will present the Matanuska-Susitna Valley Coastal
Conservation Partnership with a 2012 Coastal America Partnership Award on behalf of the Obama Administration and Coastal America.

MAT-SU—The Public Works Department for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough has moved across the street from the administration building to a former university building, 533 E. Fireweed Ave in Palmer. The borough entered into a low-cost lease for one year with the university. The move is part of the new addition project for the Dorothy Swanda Jones building, which involves adding space in the former courtyard for offices and new Assembly chambers. Some departments are shifting around to accommodate construction and renovations for a building that dates back to 1935.

ANCHORAGE—Crisis communications during the federal flood disaster and a video on Port MacKenzie each earned second place in the Alaska Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America at a recent awards banquet on Jan. 24. Some 130 Alaska public relations professionals are members including business and industry, military, government, and marketing strategy firms.

GOVERNMENT PEAK RECREATION AREA—Drizzle didn't keep 170 residents away last Saturday during Winter Trail Day.  Many came out to the new Government Peak Recreation Area near Hatcher Pass to try out nordic skis and snowshoes and lessons on new trails.

MAT-SU—This summer $54 million in road projects will get underway in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough including some road bond projects and other capital projects. "That is a big construction program," said Joe Perkins, hired by the Borough to review and support development of the projects. "That's at least 11 separate construction contracts with an average size of them, $5 million. That is a big load, " Perkins said.

MAT-SU—To celebrate the annual Winter Trails Day, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Parks and Outdoor Recreation Division, Mat-Su Trails Council, and Alaska Trails will host free cross-country ski and snowshoe lessons on Jan. 12, Saturday, from 10:30 am to 3 pm at the new Government Peak Recreation Area. Instruction and equipment are free of charge and some refreshments.

By Frankie Barker, Planner

MAT-SU—The Big Lake Community has much to be proud of in recent years with the successful 2009 update of their comprehensive plan and the many activities that have followed to enhance their community. On Nov. 13, 2012, the Alaska chapter of the American Planning Association presented the Big Lake Community Council, Agnew:Beck consultants, and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Planning Division with an award for the best comprehensive plan in the state.  

Mat-Su—For 27 years in a row, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough's Finance Department has achieved an international award. The Government Finance Officers Association of the U.S. and Canada awarded a certificate for excellence in financial reporting for the Borough's comprehensive annual financial report or CAFR. The certificate of achievement is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting.

MAT-SU—The Mat-Su Basin Salmon Habitat Partnership is hosting the fifth annual Science and Conservation Symposium on Nov. 7 & 8 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Central Mat-Su Public Safety Building at 101 W. Swanson Ave in Wasilla.

MAT-SU—Tonight in Big Lake, learn about the challenges and opportunities of road corridors via a community impact assessment. Get involved in creating future transportation routes. It's going on at Faith Bible Fellowship Church, from 7 to 9 pm tonight, Oct. 23.

Visit the website http://www.biglakecommunityimpact.org to sign up for regular emails on project updates.

MAT-SU—Listen to Borough Deputy Clerk Jamie Newman highlight the important business of the Borough's Oct. 2 election. Vote early at several designated places, including the Borough, (350 E. Dahlia Ave, Palmer) the Division of Elections in Wasilla (Mat-Su Elections Office 1700 E. Bogard Rd, Suite B102), or Palmer, Wasilla, & Houston cities,  or Talkeetna and Trapper Creek Public Libraries. Learn more at http://www.matsugov.us/

MAT-SU—The Matanuska River is closing in on five homes, two in Butte, three in Sutton. Two residents are getting help from locals to move their homes away from the river. So far, a third is applying for a portion of the move to be paid by federal emergency funding. Today and yesterday, Borough staff worked quickly troubleshooting the problem and connecting with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to make it happen.

MAT-SU—Construction of an addition for the Dorothy Swanda Jones Borough building in Palmer has begun. Entrance to the building has changed. For the next four months, meetings for Assembly, Planning Commission, and Platting Board will be moved to the School District Administration building.

The addition will create a larger public meeting space and new work space for employees.

MAT-SU—You're invited to feel the inspiration at the grand opening this Friday of the Sutton Library and Community Resource Center from 3 pm to 7 pm in Sutton. View the brief video to catch a glimpse of the skill and passion that went into the construction of the $2.4 million project.

