Kenai Peninsula Borough

Result in borough invocation case could take 6 months

With the open court discussion done, the plaintiffs and the Kenai Peninsula Borough may have to wait up to six months for a decision in… Continue reading

Public hearing on hospital boundary move set for Ninilchik

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to show that South Peninsula Hospital's revenues would be reduced under the new service areas. The public will… Continue reading

In this April 2017 photo, a black-bellied plover wanders the beach north of the Kasilof River near Kasilof, Alaska. The Kasilof River area is considered important habitat for shorebirds. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Birders, senators concerned at memo on bird protections

Birding activists and a group of senators are asking the U.S. Department of the Interior to rethink a recent decision to interpret the Migratory Bird… Continue reading

In this April 2017 photo, a black-bellied plover wanders the beach north of the Kasilof River near Kasilof, Alaska. The Kasilof River area is considered important habitat for shorebirds. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce speaks to the joint Kenai and Soldotna chambers of commerce at a luncheon Wednesday, April 18, 2018 in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough mayor looks forward at budget balancing, future revenue plans

Just over a month remains before the Kenai Peninsula Borough administration plans to bring its proposed budget to the assembly on May 24. Borough Mayor… Continue reading

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce speaks to the joint Kenai and Soldotna chambers of commerce at a luncheon Wednesday, April 18, 2018 in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Snow-covered mountains provide a backdrop for Cooper Landing in this April 11 photo. The Sterling Highway, the main corridor to and from the Kenai Peninsula, winds through the little community of Cooper Landing, often bringing dense traffic and car accidents with it, particularly in the summer. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Resolution would ask DOT to lower Cooper Landing speed limit

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly may ask the state to drop the speed limit on part of the Sterling Highway near Cooper Landing. The assembly… Continue reading

Snow-covered mountains provide a backdrop for Cooper Landing in this April 11 photo. The Sterling Highway, the main corridor to and from the Kenai Peninsula, winds through the little community of Cooper Landing, often bringing dense traffic and car accidents with it, particularly in the summer. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
This Friday, March 9, 2018 photo shows the space beneath Nikiski resident Kimbra Mensch’s home, which is currently being torn down, in Nikiski, Alaska. The contractor Mensch hired to build her home left her with 48 building violations, resulting in an unsafe building she is having to pay to have torn down and start over. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Homeowners can be left holding the bag if they hire unlicensed contractors

A thin layer of snow shifted across the bare plywood floor of the unfinished house when construction contractor Ward Adams lifted one of the panels… Continue reading

This Friday, March 9, 2018 photo shows the space beneath Nikiski resident Kimbra Mensch’s home, which is currently being torn down, in Nikiski, Alaska. The contractor Mensch hired to build her home left her with 48 building violations, resulting in an unsafe building she is having to pay to have torn down and start over. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Court hears arguments on invocation lawsuit

Court hears arguments on invocation lawsuit

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly’s policy on who can give invocations had its day in court. The American Civil Liberties Union and the Kenai Peninsula… Continue reading

Court hears arguments on invocation lawsuit
This 1976 photo shows emergency vehicles parked at Central Emergency Services’ Station 1 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo courtesy the Kenai Peninsula Borough)

CES looks to move Soldotna fire station

Central Emergency Services is looking to East Redoubt Avenue in Soldotna for its new Station 1 site. The service area, which provides emergency medical and… Continue reading

This 1976 photo shows emergency vehicles parked at Central Emergency Services’ Station 1 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo courtesy the Kenai Peninsula Borough)

After public objection, borough trims land auction list

The list of Kenai Peninsula Borough-owned parcels up for auction got significantly shorter after the borough assembly trimmed the list in response to public concern.… Continue reading

Public battles over gravel pit restrictions

Public battles over gravel pit restrictions

The Kenai Peninsula Borough’s working group on gravel pits wanted public comment, and on Thursday night, they got it. Property owners and gravel pit operators… Continue reading

