Kenai Peninsula Borough

A car passes supporters waving signs for borough mayoral candidate Charlie Pierce at the intersection of the Sterling Highway and the Kenai Spur Highway on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Kenai Peninsula voters chose between Pierce and candidate Linda Hutchings for the office of borough mayor on Tuesday. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Absentee ballots narrow gap in mayor’s race; some ballots yet to be counted

The first batch of absentee and questioned ballots brought the runoff race for Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor much closer — candidate Charlie Pierce’s lead over… Continue reading

A car passes supporters waving signs for borough mayoral candidate Charlie Pierce at the intersection of the Sterling Highway and the Kenai Spur Highway on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Kenai Peninsula voters chose between Pierce and candidate Linda Hutchings for the office of borough mayor on Tuesday. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
A car passes supporters waving signs for borough mayoral candidate Charlie Pierce at the intersection of the Sterling Highway and the Kenai Spur Highway on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Kenai Peninsula voters chose between Pierce and candidate Linda Hutchings for the office of borough mayor on Tuesday. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Pierce leads in mayoral runoff

Charlie Pierce is poised take the helm at the Kenai Peninsula Borough for the next three years, according to unofficial mayoral runoff election results. Pierce… Continue reading

A car passes supporters waving signs for borough mayoral candidate Charlie Pierce at the intersection of the Sterling Highway and the Kenai Spur Highway on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Kenai Peninsula voters chose between Pierce and candidate Linda Hutchings for the office of borough mayor on Tuesday. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
The road to Gray Cliff and Moose Point is a narrow, muddy path, shown on Monday, April 11, 2016 near Nikiski, Alaska. The Kenai Peninsula Borough is working on plans to extend a gravel road toward the subdivisions north of Nikiski. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

North Road extension project hits delay

A regulatory hangup will delay the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s Kenai Spur Highway extension project for a few months. The project, known commonly as the North… Continue reading

The road to Gray Cliff and Moose Point is a narrow, muddy path, shown on Monday, April 11, 2016 near Nikiski, Alaska. The Kenai Peninsula Borough is working on plans to extend a gravel road toward the subdivisions north of Nikiski. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Mike Navarre to take commissioner role

Mike Navarre has been tapped for the lead role at the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development. Navarre has served as the Kenai… Continue reading

Assembly, councils ask fish board to meet on peninsula

Local government bodies on the central Kenai Peninsula really want the state Board of Fisheries to hold a meeting here. The board, which meets to… Continue reading

Navarre gives overview of tenure

Borough Mayor Mike Navarre thought he would be done being mayor by now, after the Oct. 3 election. Instead, he’s got a few more weeks… Continue reading

This November 21, 2015 shows the sign designating the unofficial border of Nikiski, Alaska. (Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Assembly declines support for Nikiski incorporation

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to show that the borough assembly opposed the incorporation of a Nikiski Borough in 1973. The citizens of… Continue reading

This November 21, 2015 shows the sign designating the unofficial border of Nikiski, Alaska. (Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)
Linda Hutchings (standing), a candidate for Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor, answers a question during a forum with fellow candidates Dale Bagley (center) and Charlie Pierce (right) at the Funny River Community Center on Aug. 16, 2017 in Funny River, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Absentee ballots counted; results unchanged

None of the Oct. 3 Kenai Peninsula Borough election results have changed after all the absentee ballots have been counted. Kenai Peninsula Borough mayoral candidates… Continue reading

Linda Hutchings (standing), a candidate for Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor, answers a question during a forum with fellow candidates Dale Bagley (center) and Charlie Pierce (right) at the Funny River Community Center on Aug. 16, 2017 in Funny River, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

With defeat of Prop 1, cannabis industry breathes sigh of relief

Cannabis business owners and employees in the borough outside city limits have a weight off their shoulders on working and expanding their businesses with Kenai… Continue reading

Ann Fraser (left) and Steve Waldron (right), both of Kasilof) wave signs opposing Kenai Peninsula Borough Proposition 1 on the corner of Pollard Loop and the Sterling Highway on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017 in Kasilof, Alaska. Voters in Kasilof and the other unincorporated communities of the borough voted Tuesday on Proposition 1, which asked whether commercial cannabis operations should be legal in the borough ouside the city limits. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough ballot props fail

Cannabis businesses in the borough outside the cities can continue operations as usual with the failure of Kenai Peninsula Borough Proposition 1, according to Tuesday’s… Continue reading

