News from the Senate Majority

Alaska State Legislature

Wendy Lindskoog, Senate Majority Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
Phone: 907/465-4582
http://www.akrepublicans.org
Broadcast Actualities: 800/478-6540

Bill Removes Maintenance Facility from Kenai River Bank

Senate Votes To Construct New Facility in Soldotna

For Immediate Release: May 5, 1997 Contact: Senator John Torgerson 907/465-2828

Juneau -- The Alaska State Senate Monday agreed that a new maintenance facility should be built in Soldotna to replace a 30 year-old facility located on the banks of the Kenai River. Senate Bill 34, that passed by a vote of 18 to 1, calls for the old building to be dismantled and a new facility to be built on a different site.

"The Department of Transportation’s current maintenance building is deteriorated and the site has raised concerns regarding habitat protection and water quality on the Kenai River," said bill sponsor Senator Torgerson (R-Kasilof). "We need to clean up that site and protect the Kenai River."

SB 34 provides authorization to the State of Alaska to enter into and finance a lease-purchase agreement for the construction of the new maintenance facility. Because the Kenai Peninsula Borough owes the State of Alaska acreage, there will be no land acquisition cost incurred by this project, noted Torgerson.

"This project has wide community support I'm pleased to see the support for it by the Senate" said Torgerson.

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