Kenai Peninsula Borough

Soldotna Elementary School Principal Dr. Austin Stevenson walks amid natural gas pipes anchored to the outside of school on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough to break up $65.5 million school maintenance bond

District leaders have long tried to draw attention to the problem of deferred maintenance within KPBSD

Soldotna Elementary School Principal Dr. Austin Stevenson walks amid natural gas pipes anchored to the outside of school on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Map showing the proposed boundary changes for Kenai Peninsula Borough districts 2 and 3. (Map via Kenai Peninsula Borough)

Assembly to consider new district boundaries

Some voters who live in the City of Kenai would elect representatives to the Nikiski seat on borough legislative bodies under proposed redistricting legislation that… Continue reading

Map showing the proposed boundary changes for Kenai Peninsula Borough districts 2 and 3. (Map via Kenai Peninsula Borough)
The Soldotna Landfill is seen on June 27, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. The Kenai Peninsula Borough is requesting about $5.5 million in federal funding for the construction of a gas collection system, which would convert landfill methane to energy when completed. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion file)

Borough to send capital project wish list to D.C.

The list includes a methane gas project at the Central Peninsula Landfill

The Soldotna Landfill is seen on June 27, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. The Kenai Peninsula Borough is requesting about $5.5 million in federal funding for the construction of a gas collection system, which would convert landfill methane to energy when completed. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion file)
KDLL, Peninsula Clarion and League of Women Voters will host an election forum ahead of the Feb. 14, 2023, special mayoral election.

Clarion, KDLL to hold special mayoral candidate forum Tuesday

The special mayoral election is slated for Feb. 14

KDLL, Peninsula Clarion and League of Women Voters will host an election forum ahead of the Feb. 14, 2023, special mayoral election.
A 2022 voter information pamphlet rests on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion offices on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough to no longer mail election pamphlets

A pamphlet with information about how to access an online version will be mailed for three years

A 2022 voter information pamphlet rests on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion offices on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Acting Kenai Peninsula Borough Clerk Michele Turner helps newly sworn-in assembly member Peter Ribbens set up assembly materials on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly names Ribbens to fill Bjorkman’s seat

He is a senior environmental professional and a former emergency response coordinator with Tesoro Alaska

Acting Kenai Peninsula Borough Clerk Michele Turner helps newly sworn-in assembly member Peter Ribbens set up assembly materials on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The George A. Navarre Kenai Peninsula Borough building. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)

Bump to borough mayor salary proposed

The legislation would increase and inflation-proof the mayor’s salary

The George A. Navarre Kenai Peninsula Borough building. (Peninsula Clarion file photo)
Jesse Bjorkman, right, participates in a candidate forum at the Soldotna Public Library on Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. Bjorkman, who last month was elected to represent the northern Kenai Peninsula in the Alaska Senate, is vacating his seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly. His last assembly meeting will be Jan. 3. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Applications now being accepted for assembly vacancy

Current assembly member Jesse Bjorkman was elected to represent the northern Kenai Peninsula in the Alaska Senate

Jesse Bjorkman, right, participates in a candidate forum at the Soldotna Public Library on Monday, Sept. 26, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. Bjorkman, who last month was elected to represent the northern Kenai Peninsula in the Alaska Senate, is vacating his seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly. His last assembly meeting will be Jan. 3. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Jesse Bjorkman speaks at a borough work session on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. Bjorkman, who has held the seat since 2019, was elected to the Alaska Senate last year. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly to choose Bjorkman successor Tuesday

Bjorkman was elected to the Alaska Senate last year

Jesse Bjorkman speaks at a borough work session on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. Bjorkman, who has held the seat since 2019, was elected to the Alaska Senate last year. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Sheree Van Natta speaks to a voter at the Kenai Mall, polling place for Precinct 3 voters, on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Register by Sunday to vote in special mayoral election

The special election was necessitated by the resignation of former Mayor Charlie Pierce

Sheree Van Natta speaks to a voter at the Kenai Mall, polling place for Precinct 3 voters, on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough River Center Manager Samantha Lopez presents information at a meeting discussing the potential boundaries of a Nikiski Advisory Planning Commission at the Nikiski Community Recreation Center on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly considers making Nikiski planning group area smaller

Organizers pushed for the boundaries of Nikiski’s advisory planning commission to match other Nikiski area designations