MAT-SU—This Saturday in Willow a Spring Trail-Building workshop is offered where you learn the basics of design, layout, construction, and maintenance of motorized and non-motorized trails with three hours of classroom instruction followed by hands-on field work. The program is free, hosted by the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Dept. of Community Development. The Borough benefits each summer from volunteer work on Mat-Su trails.

Mat-Su– Academy Charter school broke ground yesterday on its new addition which will add ten much needed classrooms. These latest improvements will allow the school to get rid of six run-down, poorly ventilated portables currently serving as classrooms. The Mat-Su Borough School District will take some of the portables back but several of the worst ones will be used for fire training.

MAT-SU—It’s that time again. Yellow bags stuffed with garbage along the roadside signal the arrival of Alaska spring. From now until June 12, community councils and groups across the Borough are holding community clean-up days, when residents get out and pick up the trash, and haul it to the Borough landfill for free.

“It helps the Borough get all that litter picked up,” said Cathy Mayer, Solid Waste Division Manager.

MAT-SU—Eric Phillips has 20 plus years of management experience that touches all aspects of his new job as the Community Development Director at the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. Land & resource management, trails, libraries and recreation will be under his care.

After more than 10 years of dedication, Borough Programmer & Analyst Rhonda Zak retires today. It's only fitting then that a tribute she wrote on the retirement of the former server Alea is shared. Zak was instrumental in complex, behind-the-scenes efforts like these that keep Borough business going.

MAT-SU—Learn what’s on the next Assembly agenda without looking for it. Sign up for an automatic email notification so the Assembly agenda arrives in your inbox.

“I’ve been striving for improved access to local government. Here’s a way you can stay informed with less effort and testify on the issues that matter to you,” Borough Mayor Larry DeVilbiss said.

Mat-Su–The fire season is heating up and has ushered in the first Red Flag Warnings of the season. A ‘Red Flag Warning’ means that critical fire weather conditions are imminent or occurring. http://firewx.arh.noaa.gov/  Alaska Governor, Sean Parnell has designated April 30 to May 4 as Wildland Fire Prevention and Preparedness week.

MAT-SU— The average Matanuska-Susitna Borough tax bill would drop $70 in Borough Manager John Moosey’s proposed 2013 budget, due to a lower average assessed home value and a firm line on budget increases.  The Assembly deliberates and approves the final budget in May.

MAT-SU—This Saturday dispose safely of your expired and unused prescription/shelf medications at a drug take-back event at four locations in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough from 10 am to 2 pm at Wasilla Fred Meyer, Wasilla Carrs Safeway, Palmer Fred Meyer, and Talkeetna Sunshine Health Clinic.

MAT-SU—Charter schools in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough are a step closer in achieving funding parity with traditional schools here, thanks to some measures adopted unanimously Tuesday night (April 17) by the Borough Assembly, and sponsored by Assemblymember Jim Colver.

MAT-SU—The US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) will have a staff person available at the Matanuska-Susitna Borough’s one-stop permit center through the summer. The Corps presence in the Mat-Su every Thursday from 8 am to 2 pm gives an opportunity to work locally with the federal agency from May 15^th thru September 15th. The Corps closed their Mat-Su office nearly two years ago.  

MAT-SU—Significant funding is anticipated from the State capital budget for the fastest growing community in Alaska for roads, rail, highways, fish, tourism, and education. In the operating budget the Goose Creek Correctional Center will receive $32.5 million to become fully operational by summer 2013.

The Mat-Su Borough will also receive $5.73 million from state revenue sharing of oil wealth with Alaska communities.

MAT-SU—On Sat., more than 39 volunteers at the Animal Shelter for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough were honored for their dedication with the President's Volunteer Service Award. “The shelter staff and the homeless and abandoned animals we care for are so thankful for their generous efforts,” said Mat-Su Borough Volunteer Coordinator, Susan Fujimoto. “We could not do all that we do without them.”

MAT-SU—Just three days into the job as the new Matanuska-Susitna Borough Economic Development Director, Don Dyer is on the phone connecting with the owner of a high-tech company who was considering leaving the Borough. Dyer walks the owner over his obstacles of talent pool and logistics and drafts out a new business plan. The high-tech business owner’s anxiety vaporizes. He scraps any plans of relocating.  On to day four.

