Kenai Peninsula Borough

Borough budget could bring cuts, increase for nondepartmentals

Next Tuesday night’s Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting could bring cuts or increases to the borough’s three economic development programs. The Kenai Peninsula Economic Development… Continue reading

Gravel pit group chips away at bond issues

One of the key controversies with gravel pits in the borough is who is responsible for cleaning them up after the digging, crushing and hauling… Continue reading

Assembly to consider bonds for K-Selo school

Assembly to consider bonds for K-Selo school

Kenai Peninsula Borough voters may be asked this fall to take on several million dollars in bond debt to pay for a new school in… Continue reading

Assembly to consider bonds for K-Selo school
Assembly still torn on how to plug budget shortfall

Assembly still torn on how to plug budget shortfall

With one meeting left before they have to approve the fiscal year 2019 budget, the members of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly have yet to… Continue reading

Assembly still torn on how to plug budget shortfall
This July 1, 2017 photo shows the current end of the Kenai Spur Highway near Captain Cook State Recreation Area north of Nikiski, and the informal ATV trail that continues to the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s Grey Cliffs and Moose Point subdivisions. On Thursday the Federal Highway Administration found that the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s plan for an 8 mile gravel extention of the road wouldn’t significantly impact the surrounding wetland environment, finishing the project’s envirnomental permiting. (Photo courtesy of the Federal Highway Administration).

North road extension environmental permitting finished

The Kenai Peninsula Borough’s plan to extend the Kenai Spur Highway north of Nikiski received its last piece of environmental permitting when Federal Highway Administration… Continue reading

This July 1, 2017 photo shows the current end of the Kenai Spur Highway near Captain Cook State Recreation Area north of Nikiski, and the informal ATV trail that continues to the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s Grey Cliffs and Moose Point subdivisions. On Thursday the Federal Highway Administration found that the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s plan for an 8 mile gravel extention of the road wouldn’t significantly impact the surrounding wetland environment, finishing the project’s envirnomental permiting. (Photo courtesy of the Federal Highway Administration).

Borough and municipalities contest revenue changes

Editor's note: This story has been changed to correct Soldotna's yearly sales tax revenue.  City managers from around the Kenai Peninsula said Kenai Peninsula Borough… Continue reading

Health clinic, hospital finances center stage in boundary debate

For the third time in four years, the community of Ninilchik is the center of a debate about who in the Kenai Peninsula Borough should… Continue reading

Public education supporters gather for a barbecue in the parking lot behind the George A. Navarre Borough Administration Building before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly’s meeting on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. Teachers, parents and school district administrators turned out in force to ask the assembly to increase funding to the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District on Tuesday. The assembly agreed to at least provide as much funding as it did in fiscal year 2018, but with a deficit in the borough budget, the source of the funding is still unclear. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly sets base funding for school district at $49.7M

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District will get at least as much funding from the borough in fiscal year 2019 as it did this year.… Continue reading

Public education supporters gather for a barbecue in the parking lot behind the George A. Navarre Borough Administration Building before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly’s meeting on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. Teachers, parents and school district administrators turned out in force to ask the assembly to increase funding to the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District on Tuesday. The assembly agreed to at least provide as much funding as it did in fiscal year 2018, but with a deficit in the borough budget, the source of the funding is still unclear. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Borough trims employees, travel to cut back expenses

Borough trims employees, travel to cut back expenses

Most departments in the borough are looking at budget cuts in the upcoming fiscal year in personnel, supplies, contracts or other assorted expenses. The Kenai… Continue reading

Borough trims employees, travel to cut back expenses
What goes into the borough budget?

What goes into the borough budget?