Kenai Peninsula Borough River Center Manager Samantha Lopez presents information at a meeting discussing the potential boundaries of a Nikiski Advisory Planning Commission at the Nikiski Community Recreation Center on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
People assemble Narcan kits on Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021, at Freedom House in Soldotna, Alaska. The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly during their Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, meeting accepted another $30,000 payment as part of a nationwide opioid settlement, which will be put toward opioid remediation in the borough. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly accepts 2nd round of opioid settlement funds

The money comes from a nationwide settlement agreement involving major pharmaceutical companies

People assemble Narcan kits on Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021, at Freedom House in Soldotna, Alaska. The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly during their Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, meeting accepted another $30,000 payment as part of a nationwide opioid settlement, which will be put toward opioid remediation in the borough. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Pete Kineen, a neighbor of the proposed Beachcomber LLC gravel pit, stands on his deck and points to where the pit could be, on May 2, 2019, in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion) Pete Kineen, a neighbor of the proposed Beachcomber LLC gravel pit, stands on his deck and points to where the pit could be, on May 2, 2019, in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Judge upholds denial of Anchor Point gravel pit

Decision affirms decision of KPB Planning Commission to set standards in gravel pit applications.

Pete Kineen, a neighbor of the proposed Beachcomber LLC gravel pit, stands on his deck and points to where the pit could be, on May 2, 2019, in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion) Pete Kineen, a neighbor of the proposed Beachcomber LLC gravel pit, stands on his deck and points to where the pit could be, on May 2, 2019, in Anchor Point, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough Regular Municipal Election informational pamphlet for the Oct. 4, 2022, election is pictured. The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly is considering an ordinance that would end distribution of hard copies of the pamphlet to borough box holders. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Assembly mulls nixing voter pamphlet mailers

Mailing a borough to every box holder in the Kenai Peninsula Borough costs about $30,000 each regular election

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Regular Municipal Election informational pamphlet for the Oct. 4, 2022, election is pictured. The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly is considering an ordinance that would end distribution of hard copies of the pamphlet to borough box holders. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Jesse Bjorkman speaks at a borough work session on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. Bjorkman submitted a letter of resignation to the assembly after being elected to represent the northern Kenai Peninsula in the Alaska State Senate. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly looks to fill Bjorkman’s seat

Bjorkman has represented Nikiski on the assembly since 2019 and was elected to the Alaska Senate

Jesse Bjorkman speaks at a borough work session on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. Bjorkman submitted a letter of resignation to the assembly after being elected to represent the northern Kenai Peninsula in the Alaska State Senate. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Portions of the Kenai bluff can be seen eroding below Old Town Kenai in this undated photo. (Photo by Aidan Curtin/courtesy Scott Curtin) Portions of the Kenai bluff can be seen eroding below Old Town Kenai in this undated photo. (Photo by Aidan Curtin/courtesy Scott Curtin)

Infrastructure dollars flood peninsula

Federal infrastructure bill makes available more than $232M for peninsula projects

Portions of the Kenai bluff can be seen eroding below Old Town Kenai in this undated photo. (Photo by Aidan Curtin/courtesy Scott Curtin) Portions of the Kenai bluff can be seen eroding below Old Town Kenai in this undated photo. (Photo by Aidan Curtin/courtesy Scott Curtin)
Demonstrators hold signs supporting Justin Ruffridge and Jesse Bjorkman for state office on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Nov. 8 election results certified

The outcomes of local races for state office remain unchanged

Demonstrators hold signs supporting Justin Ruffridge and Jesse Bjorkman for state office on Election Day, Nov. 8, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough administration building is photographed on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

4 candidates vie for borough mayoral seat

The special election is slated for Feb. 14

The Kenai Peninsula Borough administration building is photographed on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
A sign welcomes employees and visitors at the Kenai Peninsula Borough administration building on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Cyber Monday sales taxes to boost local government budgets

The ability of taxing entities to collect sales tax from online, or e-commerce, sellers is a new phenomenon

A sign welcomes employees and visitors at the Kenai Peninsula Borough administration building on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)
The Kenai Peninsula Borough administration building is seen on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Victoria Petersen/Peninsula Clarion)

Residents, borough task force: Further extend Kenai Spur north

A previous extension of the road was completed in 2021 and came after years of work.

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