Kenai Peninsula Borough

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, school district ask lawmakers to move K-Selo money

Efforts to construct a new K-12 school building in the remote village of Kachemak Selo have been in the works for years.

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)
Charlie Pierce, Jesse Bjorkman and Brandi Harbaugh attend a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly votes down $48 million school district funding floor

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce has said that he is committed to funding the school district at the district’s requested $48 million

Charlie Pierce, Jesse Bjorkman and Brandi Harbaugh attend a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion
Brandi Harbaugh gives a presentation during a joint work session on Tuesday in Soldotna.

Borough to present budget Tuesday

In all, the borough is anticipating almost $144 million in total revenues.

Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion
Brandi Harbaugh gives a presentation during a joint work session on Tuesday in Soldotna.
COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)

Borough vaccination rate growing slower than state average

The number of fully vaccinated Kenai Peninsula Borough residents 16 and older has increased by 10.4% since April 5.

COVID-19. (Image courtesy CDC)
The George A. Navarre Kenai Peninsula Borough building. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)

Borough to hire for 2 dispatch positions

Two state workers are expected to leave their positions at the center within the next month.

The George A. Navarre Kenai Peninsula Borough building. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)
The Soldotna City Council receives a presentation from their auditors on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, via Zoom. (Screenshot)

Seward to stop using Zoom for public meetings

The borough, in contrast, has no plans to phase out Zoom services.

The Soldotna City Council receives a presentation from their auditors on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, via Zoom. (Screenshot)
Annette Pankoski testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly approves election measures

The assembly OK’d purchasing new voting equipment.

Annette Pankoski testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Coronavirus cases in the Kenai Peninsula Borough taken from the State Department of Health and Social Servies on Wednesday, April 14, 2021.
Coronavirus cases in the Kenai Peninsula Borough taken from the State Department of Health and Social Servies on Wednesday, April 14, 2021.
Tim Dillon, executive director of KPEDD, presents to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

KPEDD to survey businessed on how to use rescue funds

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Economic Development District is helping the state plan for how to best use funds it receives from the federal government via… Continue reading

Tim Dillon, executive director of KPEDD, presents to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A screenshot of the Kenai Peninsula Borough GIS Parcel Viewer shows the different layers available, including aerial imagery. (Screenshot)

Borough, cities to get millions more in COVID relief money

Roughly $1.36 billion in federal funding is expected to flow into Alaska.

A screenshot of the Kenai Peninsula Borough GIS Parcel Viewer shows the different layers available, including aerial imagery. (Screenshot)
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)