Public battles over gravel pit restrictions
Kindergarten teacher Daniel Bowen (at podium) speaks to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in favor of full funding for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District at the assembly’s meeting on Tuesday, April 3, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. About 40 people attended the meeting Tuesday, many wearing red, to show their support for public education funding. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly hears tax options, postpones sales tax decision

The Kenai Peninsula Borough has a lot of options to balance its budget and fund public schools, but not everyone is on the same page… Continue reading

Kindergarten teacher Daniel Bowen (at podium) speaks to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in favor of full funding for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District at the assembly’s meeting on Tuesday, April 3, 2018 in Soldotna, Alaska. About 40 people attended the meeting Tuesday, many wearing red, to show their support for public education funding. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly revisits hospital boundary move

The debate over who has to pay property taxes to which of the borough’s hospitals is getting into gear again. The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly… Continue reading

Sales tax increase back on assembly agenda

The public will have a chance to weigh in Tuesday on a proposition to ask voters whether the Kenai Peninsula Borough should raise the sales… Continue reading

Borough working group looks into peat

Much of the western Kenai Peninsula is covered in peatlands, and some people want the chance to harvest and sell it. The Kenai Peninsula Borough’s… Continue reading

Assembly spikes bed tax, wrangles with budget

Kenai Peninsula voters won’t have to consider a bed tax in the election this fall. In a narrow 5-4 vote, the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly… Continue reading

Ninilchik launches Homer-Kenai bus service

Western Kenai Peninsula residents can now get to Homer, Kenai or Ninilchik by shuttle, courtesy of the Ninilchik Traditional Council. The tribal government, based in… Continue reading

Matt Quiner of the Nikiski Fire Department checks his gear before dropping through a hole in the ice covering Island Lake as part of a training drill Friday, March 9, 2018 in Nikiski, Alaska. The Nikiski Fire Department is working on bringing all the members of its ice diving team up to proper certifications. To attain full certifications, divers have to clock a number of hours in the water, including practicing beneath the ice. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Nikiski Fire trains up on ice diving

The old saying goes that there’s no bad conditions, only bad gear. The Nikiski Fire Department is testing exactly how far that goes with some… Continue reading

Matt Quiner of the Nikiski Fire Department checks his gear before dropping through a hole in the ice covering Island Lake as part of a training drill Friday, March 9, 2018 in Nikiski, Alaska. The Nikiski Fire Department is working on bringing all the members of its ice diving team up to proper certifications. To attain full certifications, divers have to clock a number of hours in the water, including practicing beneath the ice. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Attendees of various user groups crowd near the front of the room during a break at the Board of Fisheries’ Upper Cook Inlet meeting Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017 in Anchorage, Alaska. (DJ Summers/Alaska Journal of Commerce)

Board of Fish to meet on peninsula in 2020

Central Kenai Peninsula fishermen will get to stay at home for the 2020 Board of Fisheries meeting. For the first time in 20 years, the… Continue reading

Attendees of various user groups crowd near the front of the room during a break at the Board of Fisheries’ Upper Cook Inlet meeting Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017 in Anchorage, Alaska. (DJ Summers/Alaska Journal of Commerce)

Mayor proposes reorganization of public safety departments

The Kenai Peninsula Borough administration is working on a plan to reshuffle its various public safety departments. Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce has proposed an ordinance… Continue reading

File photo contributed by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation The Arness Septage Site in Nikiski, shown here from the air in September 1985. The site was contaminated with thousands of gallons of oil and other industry wastes.

Nikiski water study underway

In addition to Alaska LNG project managers, and planners from Trans-Foreland Pipeline Company, Nikiski landowners will soon have another group of surveyors knocking on their… Continue reading

File photo contributed by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation The Arness Septage Site in Nikiski, shown here from the air in September 1985. The site was contaminated with thousands of gallons of oil and other industry wastes.