Kenai Peninsula Borough

Willy Dunne speaks at a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly votes down energy audits resolution

One of the goals of S.B. 17 is to have Alaska enter into energy service performance contracts valued at $100 million by 2026.

Willy Dunne speaks at a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Aaron Fleenor testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Boatyard, moose advocates discuss boatyard at assembly

The boatyard hopes to acquire three lots of land that separate some of the company’s discontinuous lots.

Aaron Fleenor testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Members of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meet on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough has over $1 million in leftover CARES money

Nearly half of the leftover funds come from CAR13, the project aimed at retrofitting borough facilities.

Members of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meet on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
James Baisden (left), Charlie Pierce (middle) and Jesse Bjorkman (right) attend a joint work session with the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Baisden to retire, step down as chief of staff

Baisden has served as borough Mayor Charlie Pierce’s chief of staff since 2018.

James Baisden (left), Charlie Pierce (middle) and Jesse Bjorkman (right) attend a joint work session with the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Administration building in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)

Trends: Grants on tap for local businesses

Across the peninsula, CARES dollars funded grant programs offering financial relief to residents, workers and businesses.

Kenai Peninsula Borough Administration building in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Tim Dillon

Trends: KPEDD looks to pandemic for lessons in economic resiliency

Among the projects KPEDD is working on this year are the borough’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy and an Economic Resiliency Plan.

Tim Dillon
Dr. Ann Zink, Alaska chief medical officer, answers questions from people on the Kenai Peninsula about COVID-19 during a virtual Q&A session with borough officials on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, in Alaska. (Screenshot)
Dr. Ann Zink, Alaska chief medical officer, answers questions from people on the Kenai Peninsula about COVID-19 during a virtual Q&A session with borough officials on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, in Alaska. (Screenshot)
A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Almost 1 in 4 borough residents has at least one vaccine dose

59% of borough residents 65 and older have received at least one dose.

A vial of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is seen at Central Emergency Services Station 1 on Friday, Dec. 18 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna Professional Pharmacy owner Justin Ruffridge (left) speaks to Dan Nelson, emergency manager of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management, at a COVID-19 vaccine clinic on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. OEM has partnered with the local pharmacy to host large vaccination clinics on the peninsula. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

More than 1,000 residents vaccinated in weekend clinics

About 29.9% of borough residents 16 and older have received at least one dose

Soldotna Professional Pharmacy owner Justin Ruffridge (left) speaks to Dan Nelson, emergency manager of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management, at a COVID-19 vaccine clinic on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. OEM has partnered with the local pharmacy to host large vaccination clinics on the peninsula. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A slash pile containing non-organic construction debris is seen at the Snug Harbor Slash Disposal site on Sept. 22, 2020 in Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Kenai Peninsula Borough Lang Management)

State to reimburse borough for slash disposal

The disposal site saw more use in 2020 due to a statewide burn suspension enacted during the 2020 wildland fire season.

A slash pile containing non-organic construction debris is seen at the Snug Harbor Slash Disposal site on Sept. 22, 2020 in Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Kenai Peninsula Borough Lang Management)
Love, INC in Soldotna, Alaska, provides homelessness prevention and housing services to people on the Kenai Peninsula. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Love, INC in Soldotna, Alaska, provides homelessness prevention and housing services to people on the Kenai Peninsula. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Express Map Viewer website homepage. (Screenshot)

Borough to do aerial survey of peninsula

The last time the borough conducted a general capture of imagery was in 2012 and 2013 for the western Kenai Peninsula.

Kenai Peninsula Borough Express Map Viewer website homepage. (Screenshot)
Assembly Member Tyson Cox speaks during a Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting on Tuesday, March 2 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough extends disaster declaration

Large-scale clinics hosted in part by the borough can vaccinate hundreds in one day

Assembly Member Tyson Cox speaks during a Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting on Tuesday, March 2 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
EMT Jason Tauriainen administers a COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday, Jan. 23 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of the Nikiski Senior Center)

More people eligible to receive COVID vaccine

Alaska continues to lead the nation in vaccine rollout

EMT Jason Tauriainen administers a COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday, Jan. 23 in Nikiski, Alaska. (Photo courtesy of the Nikiski Senior Center)
Richard Derkevorkian speaks at a borough and district work session on Tuesday, March 2 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough, district step toward compromise

The board reviewed their initial request and agreed to approach the borough with a new, lower request of $50 million.

Richard Derkevorkian speaks at a borough and district work session on Tuesday, March 2 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
State health officials address members of the media during a virtual press conference on Monday, Feb. 22 in Alaska. (Screenshot)

Over half of peninsula seniors have at least 1 vaccine dose

5,773 of 11,317 people in the borough age 65 or older have received at least one vaccine dose

State health officials address members of the media during a virtual press conference on Monday, Feb. 22 in Alaska. (Screenshot)
Peggy Clements testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Feb. 16 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Peggy Clements testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Feb. 16 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly members Richard Derkevorkian (left) and Jesse Bjorkman (right) participate in the assembly’s Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021 meeting at the borough assembly chambers in Soldotna, Alaska. The assembly voted Tuesday to fund 13 new positions for four fire and EMS service areas. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Fire and EMS service areas get additional personnel

This includes the 5 positions already slated for the new Western Emergency Services

Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly members Richard Derkevorkian (left) and Jesse Bjorkman (right) participate in the assembly’s Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021 meeting at the borough assembly chambers in Soldotna, Alaska. The assembly voted Tuesday to fund 13 new positions for four fire and EMS service areas. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The George A. Navarre Kenai Peninsula Borough building. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)

Borough assembly to consider adding 15 fire and EMS positions

The resolution would allow the assembly to use available Fiscal Year 2021 funds to add a total of 15 positions.

The George A. Navarre Kenai Peninsula Borough building. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough administration building is seen on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Caribou Island residents voice opposition to proposed access changes

The borough assembly will consider a petition to vacate a 100-foot-wide access point on the island

The Kenai Peninsula Borough administration building is seen on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)