Grants boost public safety

Grants from the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management totaling more than $56,000 were appropriated Tuesday to two Kenai Peninsula programs.

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly enacted Ordinance 2007-19-27, accepting a grant of $30,712 for the Kenai Peninsula Citizen Corps Program, a series of volunteer-based programs providing communities with training, resources for identifying disaster risks and developing solutions, and opportunities for links between local leaders, volunteers and first responders.

The grant was made available through the federal Citizen Corps Program. The Kenai Peninsula program was established under the Local Emergency Planning Committee.

A second measure, Ordinance 2007-19-28, accepted and appropriated $25,750 that will buy emergency response equipment for the Kachemak Emergency Service Area.

Specifically, the money will purchase five ALMR-compatible mobile radios for the service area, equipment that will enhance the interoperability of the service area's communications with the state's ALMR (Alaska Land Mobile Radio) system.

According to Bonnie Golden, borough grants manager, the service area's current equipment works well, but is not compatible with the state's new technology.

"Improved communications is a priority," she told the assembly in a recent memo. "There have been frequent breakdowns in transmission of critical information when trying to communicate with other responding departments. One way to meet this need was to apply for funding through the State Homeland Security Program to purchase ALMR-compatible equipment."

Also on Tuesday, Borough Mayor John Williams informed the assembly that the Anchorage-based architectural firm of Bezek, Durst, and Seiser has been awarded a $145,000 contract to provide a design, specifications, construction submittals and construction inspection services for a new fire station and community hall on Diamond Ridge near Homer.

The Diamond Ridge Fire Station would be operated through the Kachemak Emergency Service Area.

In other business, the assembly:

* Postponed action on Ordinance 2007-33 (substitute), a measure that includes revisions of borough codes regarding construction of roads in new subdivisions. Several amendments were approved Tuesday, but final action has been put off until the Dec. 4 assembly meeting.

* Enacted Ordinance 2007-34, amending Plat Committee hearing and review procedures.

* Enacted Ordinance 2007-35, which extended the sunset date of a 2005 measure creating an appointed board of adjustment to Dec. 31, 2009.

* Postponed Ordinance 2007-19-22, a measure appropriating $850,000 in interest income to the South Peninsula Hospital expansion project.

* Tabled Resolution 2007-051, a measure concerning plans for the borough's participation in the 50th Anniversary celebration of Alaska Statehood scheduled for 2009.

* Postponed Resolution 2007-069, a measure committing the borough to developing a local climate change impact plan.

Hal Spence can be reached at hspence@ptialaska.net.