Kenai Peninsula Borough

Jesse Bjorkman speaks at a borough work session on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Bjorkman announces bid for state Senate

Tuckerman Babcock and incumbent Sen. Peter Micciche have also filed to run for the seat

Jesse Bjorkman speaks at a borough work session on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Land Management Agent Dakota Truitt presents information about the borough’s new timber sale and reforestation project at the Donald E. Gilman Kenai River Center on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Penisula Clarion)

Borough takes next steps to combat spruce bark beetle outbreak

Borough land management is crafting legislation to outline a forest management plan, timber sale

Kenai Peninsula Borough Land Management Agent Dakota Truitt presents information about the borough’s new timber sale and reforestation project at the Donald E. Gilman Kenai River Center on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Penisula Clarion)
A sign along the Kenai Spur Highway welcomes travelers to Nikiski, Alaska, in January 2019. (Clarion file photo)

Task force seeks input on potential extension of Kenai Spur north of Nikiski

The proposal would expand on the North Road Extension Project

A sign along the Kenai Spur Highway welcomes travelers to Nikiski, Alaska, in January 2019. (Clarion file photo)
Linda Farnsworth Hutchings, left, and Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce participate in a mayoral candidate forum hosted by the Kenai Chamber of Commerce at the Kenai Visitor and Cultural Center on Sept. 9, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Farnsworth-Hutchings gets 4th nod for planning commission

The city’s seat has been the subject of a back-and-forth between Soldotna and the borough mayor

Linda Farnsworth Hutchings, left, and Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce participate in a mayoral candidate forum hosted by the Kenai Chamber of Commerce at the Kenai Visitor and Cultural Center on Sept. 9, 2020. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Soldotna City Council member Dave Carey speaks during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Carey drops out of HEA race

He was running against Daniel Furlong for District 2, which represents Soldotna, Sterling and Kasilof

Soldotna City Council member Dave Carey speaks during a meeting of the Soldotna City Council on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Nikiski Fire Station No. 3 is seen on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Project will treat water at Nikiski Fire Station #3

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly approved additional funds for the project this month

Nikiski Fire Station No. 3 is seen on Friday, Aug. 20, 2021 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Assembly members Richard Derkevorkian (left) and Jesse Bjorkman consult during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara)

Borough seeks to fill planning commission vacancies

Two new commissioners took their seats for the Monday night meeting

Assembly members Richard Derkevorkian (left) and Jesse Bjorkman consult during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly convenves on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly approves $30,000 cybersecurity contract following incident

The borough’s IT director said no public data was compromised

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly convenves on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Assembly member Tyson Cox speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Split assembly voices opposition to proposed statewide sales tax

The resolution approved Tuesday opposes the implementation of a statewide sales tax in Alaska

Assembly member Tyson Cox speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Land Management Agent Dakota Truitt presents the borough’s new timber harvesting program to the Kenai Peninsula Borough assembly on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough proposes timber sale, forest plans as part of spruce bark beetle mitigation

The program was presented to the Kenai Peninsula Borough assembly Tuesday

Kenai Peninsula Borough Land Management Agent Dakota Truitt presents the borough’s new timber harvesting program to the Kenai Peninsula Borough assembly on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce attends the March 2, 2021, borough assembly meeting at the Betty J. Glick Assembly Chambers at the Borough Administration Building in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

First meeting of assembly gravel pit group postponed

The group was created to review the borough’s material site permitting codes

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce attends the March 2, 2021, borough assembly meeting at the Betty J. Glick Assembly Chambers at the Borough Administration Building in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Aaron Rhoades, Charlie Pierce, Richard Derkevorkian and Jesse Bjorkman listen to testimony during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough to use grant funds for COVID treatments, testing

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly approved a spending plan for the funds during the body’s Feb. 1 meeting

Aaron Rhoades, Charlie Pierce, Richard Derkevorkian and Jesse Bjorkman listen to testimony during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021 in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The 2021 Final Redistricting Map features newly drawn boundaries for Alaska State House race on the Kenai Peninsula. (akredistrict.org/Screenshot)

