Kenai Peninsula Borough

Areas cleared to make way for the Cooper Landing Bypass Project (bottom) can be seen above the Kenai River in Cooper Landing in this Aug. 10, 2021, photo. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion file)

Borough mulls plans for bypass parcel

The 1,000-acre Juneau Bench, or Unit 395, is located north of the Sterling Highway

Areas cleared to make way for the Cooper Landing Bypass Project (bottom) can be seen above the Kenai River in Cooper Landing in this Aug. 10, 2021, photo. (Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion file)
Signage denotes the entrance to Central Emergency Services at the agency’s original entrance on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. A bond package passed by voters allows the borough to incur up to $16.5 million in debt for the replacement of Central Emergency Services’ Station 1 in Soldotna.(Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough bond projects take step forward

Assembly approval comes about four months after Kenai Peninsula voters approved two bond initiatives

Signage denotes the entrance to Central Emergency Services at the agency’s original entrance on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. A bond package passed by voters allows the borough to incur up to $16.5 million in debt for the replacement of Central Emergency Services’ Station 1 in Soldotna.(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 OKs new district boundaries

The affirmative vote marked the end of a lengthy reapportionment and redistricting process

Map showing the proposed boundary changes for Kenai Peninsula Borough districts 2 and 3. (Map via Kenai Peninsula Borough)
Peter Micciche (second from left) is sworn in as mayor of the Kenai Peninsula Borough on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Micciche sworn in as borough mayor

Micciche received more than 50% of votes cast during the Feb. 14 special election

Peter Micciche (second from left) is sworn in as mayor of the Kenai Peninsula Borough on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Tyonek Native Corporation CEO Stephen Peskosky testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in opposition to inclusion of Tyonek in the Nikiski Advisory Planning Commission during an assembly meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Size of Nikiski planning group still unsettled after assembly delays action

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly on Tuesday voted 6-3 to delay action on legislation that would reduce the geographic footprint of Nikiski’s Advisory Planning Commission.… Continue reading

Tyonek Native Corporation CEO Stephen Peskosky testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in opposition to inclusion of Tyonek in the Nikiski Advisory Planning Commission during an assembly meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Peter Micciche (center) listens to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly certify the results of the Feb. 14, 2023, special mayoral election, through which he was elected mayor of the Kenai Peninsula Borough, on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Micciche made borough mayor

Peter Micciche is the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s new mayor following certification of the Feb. 14, 2023, special election results by the borough assembly on Tuesday.… Continue reading

Peter Micciche (center) listens to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly certify the results of the Feb. 14, 2023, special mayoral election, through which he was elected mayor of the Kenai Peninsula Borough, on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O'Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A Mackey Lake voter fills out a special mayoral ballot at Soldotna Prep School on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Special mayor election saw 13.1% voter turnout

About 13.1% of the Kenai Peninsula Borough’s more than 54,000 voters cast ballots during the Feb. 14 special mayoral election, a report published Tuesday shows.… Continue reading

A Mackey Lake voter fills out a special mayoral ballot at Soldotna Prep School on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Signs supporting Kenai Peninsula Borough mayoral candidates Peter Micciche and Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings are staked in the snow at the intersection of the Kenai Spur and Sterling highways on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Signs supporting Kenai Peninsula Borough mayoral candidates Peter Micciche and Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings are staked in the snow at the intersection of the Kenai Spur and Sterling highways on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Teresa Minnich, right, waits to help voters feed their ballot into a tabulation machine at Soldotna Prep School on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Micciche leads mayor’s race

Election workers reported sluggish voter turnout

Teresa Minnich, right, waits to help voters feed their ballot into a tabulation machine at Soldotna Prep School on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
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)

Assembly OKs project list for state funding consideration

The list outlines work for which the borough would like financial assistance from the State of Alaska

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)
A “Vote Here” sign is seen at the City of Kenai building on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Election day is Tuesday

The borough’s special mayoral election is Feb. 14

A “Vote Here” sign is seen at the City of Kenai building on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file)
From left, Dave Carey, Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings, Zach Hamilton and Peter Micciche participate in a Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor candidate forum on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Cash pours into borough mayoral race

Campaign disclosure reports filed with the Alaska Public Offices Commission show that tens of thousands of dollars have flowed into the race

From left, Dave Carey, Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings, Zach Hamilton and Peter Micciche participate in a Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor candidate forum on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The boundaries of Nikiski’s Advisory Planning Commission, as petitioned by residents. (Map via Kenai Peninsula Borough)

Assemby split on Nikiski land group scope

A tied vote killed efforts to reduce the geographic area of Nikiski’s advisory planning commission

The boundaries of Nikiski’s Advisory Planning Commission, as petitioned by residents. (Map via Kenai Peninsula Borough)
From left, borough mayoral candidates Dave Carey, Peter Micciche, Zachary Hamilton and Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings participate in a candidate forum held at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
From left, borough mayoral candidates Dave Carey, Peter Micciche, Zachary Hamilton and Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings participate in a candidate forum held at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
KPBSD Finance Director Elizabeth Hayes (left) gives a presentation on the school district’s FY23 budget at Soldotna High School on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

School district budget forums start next week

In Homer, Kenai and Seward district finance staff will provide an overview of district finances

KPBSD Finance Director Elizabeth Hayes (left) gives a presentation on the school district’s FY23 budget at Soldotna High School on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2021, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly members Tyson Cox (right) and Richard Derkevorkian (center) discuss an amendment to legislation that raised the borough mayor’s salary at an assembly meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Assembly hikes borough mayor’s pay

The pay bump does not apply to current Borough Mayor Mike Navarre, or to whoever is elected through the special mayoral election

Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly members Tyson Cox (right) and Richard Derkevorkian (center) discuss an amendment to legislation that raised the borough mayor’s salary at an assembly meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Peninsula Borough mayoral candidate Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings addresses the KPBSD Board of Education on Monday, Feb. 6, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Mayoral candidates reiterate commitment to school funding

Dave Carey, Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings, Zach Hamilton and Peter Micciche spoke to KPBSD Board of Education members

Kenai Peninsula Borough mayoral candidate Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings addresses the KPBSD Board of Education on Monday, Feb. 6, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A “Vote Here” sign is seen at the City of Kenai building on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Voices of the Peninsula: Get out there and Vote!

The League of Women Voters on the Kenai and Kenai Peninsula Votes created this voter guide for the mayoral election

A “Vote Here” sign is seen at the City of Kenai building on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, in Kenai, Alaska. (Peninsula Clarion file)
From left, Dave Carey, Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings, Zach Hamilton and Peter Micciche participate in a Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor candidate forum on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
From left, Dave Carey, Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings, Zach Hamilton and Peter Micciche participate in a Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor candidate forum on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
From left, Dave Carey, Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings, Zach Hamilton and Peter Micciche participate in a Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor candidate forum on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Borough mayoral candidates participate in Tuesday forum

The forum was hosted by the Peninsula Clarion and KDLL 91.9 FM in partnership with the Central Peninsula League of Women Voters

From left, Dave Carey, Linda Farnsworth-Hutchings, Zach Hamilton and Peter Micciche participate in a Kenai Peninsula Borough mayor candidate forum on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

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