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A land dispute in Moose Pass could be resolved tonight when the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly considers allowing a negotiated sale of school property to an encroaching neighbor.

Ordinance 2008-25 would authorize the borough to sell about 2,010 square feet of Tract A Moose Pass School Site to Vern Kingsford for fair market value, a price that has yet to be determined by the borough assessor's office.

The land problem came to light after it was discovered that Kingsford had built structures on school property. That led to negotiations in which Kingsford agreed to pay for a survey, replatting and a fence he will maintain as long as the school operates. He also agreed to remove a fuel tank, wood box and plastic sheds.

The proposed conveyance is controversial in Moose Pass, with some members of the community supporting Kingsford's acquisition, others opposed because Kingsford also has been in a dispute with a neighboring church over encroachment.

The assembly will hold a public hearing on Ordinance 2008-25 and could vote Tuesday night whether to approve the negotiated deal.

Also on tap for public testimony are three other spending measures.

Ordinance 2007-19-55 would appropriate $15,000 in supplemental funding in the fiscal year 2008 budget to cover excess costs of installing new routing equipment for the 911 emergency call center. The extra funds were made necessary when transition to the new equipment, scheduled for May 22, was delayed until June 11 to provide some telecommunications carriers more time to adapt circuits. The delay required demobilization and remobilization of the borough's selective router contractor, according to Scott Walden, coordinator of the Office of Emergency Management.

Ordinance 2008-19-12 would appropriate $40,000 for the purchase and upgrade of a water tanker by the Kachemak Emergency Service Area from the city of Valdez. The 1980 tanker was identified as surplus and sold at auction.

Finally, Ordinance 2008-24 would allow for certain senior citizen property owners to file late for a habitat protection tax credit for properties where construction was commenced in 2005, 2006 or 2007.

According to Max Best, planning director, about 64 properties have potentially qualifying projects for the river habitat tax credit authorized by state and borough law. That tax credit can be taken over three years.

Because the $300,000 tax exemption cap was not established until October of last year and did not take effect until January, seniors with properties that had formerly been fully exempted from property taxes would not have applied for the tax credit if they built in 2005, 2006 or 2007, Best said.

The proposed ordinance allows relief to those taxpayers who otherwise would have qualified for the tax credit.

Hal Spence can be reached at hspence@ptialaska.net.