By the time this goes to print, this legislative session will just about be in the history books. This session has been like one of those 5,000 piece puzzles. We started off by building the framework around the budget. Slowly we moved towards the middle working on separate distinct sections. After awhile you have to team up and work at finding specific parts to fit together just right. Now we're at the time of year when you swear there are a couple pieces missing. But in the end, the puzzle comes together, although a few of the portions may have dog bites in them.

High School Roof

The House has passed out HB 281, which authorizes the sale of bonds up to $269 million for construction and maintenance of public schools. It also finances improvements to both the University and specified state harbors. These bonds would be paid for with a portion of Alaska's share from the tobacco settlement monies. The Senate has also passed out their version of bonding legislation encompassed in SB 310 and SB 311. This bonding package is worth $440 million and would be funded through general obligation bonds if approved by the voters this fall. The repairs to the high school roof in Kodiak are covered in all of these bills. No matter which bill is used as the vehicle to drive this one home, I've been successful in having $1.1 million for the roof placed into these bills. If HB 281 passes, the money would be available sometime this summer. In these same proposals is $756,000 for an addition to Peterson Elementary and $1.3 million for the US Corps of Engineer match for the Ouzinkie Boat Harbor.

I have received a few phone calls and emails from folks in Kodiak who misunderstood the intent of the minority by their introduction of two amendments to HB 281. They made it sound like there was going to be more school projects funded by their amendments. I voted NO on both of these amendments. Amendment #2 in particular stripped out all of the Kodiak projects. By my NO vote, the new roof for the Kodiak High School stayed in this bill along with the other two projects I listed above. Let me make one thing clear. I support a new roof for the Kodiak High School. Both the school district and the borough provided the documentation I needed to support inserting $1.1 million for the roof into this bill. The question to ask yourself is this - if I took the time and effort to get the new roof into these bills, why would I vote against them?!

If you go to the State of Alaska's web page for the legislature, you will see that I do support this bill, as do most of my colleagues. http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis21.htm. The specific amendments I mentioned are located on pages 3348-3359 of the House Journal.

The capital budget also appropriates an additional $125,000 for the school district's facilities repair and upgrades under the municipal matching grant program.

Selief Lane Reconstruction

The final segments have come together for funding the construction of approximately 0.7 miles of Selief Lane. Two years ago we passed out SB231 that authorized the expenditure of $450,000 for the design and right-of-way work to be completed. This year the capital budget (SB192), contains $448,300 for the water and sewer work and another $3.8 million for the final construction of Selief.

Projects for this Summer!

East to Main Pathway

The East Elementary School to Main Elementary School Separated Pathway should be finally started and completed this summer. Over $600,000 is on the books for this project.

Kodiak Runway 10-28

$6 million was previously authorized for the design and construction rehab of this specific runway along with adjoining aprons and taxiways. This job should also be started this summer.

Monashka Bay Road

I have told DOT that I want the worst sections fixed before the next fiscal year which begins July 1st. They have informed me that no work will take place until the legislature approves their supplemental request for $189,000 in fuel cost increases for the Central Region. DOT is still insisting that they can do the work themselves. Apparently the liability issue this road presents doesn't scare them. Dennis Poshard, DOT's legislative liaison has conferred with Brad Thomson of the Dept. of Administration's Risk Management office. According to Dennis, as long as DOT prioritizes maintenance projects around the state, the lack of proper funding levels more or less takes away any risk the state would normally have. (Particularly as related to Title 19 in the Alaska statutes) When asked specifically about damages, injury or death resulting from the failure to repair potholes in the surface of the highway or not repaving this section properly, Mr. Poshard skirted the issue by saying that even damages aren't covered by risk management, because the legislature failed to provide adequate funding. I think it is incumbent upon DOT to do this work right and do the work now before somebody is hurt.

Visitors

Those folks from Kodiak visiting my office were Trevor Jones, Superintendent Betty Walters, Norm Wooten, Walter Sapp and Jay Stinson. From Karluk I had Alicia Reft stop by to confer and from Ouzinkie, Dave Campfield and Paul Panamarioff were in to talk about various projects. Hats off to Walter Sapp who has made several trips to Juneau this past 3 weeks on behalf of the Kodiak Electric Association as it relates to the 4-Dam pool negotiations.

Remember-my door is always open.