Mat-Su– On March 20, 2012,  ‘Chosin Few’ organization member John Beasley testified before the Mat-Su Borough Assembly to request having a mountain named in recognition of the Marines who fought so courageously in one of history’s most brutal battles, ‘The Chosin Reservoir Campaign.’ In that battle, 3,000 Allied soldiers died fighting their way through Chinese forces who out numbered them 5 to 1 while enduring frostbite in the harsh -35º weather and mountainous terrain.

MAT-SU--Bullets whizzed past surveyors in the woods at Point MacKenzie yesterday (March 20). Target shooters likely did not know about active surveying beyond the Point MacKenzie Trailhead parking lot near milepost 17 on Point MacKenzie Road.

MAT-SU—Adding more online services in a borough nearly the size of Scotland will be a great convenience for some residents of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. “It's a huge issue for the farthest reaches of the Borough,” said Mat-Su Borough Assemblymember Ron Arvin at a recent meeting where the increase of online services was supported by the Assembly. Business licenses, swim lessons, pet licenses, ice rink time, and trailhead parking passes are among the coming online transactions.

MAT-SU—Today,  March 15, Matanuska-Susitna Borough Animal Care officers, assisted by Alaska State Troopers, executed a search warrant at a property off East Sheep Drive in the Montana Creek area. Based on the findings, 12 dogs were removed from the property and placed in protective custody at the Animal Care Facility.

For more information call Animal Care Manager Phil Morgan at 355-2100.

MAT-SU—The Matanuska-Susitna Borough’s sound credit was reflected in the bond ratings assigned this week by three credit rating agencies: Standard & Poor’s rating services gave the Borough AA+, FitchRatings AA, Moody’s Investors Service Aa2 for bonds the Borough is selling for schools and older bonds the Borough is refunding for schools and the port.

MAT-SU—An airplane tax was unanimously repealed last night by the Assembly for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, where the highest concentration of private airstrips and public airports is found in the nation. Assemblymember Darcie Salmon sponsored the legislation in support of our local aircraft owners.

MAT-SU—Delivering natural gas from the North Slope to Cook Inlet through a high-volume gas pipeline would benefit Alaska in both domestic and world markets. That high volume gasline to Cook Inlet could be a marriage of both concepts, the ASAP gasline and the Alaska Gas Pipeline project.   

ANCHORAGE—The annual report for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough earned first place in the Alaska Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America at a recent awards banquet on Jan. 26. Some 130 Alaska public relations professionals are members including business and industry, military, government, and marketing strategy firms.

MAT-SU–  Last Monday, Animal Care removed ten Mastiffs, a hermit crab, and fish, among other pets, from a Mat-Su residence. Complaints of abandoned dogs on Knik River Road prompted Mat-Su Borough Animal Care officers to apply for a search and seizure warrant.

ANCHORAGE—A new report maps out erosion history and hazards for 74 miles of the Matanuska River, a braided river in Southcentral Alaska that has damaged and threatened houses, roads and public facilities for decades.

MAT-SU—This week the Assembly for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough accepted $60,000 in donations for the Sutton Library & Community Resource Center project, including $50,000 from BP-Alaska, $2,500 from Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union and $7,500 from Friends of the Sutton Library.

MAT-SU—Assistant Borough Manager Elizabeth Gray resigned this week and took a job in her home state of Oklahoma as City Administrator of Altus, Oklahoma.

MAT-SU–The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly introduced an ordinance Tues. night that will send $60,000 in donations for the Sutton Library And Resource Center project. BP Alaska donated $50,000 and Friends of the Sutton Library raised $10,000, after many fundraising activities.

MAT-SU—New Borough gravel mining rules contain the first reclamation requirements ever in Borough code for gravel extraction and provide a process for mining in the water table. Most industry representatives who testified support the new rules.

MAT-SU—The Matanuska-Susitna Borough continues to lead the state in constructing energy efficient and sustainable buildings. The year-old community recycling center is the first industrial facility in Alaska to be LEED certified at the Gold level. Today Mat-Su Borough Mayor Larry DeVilbiss accepted a glass plaque for the achievement.

