government

A mock up of the Soldotna Field House. (Photo via City of Soldotna)

Soldotna designates field house funds

Construction of a field house in Soldotna took a step forward last week, when the Soldotna City Council formally designated money it plans to use… Continue reading

A mock up of the Soldotna Field House. (Photo via City of Soldotna)
Rep. Ben Carpenter, R-Nikiski, speaks during a meeting of the House State Affairs committee on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 in Juneau, Alaska. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)

Carpenter, Ruffridge target state finances

The central Kenai Peninsula’s representatives in the Alaska House of Representatives have their eyes on state finances this week. Reps. Justin Ruffridge, R-Soldotna, and Ben… Continue reading

Rep. Ben Carpenter, R-Nikiski, speaks during a meeting of the House State Affairs committee on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 in Juneau, Alaska. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)
Soldotna City Hall is seen on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna moves ahead with staff recruitment strategies

Soldotna City Council members last week gave city administration a thumbs up to move forward with new strategies meant to make it easier for the… Continue reading

Soldotna City Hall is seen on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Audre Hickey testifies in opposition to an ordinance that would implement a citywide lewdness prohibition in Soldotna during a city council meeting on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna council kills citywide lewdness ordinance

The decision followed lengthy public comment

Audre Hickey testifies in opposition to an ordinance that would implement a citywide lewdness prohibition in Soldotna during a city council meeting on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna City Hall is photographed on Wednesday, June 24, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna OKs donation of portable shower, restroom facilities to homelessness coalition

The city purchased the portable restroom and shower trailer for about $182,000 in October 2020

Soldotna City Hall is photographed on Wednesday, June 24, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The intersection of the Kenai Spur and Sterling highways is seen on Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)

Borough to use federal funds for street safety

The funds were made available through the Safe Streets and Roads for All program

The intersection of the Kenai Spur and Sterling highways is seen on Saturday, May 7, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)
Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion file Kenai Animal Control Chief Jessica “JJ” Hendrickson plays with Torch the cat at the Kenai Animal Shelter on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, in Kenai.

More than $11,000 in grants, donations given to Kenai animal shelter, senior center

The Kenai Animal Shelter received about $6,600 across multiple donations

Camille Botello/Peninsula Clarion file Kenai Animal Control Chief Jessica “JJ” Hendrickson plays with Torch the cat at the Kenai Animal Shelter on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022, in Kenai.
Sidewalk chalk drawings cover the outside of corroding insulation at Soldotna Elementary School on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion) Sidewalk chalk drawings cover the outside of corroding insulation at Soldotna Elementary School on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly accepts $50.4M for borough bond projects

$40 million will be used to complete a first round of school maintenance projects

Sidewalk chalk drawings cover the outside of corroding insulation at Soldotna Elementary School on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion) Sidewalk chalk drawings cover the outside of corroding insulation at Soldotna Elementary School on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Potholes are seen on Wildwood Drive on Thursday, April 22, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai seeks to split Wildwood Drive rehab costs with state

The road was identified in Kenai’s 2009 Roadway Improvement Survey to be in a failed condition

Potholes are seen on Wildwood Drive on Thursday, April 22, 2021, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Rachel Nash tests voting equipment at the George A. Navarre Borough building on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough to upgrade voting system

The acquisition of ADA-compliant voting equipment was initiated by a complaint filed by a voter who alleged the borough discriminated against him

Rachel Nash tests voting equipment at the George A. Navarre Borough building on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A map shows what Native-owned land parcels fall within the current boundaries of the Nikiski Fire Service Area. The assembly is considering excluding those parcels from the coverage area of the Nikiski Advisory Planning Commission, which currently has the same boundaries as the fire service area. (Map via Kenai Peninsula Borough)

Assembly bumps vote on size of Nikiski planning group to mid-April

Assembly members last fall approved the creation of a Nikiski Advisory Planning Commission that includes communities on the west side of Cook Inlet

A map shows what Native-owned land parcels fall within the current boundaries of the Nikiski Fire Service Area. The assembly is considering excluding those parcels from the coverage area of the Nikiski Advisory Planning Commission, which currently has the same boundaries as the fire service area. (Map via Kenai Peninsula Borough)
Demonstrators gather outside of the Kenai Courthouse on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

State officials clarify grand jury role

They weighed in as the assembly’s Legislative Committee considered a resolution on grand juries

Demonstrators gather outside of the Kenai Courthouse on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Foreground: Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland, left, and KPBSD Finance Director Liz Hayes, right, speak about the district’s fiscal year 2024 budget during a work session with the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

School district, borough mull budget shortfall as cuts loom

The two groups convened for a work session Tuesday

Foreground: Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Superintendent Clayton Holland, left, and KPBSD Finance Director Liz Hayes, right, speak about the district’s fiscal year 2024 budget during a work session with the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Areas cleared to make way for the Cooper Landing Bypass Project (bottom) can be seen above the Kenai River in Cooper Landing in this Aug. 10, 2021, photo. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion file)

Borough mulls plans for bypass parcel

The 1,000-acre Juneau Bench, or Unit 395, is located north of the Sterling Highway

Areas cleared to make way for the Cooper Landing Bypass Project (bottom) can be seen above the Kenai River in Cooper Landing in this Aug. 10, 2021, photo. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion file)
Soldotna City Council members and Soldotna Planning and Zoning commissioners meet for a joint work session on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna considers new commercial zoning district for downtown corridor

The zone would prioritize walkability, ‘visually pleasing’ aesthetics

Soldotna City Council members and Soldotna Planning and Zoning commissioners meet for a joint work session on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Susan Smalley (right) testifies before the Soldotna City Council on Wednesday, March 8, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. Smalley, who attended the 2022 Pride in the Park event questioned what would and would not be considered inappropriate under the proposed legislation. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna delays action on lewdness, park legislation

The trio of ordinances is the product of months of work by city administrators to review city code

Susan Smalley (right) testifies before the Soldotna City Council on Wednesday, March 8, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. Smalley, who attended the 2022 Pride in the Park event questioned what would and would not be considered inappropriate under the proposed legislation. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna City Hall is seen on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna awards $3,000 in grants to community groups

The city’s mini grant program distributes $4,000 in grants annually

Soldotna City Hall is seen on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Snow collects in a lot near the Aspen Hotel on Thursday, March 10, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. The lot is the site of a planned parking lot by the City of Soldotna. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna OKs downtown parking lot contract

Efforts to boost parking capacity in Soldotna come as the city looks to create a new “main street” parallel to the Kenai River

Snow collects in a lot near the Aspen Hotel on Thursday, March 10, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. The lot is the site of a planned parking lot by the City of Soldotna. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna City Hall is seen on Wednesday, June 24, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna to review mini grant applications next week

Five groups are vying for one of the two $1,000 grants available for the current cycle

Soldotna City Hall is seen on Wednesday, June 24, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Snow coats an eroding bluff near the mouth of the Kenai River on Friday, March 3, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Bluff project moves ahead

Kenai to buy last land parcels needed for stabilization effort

Snow coats an eroding bluff near the mouth of the Kenai River on Friday, March 3, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)