Ann Fraser (left) and Steve Waldron (right), both of Kasilof) wave signs opposing Kenai Peninsula Borough Proposition 1 on the corner of Pollard Loop and the Sterling Highway on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017 in Kasilof, Alaska. Voters in Kasilof and the other unincorporated communities of the borough voted Tuesday on Proposition 1, which asked whether commercial cannabis operations should be legal in the borough ouside the city limits. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Ballot prop asks to raise sales tax cap to $1,000

Kenai Peninsula residents who voted last year may have a moment of déjà vu when they look at their ballots again this year — one… Continue reading

Duane Bannock (right), a candidate for the District 2 seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly, answers a question during a forum hosted by the Central Peninsula League of Women Voters as fellow candidate Hal Smalley listens Sept. 13, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Smalley, Bannock face off in District 2

Two familiar political characters are facing off again to represent District 2 to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly. Voters in the city of Kenai have… Continue reading

Duane Bannock (right), a candidate for the District 2 seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly, answers a question during a forum hosted by the Central Peninsula League of Women Voters as fellow candidate Hal Smalley listens Sept. 13, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Linda Hutchings (standing), a candidate for Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor, answers a question during a forum with fellow candidates Dale Bagley (center) and Charlie Pierce (right) at the Funny River Community Center on Thursday, Aug. 16, 2017 in Funny River, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)

Voters to choose new mayor on Oct. 3

Next week will bring not only five new assembly members and a draft of new service area board members and city council members in the… Continue reading

Linda Hutchings (standing), a candidate for Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor, answers a question during a forum with fellow candidates Dale Bagley (center) and Charlie Pierce (right) at the Funny River Community Center on Thursday, Aug. 16, 2017 in Funny River, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion, file)
Dan Castimore answers a question during a forum for Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly candidates Wednesday at a joint meeting of the Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Castimore is running for the District 1-Kalifornsky seat. (Photo by Will Morrow/Peninsula Clarion)

One challenges incumbent for District 1 assembly seat

Voters in the Kalifornsky Beach area and part of Ridgeway have two choices for their Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly representative on Oct. 3 — one… Continue reading

Dan Castimore answers a question during a forum for Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly candidates Wednesday at a joint meeting of the Kenai and Soldotna Chambers of Commerce on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. Castimore is running for the District 1-Kalifornsky seat. (Photo by Will Morrow/Peninsula Clarion)
Norm Blakeley of Sterling, a candidate for the District 5 seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly, speaks during a forum hosted by the Central Peninsula League of Women Voters at the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly chambers Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

2 vie for District 5 assembly seat

Two candidates want to fill a Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly seat representing a sprawling district that includes Sterling, Funny River, part of Kalifornsky Beach Road… Continue reading

Norm Blakeley of Sterling, a candidate for the District 5 seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly, speaks during a forum hosted by the Central Peninsula League of Women Voters at the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly chambers Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Prop 2 asks voters to support HVAC repairs to borough building

Prop 2 asks voters to support HVAC repairs to borough building

A set of round dials mounted on a monitoring box in a cramped maintenance room are supposed to measure air pressure through the pneumatic system… Continue reading

Prop 2 asks voters to support HVAC repairs to borough building

Criticism mounts against nondepartmental borough funding

The Kenai Peninsula Borough’s funding for nondepartmentals is often a popular punching bag for criticism, frequently intensifying during election season. This year is no different.… Continue reading

An attendee at the Central Kenai Peninsula League of Women Voters’ forum asks a question to the panel of candidates for Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly and borough mayor Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)

Candidates tackle social issues in packed forum

Most of the conversation among the candidates for Kenai Peninsul Borough Assembly and borough mayor has been about the budget so far, but a forum… Continue reading

An attendee at the Central Kenai Peninsula League of Women Voters’ forum asks a question to the panel of candidates for Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly and borough mayor Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Elizabeth Earl/Peninsula Clarion)
Betty Lou Drive is shown in this screenshot taken from the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s online parcel viewer. The land owners on the road west of Fields Road recently petitioned the borough to ask them to stop maintaining the road because they wanted to avoid an upgrade construction project they said would “change the character” of their neighborhood. (Image courtesy Kenai Peninsula Borough)

Residents petition borough: Stop maintaining our road

A group of property owners asked the Kenai Peninsula Borough to stop maintaining their road, picking up the job themselves. The property owners on Betty… Continue reading

Betty Lou Drive is shown in this screenshot taken from the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s online parcel viewer. The land owners on the road west of Fields Road recently petitioned the borough to ask them to stop maintaining the road because they wanted to avoid an upgrade construction project they said would “change the character” of their neighborhood. (Image courtesy Kenai Peninsula Borough)

Ordinance would exempt freight hauling from sales tax

If the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly approves an ordinance amending the sales tax code, freight haulers will again be exempt from paying. Freight haulers like… Continue reading