MAT-SU—Tuesday night, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly amended Borough rules for mining gravel. The new ordinance adds environmental protections while also garnering support from the gravel mining industry. Wednesday afternoon, however, Assemblymember Noel Woods asked for a reconsideration of his vote, saying the final draft should be seen before the final vote. The ordinance appears again on the Dec. 20 agenda.

MAT-SU—Learn how a local mom & successful business woman hopes her son will return from a Colorado prison to Goose Creek. Hear from contractor Neeser on how the cost to build the prison will never be lower.

MAT-SU— The opening of a new, short-span bridge might sound like below-the-fold news, but not to residents like Glenn and Sandy Guy and more than 30 others who live beyond Welch Bridge near Hatcher Pass and were recently without vital services such as heating fuel, septic haul-away, and fire truck response.

MAT-SU—The 2011 Annual Report for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough is online. Did you know about the local boy who was pinned under a truck tire and brought back to life by a responder on his way home? How about the feat the Sportsman's Committee pulled off in protecting local salmon? Please take 10 minutes by reading the 2011 Annual Report online if you haven't picked it up at Blockbuster, Mat-Su Regional Hospital, grocery stores, or Subway. Then answer 6 questions in a survey.

Mat-Su—Turn in your unused or expired medications this Sat., Oct. 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Fred Meyer in Palmer or Wasilla and at the Talkeetna Sunshine Clinic as part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The effort is aimed at preventing abuse of prescription drugs and at reducing the disposal into our water systems.

MAT-SU—Trails near one of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly's priority projects—the South Denali Visitor Center—drew national notice this week in a U.S. Dept. of Interior news release, as one of the best investments in the nation to create travel, tourism and outdoor-recreation jobs across the country.

Mat-Su—The Matanuska-Susitna Borough recently received its trademark for the phrase: Stillwater Fishing Capital of Alaska. More than 80 lakes, stocked and wild, are within an hour’s drive of each other. Tuesday night, resident Bob Andres was also honored with a mayoral proclamation for recognizing and promoting the stillwater fishing potential.

ANCHORAGE-KENAI-MAT-SU- Southcentral Alaska residents are being asked to voluntarily
reduce their energy consumption for two hours on the evening of Wed., Oct. 19.

MAT-SU—Mat-Su voters strongly supported bonds for roads and schools tonight, and the reapportionment of Assembly district lines. Darcie Salmon is a new Assemblymember. Steve Colligan is the leader in the race for Assembly District 4. Erick Cordero and Ole Larson remain as School Boardmembers. Election results are unofficial until certified on Oct. 18.

MAT-SU—A new 18,280 square foot addition to the main office building for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough will improve public process with its 300-seat Assembly chambers, among many benefits. Presently, the cramped chambers of the 75-year-old building force some citizens to listen in the hallway.

MAT-SU, RAVEN HALL—The Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, City of Palmer,
City of Wasilla, the Alaska Railroad Corporation, Mat-Su Transit and the Mat-Su Borough have teamed up to bring you the latest on Mat-Su Valley roads, rails and trails at this one-stop information destination from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at Raven Hall on the Alaska State Fairgrounds.

MAT-SU—After listening to three hours of testimony from Borough residents Tuesday night, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly voted 5 to 1 to adopt a resolution of support for Usibelli Coal Mine Inc.'s effort to renew a state permit for its Wishbone Hill project.

MAT-SU―Staff and officials at the Matanuska-Susitna Borough were saddened to learn of the death of former Borough Clerk Sandra Dillon. She gave many years to public service. She was first hired at the Borough in May 1989 as a Legal Secretary. She became Borough Clerk in April 1995 until she retired in May 2004.

MAT-SU—Did you know that only 21 percent of voters voted in the last Borough election? Deputy Borough Clerk Jamie Newman gives a quick overview of the upcoming election on Oct. 4.

MAT-SU—A revetment—overgrown with alders and brush along the edge of Talkeetna in the Talkeetna River—will be cleared by the Borough at the request of the Dept. of the Army next week so the rock structure can be maintained. The 32-year-old levee protects the town from flooding along the riverbank beginning south of Second Street and ending just North of B Street.

