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Few could argue with outgoing City Manager Tom Boedeker's claim that "it's been a busy 12 years" since he hired on as Soldotna's top executive in 1996.

During a presentation to the Soldotna City Council last week, Boedeker described just how much has changed in terms of infrastructure from the building and paving of city streets, to the installation and extension of water and sewer lines to all the improvements made at Soldotna's many parks and riverside walkways.

One of the first shortfalls faced by the manager 12 years ago was having no water supply capacity to allow for growth.

"Back then, if we had (a fire) emergency, we could drain the reservoir in 18 minutes," Boedeker said.

The construction of a new 1 million-gallon reservoir and new control building, along with a water line down Park Street across the Kenai Spur Highway changed that.

Another big change was the complete renovation of Soldotna's waste-water treatment plant and the conversion to ultraviolet disinfection to reduce the chance of polluting the Kenai River with chemical disinfection.

Boedeker recalled that when he first looked into the ultraviolet system, the cost was estimated at $350,000.

By the time the project was completed, however, with the added clarifier basin, a new generator to power the plant in the event of extended electricity outages, upgrading the operating technology for the aeration and digester basins as well as replacing most of the electrical wiring, the cost came to $4.3 million, he said.

Although Soldotna had most of its streets already built by 1996, new subdivision developments created the need for a number of short streets here and there. In all, since he became manager, he said the city has added 1 1/2 to 2 miles of new streets and improved 3 1/4 miles of streets from gravel to asphalt-paved.

When Boedeker first arrived on scene, the city had one department for parks, another for campgrounds and a separate group to manage the Soldotna Sports Center. Under his leadership, all of that was consolidated into the Parks and Recreation Department.

Parker Park did not exist, the Kenai River Classic Fish Walk did not go all the way down river to the state park property, stairs and a walkway along the river at Swiftwater Park were not in and little more than a dirt trail led down to the river from Soldotna Creek Park.

Since the consolidation, the Parks and Recreation Department has added 4,400 feet of elevated walkways to and along the Kenai River.

During his reign, the city also acquired the highway maintenance yard from the state Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, known commonly as DOT park. Plans are under way to redesign the grassy park overlooking the river into a more comprehensive attraction for residents and visitors.

Besides adding elevated walkways and stairs, the city has seeded the former maintenance yard, restored the riverbank and built trails extending from Soldotna Creek all the way to Binkley Circle next to the Aspen Hotel.

After river ice took out much of the recreational infrastructure two years ago, the city rebuilt elevated walkways, stairways to the river and boat launches that were damaged or destroyed.

In his 12 years of serving the city, Boedeker said sewer mains were added in the Westgate Subdivision, Mountain Rose Estates, along Kalifornsky Beach Road, along Funny River Road as far as the Soldotna Municipal Airport and to Sharkathmi Avenue, the street that runs past the new St. Elias Brewing Co. restaurant.

Boedeker put the total expenditure for capital projects in 12 years at $44 million. That includes projects initiated by the city and those bought by the city from private developers.

"It's been a busy 12 years," he said. "Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this and to improve the city."

Boedeker plans to retire in August and has been replaced by Larry Semmens, former finance director of Kenai.

Phil Hermanek can be reached at phillip.hermanek@peninsulaclarion.com.