Kenai Peninsula Borough

The Kenai Municipal Airport is seen on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough, cities support effort for direct Seattle air route

The City of Kenai last month applied for a grant that would provide financial incentives for an air carriers to establish the route

The Kenai Municipal Airport is seen on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A voting booth for the Kenai Peninsula Borough and City of Homer elections is photographed at Cowles Council Chambers on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Charlie Menke/ Homer News)
A voting booth for the Kenai Peninsula Borough and City of Homer elections is photographed at Cowles Council Chambers on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Charlie Menke/ Homer News)
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Central Emergency Services Chief Roy Browning and other dignitaries toss dirt into the air at a groundbreaking for the new Central Emergency Services Station 1 in Soldotna on Wednesday.
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Central Emergency Services Chief Roy Browning and other dignitaries toss dirt into the air at a groundbreaking for the new Central Emergency Services Station 1 in Soldotna on Wednesday.
Assembly Vice President Tyson Cox speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly won’t pursue further discussion on tabled bed tax resolution

Members say they’re going to work on a new version of the idea this winter

Assembly Vice President Tyson Cox speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Assembly member Brent Hibbert speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly tables bed tax, will pick a date for further consideration at next meeting

The resolution says that the proposed borough tax would be “up to” 12%

Assembly member Brent Hibbert speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The George A. Navarre Kenai Peninsula Borough building. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)

Assembly approves $1.4 million contract for roof repair

An ordinance redirecting toward the project unused federal grant funding was approved by the assembly in May

The George A. Navarre Kenai Peninsula Borough building. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)
Norm Blakely speaks to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly approves resolution guiding efforts to increase voter turnout

The Voter Turnout Working Group was established to explore options and ideas aimed at increasing voter participation

Norm Blakely speaks to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Alaska Department of Transportation Commissioner Ryan Anderson speaks during a town hall meeting on the use of brine on Kenai Peninsula roads, in the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly Chambers in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, June 17, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Brine use reduced by 69% this winter, further changes possible

Department of Transportation holds town hall to report back on winter brine use, collect feedback

Alaska Department of Transportation Commissioner Ryan Anderson speaks during a town hall meeting on the use of brine on Kenai Peninsula roads, in the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly Chambers in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, June 17, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Vice President Tyson Cox speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, June 4, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly to discuss short-term rental tax on Tuesday

The resolution describes a proposed tax of up to 12%

Vice President Tyson Cox speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, June 4, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Assembly member Cindy Ecklund speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, June 4, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly shuts down ordinances that would tax tobacco, fund child care

Ordinance 2024-15 sought to combat the lack of affordable, accessible and quality child care in the borough

Assembly member Cindy Ecklund speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, June 4, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche speaks during a meeting of the Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly unanimously approves borough budget

The budget describes around $178 million in revenue and $180 million in expenditures

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche speaks during a meeting of the Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Vice President Tyson Cox speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, June 4, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly adds 3 recipients to opioid grant awards

The grant program was created to distribute funds received by the borough through three nationwide settlement agreements

Vice President Tyson Cox speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, June 4, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Central Emergency Services Fire Chief Roy Browning stands in the agency’s ambulance supply room on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Additional $5 million may be directed to construction of new CES fire station

Voters in the October 2022 election authorized the issuance of a $16.5 million bond for the replacement fire station

Central Emergency Services Fire Chief Roy Browning stands in the agency’s ambulance supply room on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Planning Director Robert Ruffner answers questions posed by borough assembly members on Ordinance 2024-11 during the Lands Committee meeting on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Screenshot)

Borough assembly introduces ordinance to amend gravel pit regs

Ordinance 2024-11 would amend borough code Chapter 21.29 to include regulations on quarries

Kenai Peninsula Borough Planning Director Robert Ruffner answers questions posed by borough assembly members on Ordinance 2024-11 during the Lands Committee meeting on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Screenshot)
A fallen tree reaches onto Kalifornsky Beach Road in Soldotna, Alaska, as cars drive by on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Grants, borough to support HEA effort to mitigate dangerous trees

HEA will have permission to enter borough land and the borough’s right of way

A fallen tree reaches onto Kalifornsky Beach Road in Soldotna, Alaska, as cars drive by on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Assembly President Brent Johnson asks questions of representatives of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District during a joint work session of the School Board and Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Assembly President Brent Johnson asks questions of representatives of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District during a joint work session of the School Board and Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Central High School stands under clear skies in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, May 23, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough approves contract for KCHS parking lot rehabilitation

Soldotna-based Foster Construction will be awarded the bid of $648,997 to complete the project

Kenai Central High School stands under clear skies in Kenai, Alaska, on Thursday, May 23, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough mayor proposes flat sales tax, mill rates in $180 million draft budget

Borough Mayor Peter Micciche emphasized sustainability and affordability

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Nikiski Middle/High School senior Maggie Grenier, center, participates in her final school board meeting as student representative on Monday, May 6, 2024 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Nikiski Middle/High School senior Maggie Grenier, center, participates in her final school board meeting as student representative on Monday, May 6, 2024 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Education Association President LaDawn Druce speaks in support of borough and school district budget collaboration during a borough assembly meeting on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly sets school funding floor

The roughly $56.2 million amount is less than the $58.2 million requested last month but is more than what the borough gave the district last year

Kenai Peninsula Education Association President LaDawn Druce speaks in support of borough and school district budget collaboration during a borough assembly meeting on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)