Mat-Su—Most schools are starting Wednesday. Drivers will once again be sharing roads with school buses and kids and all too soon, with darkness. In recent years, at least two, rear-end collisions with school buses has occurred. The Borough Transportation Advisory Board encourages alert, courteous driving.

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough adopted the Natural Resources Management Units Plan last September 2010. We are now moving forward to the second phase with the Five Year Timber Harvest Schedule. The draft Schedule is available online for public review; comments will be accepted through August 31, 2011.

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough employees just played a vital role in responding to our state’s blood supply shortage. Up to 96 lives were helped by the blood donations made by employees and family on Aug. 3.

MAT-SU Aug. 3—Discussing weighty issues for eight hours, the Assembly adjourned at two minutes to midnight after working through subjects such as road bonds, road powers, Assembly reapportionment, a proposed new election process for School Boardmembers, land for Academy Charter School, land for a new Caswell Lakes fire hall, and the creation of a wastewater advisory board.

A vote on a School bond ballot proposition was postponed until Aug. 9.

Mat-Su—The Point MacKenzie Public Safety Building will now bear the names of Art & Boots Scates, two community leaders who helped establish a rural fire station and gave momentum to a young port. The couple was killed in a traffic accident on Knik-Goose Bay Road on January 5.

MAT-SU BOROUGH—Municipalities and private property owners across the nation are catching onto rain gardens as a technique to capture rainwater before it enters storm drains or nearby waterbodies. The Matanuska-Susitna Borough gained four beautiful and practical rain gardens this summer. Native plants will help prevent pollution, erosion, and flooding. 

MAT-SU-- Nine members representing The American Hiking Society brought their love for hard work and the outdoors to the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. Their 10-day vacation was grubwork on the side of 3,527 foot Lazy Mountain. With mattocks, loppers, Pulaskis, and McCleods, the volunteer group cut the last eight-tenths of a mile of the new Lazy Moose Trail through the Devil’s Club and tree roots.

MAT-SU—Judges selected artist John McOmber's work on the Nordic Ski Area from among the entries of 11 artists in this year's Matanuska-Susitna Borough poster contest.  McOmber will be revealing his art and signing posters tomorrow at Palmer's Friday Fling event, beginning at 11 am.

Mat-Su—Fireworks are illegal in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough for the July 4th celebration. A $500 fine is possible. The City of Houston allows them. Or enjoy the professional show in Wasilla on July 3 at 11 pm in Iditapark.

Mat-Su—Changes to rules for subdivisions, flood plain determination and land use permits are being proposed. The Assembly is seeking reform of MSB 17.02, MSB 17.29, and MSB Title 27 based upon comments from citizens.

These ordinances are being reviewed by the Planning Commission and Platting Board over the next 60+ days. The Planning Commission and Platting Board are seeking comments. Meetings are scheduled for public participation. 

MAT-SU—The deadline has been extended for the Mat-Su Borough poster contest on the Nordic Ski Area project. New deadline: June 20, noon. There's 12 more days to create a sense of place and to show inspiration for the coming Nordic Ski Area at Hatcher Pass. Photos, sketches, painting, digital art all welcome. The poster contest promotes a local artist and a Borough priority project.

MAT-SU—Big projects with statewide benefits in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough continue to progress with new funding from the recently passed State capital budget. Port MacKenzie Rail receives $37.5 million, Goose Creek Correctional Center receives its original funds from the Governor’s budget, $3.6 million, and South Denali Visitor Center receives $3 million.

MAT-SU—An Alaska Superior Court judge granted the Matanuska-Susitna Borough relief Monday by ordering the promoter of the Trapper Creek Bluegrass festival, Justin Boot Rousseau, to follow the rules on mass outdoor gatherings.

MAT-SU—Assemblymembers, the Mayor, and the new Manager for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough listened to the testimony of more than 30 people in a crowded room last night in the first public hearing on the proposed Borough budget.

Mat-Su -- On Thursday, April 28, VCRS, or Valley Community for Recycling Solutions, and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough received the Outstanding Recycling Community award from ALPAR (Alaskans for Litter Prevention and Recycling).

PALMER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, MOOSE LODGE—Matanuska-Susitna Borough Mayor Larry DeVilbiss said the Assembly searched the nation for the right manager and found him in John Moosey.  Moosey had anticipated the recent economic downturn, DeVilbiss said, and prepared his county of Chisago, Minnesota, in advance, DeVilbiss told the Palmer Chamber of Commerce today.