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly begins the long process of hashing out its budget for fiscal year 2019 on Monday. The administration has been working… Continue reading

What goes into the borough budget?
This September 2017 photo shows Hook Lane, a Kenai Peninsula Borough-maintained gravel road off Arc Loop Road just south of Soldotna, Alaska. The Kenai Peninsula Borough’s Material Site Working Group is currently debating possible revisions to the code governing gravel pits on the peninsula. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Gravel pit group digs into recommendations

With two public listening sessions behind them, the members of the borough’s working group on gravel pits are digging into their list of recommendations. The… Continue reading

This September 2017 photo shows Hook Lane, a Kenai Peninsula Borough-maintained gravel road off Arc Loop Road just south of Soldotna, Alaska. The Kenai Peninsula Borough’s Material Site Working Group is currently debating possible revisions to the code governing gravel pits on the peninsula. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Result in borough invocation case could take 6 months

With the open court discussion done, the plaintiffs and the Kenai Peninsula Borough may have to wait up to six months for a decision in… Continue reading

Public hearing on hospital boundary move set for Ninilchik

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to show that South Peninsula Hospital's revenues would be reduced under the new service areas. The public will… Continue reading

In this April 2017 photo, a black-bellied plover wanders the beach north of the Kasilof River near Kasilof, Alaska. The Kasilof River area is considered important habitat for shorebirds. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Birders, senators concerned at memo on bird protections

Birding activists and a group of senators are asking the U.S. Department of the Interior to rethink a recent decision to interpret the Migratory Bird… Continue reading

In this April 2017 photo, a black-bellied plover wanders the beach north of the Kasilof River near Kasilof, Alaska. The Kasilof River area is considered important habitat for shorebirds. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce speaks to the joint Kenai and Soldotna chambers of commerce at a luncheon Wednesday, April 18, 2018 in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough mayor looks forward at budget balancing, future revenue plans

Just over a month remains before the Kenai Peninsula Borough administration plans to bring its proposed budget to the assembly on May 24. Borough Mayor… Continue reading

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce speaks to the joint Kenai and Soldotna chambers of commerce at a luncheon Wednesday, April 18, 2018 in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Snow-covered mountains provide a backdrop for Cooper Landing in this April 11 photo. The Sterling Highway, the main corridor to and from the Kenai Peninsula, winds through the little community of Cooper Landing, often bringing dense traffic and car accidents with it, particularly in the summer. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Resolution would ask DOT to lower Cooper Landing speed limit

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly may ask the state to drop the speed limit on part of the Sterling Highway near Cooper Landing. The assembly… Continue reading

Snow-covered mountains provide a backdrop for Cooper Landing in this April 11 photo. The Sterling Highway, the main corridor to and from the Kenai Peninsula, winds through the little community of Cooper Landing, often bringing dense traffic and car accidents with it, particularly in the summer. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
This Friday, March 9, 2018 photo shows the space beneath Nikiski resident Kimbra Mensch’s home, which is currently being torn down, in Nikiski, Alaska. The contractor Mensch hired to build her home left her with 48 building violations, resulting in an unsafe building she is having to pay to have torn down and start over. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Homeowners can be left holding the bag if they hire unlicensed contractors

A thin layer of snow shifted across the bare plywood floor of the unfinished house when construction contractor Ward Adams lifted one of the panels… Continue reading

This Friday, March 9, 2018 photo shows the space beneath Nikiski resident Kimbra Mensch’s home, which is currently being torn down, in Nikiski, Alaska. The contractor Mensch hired to build her home left her with 48 building violations, resulting in an unsafe building she is having to pay to have torn down and start over. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Court hears arguments on invocation lawsuit

Court hears arguments on invocation lawsuit

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly’s policy on who can give invocations had its day in court. The American Civil Liberties Union and the Kenai Peninsula… Continue reading

Court hears arguments on invocation lawsuit
This 1976 photo shows emergency vehicles parked at Central Emergency Services’ Station 1 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo courtesy the Kenai Peninsula Borough)

CES looks to move Soldotna fire station

Central Emergency Services is looking to East Redoubt Avenue in Soldotna for its new Station 1 site. The service area, which provides emergency medical and… Continue reading

This 1976 photo shows emergency vehicles parked at Central Emergency Services’ Station 1 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo courtesy the Kenai Peninsula Borough)

After public objection, borough trims land auction list

The list of Kenai Peninsula Borough-owned parcels up for auction got significantly shorter after the borough assembly trimmed the list in response to public concern.… Continue reading