Assembly, school board need to be reapportioned

Some areas of the Kenai Peninsula are gaining new residents at faster rates than other areas, and it’s skewing how they’re represented on the Kenai… Continue reading

The 2021 Final Redistricting Map features newly drawn boundaries for Alaska State House race on the Kenai Peninsula. (akredistrict.org/Screenshot)
Soldotna Prep School is pictured on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019 in Soldotna, Alaska. Relocating the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District administration to the location is one of the projects for which the borough is seeking state funds. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion) Soldotna Prep School is pictured on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019 in Soldotna, Alaska. Relocating the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District administration to the location is one of the projects for which the borough is seeking state funds. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough to lobby state for $87 million for local projects

The projects include funds for a new fire station, school district relocation and flood mitigation

Soldotna Prep School is pictured on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019 in Soldotna, Alaska. Relocating the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District administration to the location is one of the projects for which the borough is seeking state funds. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion) Soldotna Prep School is pictured on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019 in Soldotna, Alaska. Relocating the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District administration to the location is one of the projects for which the borough is seeking state funds. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
Assembly President Brent Johnson presides over a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly forms committee for gravel pit regs

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly voted Tuesday to further table legislation that would overhaul the sections of borough code that address the regulation of material… Continue reading

Assembly President Brent Johnson presides over a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A diagram presented by Teresa Jacobson Gregory illustrates the proposed extension of the Beachcomber LLC gravel pit and the impact it may have on the surrounding state recreation area. The red markers indicate the current gravel mining area, and the orange represents the area the extension may allow for mining if approved. (Image courtesy Teresa Jacobson Gregory)

KPB Assembly to consider gravel-pit ordinance revisions

Proposed gravel pit ordinance follows Superior Court ruling that planning commission can deny permits.

A diagram presented by Teresa Jacobson Gregory illustrates the proposed extension of the Beachcomber LLC gravel pit and the impact it may have on the surrounding state recreation area. The red markers indicate the current gravel mining area, and the orange represents the area the extension may allow for mining if approved. (Image courtesy Teresa Jacobson Gregory)
Chairs at the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly chambers are decorated with paper cutouts on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022, at the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building in Soldotna, Alaska. The cutouts were intended to represent Central Peninsula Hospital patients who died of COVID-19. During public testimony given Tuesday, several members of the public expressed the desire for alternative treatments for COVID-19 and protested CPH’s treatment methods. (Photo courtesy Katherine Uei)

Assembly approves state health grant

The money was made available under a grant program in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chairs at the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly chambers are decorated with paper cutouts on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022, at the George A. Navarre Borough Admin Building in Soldotna, Alaska. The cutouts were intended to represent Central Peninsula Hospital patients who died of COVID-19. During public testimony given Tuesday, several members of the public expressed the desire for alternative treatments for COVID-19 and protested CPH’s treatment methods. (Photo courtesy Katherine Uei)
One of the two buildings used to teach elementary school children in Kachemak Selo sits on the outer edge of the village Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018 in the village at the head of Kachemack Bay. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)

Borough awards contract for K-Selo design report

The bid award will cover a programming phase, value analysis and cost estimate in a not-to-exceed amount of $125,000.

One of the two buildings used to teach elementary school children in Kachemak Selo sits on the outer edge of the village Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018 in the village at the head of Kachemack Bay. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
Assembly members Richard Derkevorkian (left) and Jesse Bjorkman (right) consult during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara)

Assembly approves sweeping changes to planning commission

The changes come after months of contention over the process for approving new members to the commission.

Assembly members Richard Derkevorkian (left) and Jesse Bjorkman (right) consult during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara)
Assembly Vice President Brent Hibbert prepares to vote on legislation during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly nixes in-person Seward, Homer meetings

Supporters said the meetings offer the opportunity for assembly members to make important in-person connections.

Assembly Vice President Brent Hibbert prepares to vote on legislation during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)