Mat-Su—Representatives from the Alaska Redistricting Board held a public hearing today (April 25) in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska’s only Borough that has grown 50 percent in the last decade. Borough officials and others asked the Board for five full representatives to reflect the constant growth.

MAT-SU—Tuesday night, Acting Borough Manager Elizabeth Gray gave an overview of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Manager’s proposed budget for 2012. The proposal aims to maintain services to the public while minimizing the effects of the mill levy.

MAT-SU—Beginning this spring, the Borough will be part of a multi-agency, $1.9 million project that puts planes in the air and adds accuracy to maps.

In order for owners of property in a special flood hazard area to buy less expensive flood insurance, the Borough participates in the National Flood Insurance Program. To maintain eligibility in this program, homeowners must build to specific standards, such as building to, or above, the base flood elevation in their area.

MAT-SU—A new trails foundation in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough recently gained major momentum. On March 15, a roomful of trail supporters was pleased when the Borough Assembly unanimously agreed to reappropriate $100,000 to the Mat-Su Trails & Parks Foundation.

MAT-SU—The new U.S. Census numbers show what State economist Neal Fried frequently presents: “The Valley continues to eclipse the rest of the state.”

The population of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough grew by 50 percent in the past decade. The 2010 Mat-Su population: 88,995.

Mat-Su – On April 30, 2011 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska State Troopers, Palmer Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.  Bring your medications for disposal to Wasilla Fred Meyer at 1501 E. Parks Hwy., Palmer Fred Meyer at 650 S. Cobb Street, or Talkeetna’s Sunshine Community Health Center at 34300 S. Talkeetna Spur Road.  The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked

There is no immediate or anticipated threat of radioactive exposure from the Japanese nuclear plant explosion.

The Alaska State Emergency Coordination Center is working with and is constant contact with the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Nuclear Regulatory Commission, FEMA, the Department of Defense, US Health and Human Services, and the Alaska Department of Public Health who continue to monitor the overall situation, the air quality, and the weather patterns.

MAT-SU—A new Borough Manager was selected this weekend by the Assembly for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. John Moosey, County Administrator for Chisago County in Minnesota is the pick.

MAT-SU—The fisheries of the Susitna and Yentna Rivers in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough are struggling. Assembly Member Jim Colver is the Vice Chair of the Mayor's Sportsmen's Committee. "Unless the Board of Fish mandates that conservation measures be taken, we may lose our fisheries. It's that close to being a crisis," Colver said.

MAT-SU—Seeking artwork of Mat-Su Borough artist. Award: $1500 for painting, drawing, or photographing an inspirational view of the Nordic Ski Trails project at Hatcher Pass.

MAT-SU—An independent legal opinion found that Matanuska-Susitna Borough Mayor Larry DeVilbiss may continue to serve both as Borough Mayor and Director for Matanuska Electric Association. The opinion also concluded that Mayor DeVilbiss must declare a conflict and be excused from Assembly action in any matter in which MEA has a "substantial" interest.

MAT-SU—The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly narrowed an executive search firm's list of candidates for Borough manager to seven Tuesday night.  The seven candidates will be interviewed via video conferencing on Feb. 18.

MAT-SU—The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly narrowed an executive search firm's list of candidates for manager to seven Tuesday night.  The seven candidates will be interviewed via video conferencing on Feb. 18.

ANCHORAGE—The work of Matanuska-Susitna Borough Public Affairs staff was recognized at an award ceremony on Jan. 27, as among the best work of public relations professionals in Alaska. The Alaska Chapter of Public Relations Society of America has more than 100 members, including full-service public relations firms and corporations.

MAT-SU—Tuesday night Ed Nutter blew a whistle, stepped off his lifeguard chair, and dived 13 feet down to the bottom of the Palmer Pool to bring an unconscious 17-year-old to the surface.

MAT-SU—The ceremonial ribbon was cut today with more than 150 supporters cheering and laughing and listening to speeches inside the new $3.9 million recycling center in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. The facility allows this community to participate in the global economy, said event speaker Pete Grogan, with International Paper, a company that buys 4 million tons of recycled paper a year.