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P E N I N S U L A
Friday-Saturday, MAY 2-3 Soldotna-Kenai, Alaska
Vol. 44, Issue 182
Question What grade would you give the Legislature for this year’s session? nA nB nC nD nF To place your vote and comment, visit our Web site at www. peninsulaclarion. com. Results and selected comments will be posted each Tuesday in the Clarion, and a new question will be asked. Suggested questions may be submitted online or e-mailed to news@peninsulaclarion.com.
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Borough assembly considers compensation By KAYLEE OSOWSKI Peninsula Clarion
The debate may be dead — for now. At its previous two meetings, the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly has debated compensation for its members. While the assembly voted down any change to current compensation levels at its April 15 meeting in Seward, assembly member Brent Johnson gave notice of wanting to reconsider the vote before adjournment. However, he said in a Clar-
of a way to save that $25 that we cut off of the Internet fee,” Current benefits Johnson said. … “I put in the n Monthly allowance of $400 for members and $500 notice of reconsideration so I for the president; could have a little bit of time n Mileage based on the current Internal Revenue to see if I could think of a way Service rate. to make that all happen. So n Vehicle allowance of $150 or $250 for members unless somebody says somerepresenting the South and East Kenai Peninsula and thing at the meeting that is Homer. going to spark so interest, I n Monthly Internet allowance of $25 probably will not pursue this n Portable computer device and; anymore at this time.” n Health and life insurance at the same level as Johnson introduced an orborough department heads. dinance to cut some benefits members receive and increase monthly allowances at a previous assembly meeting. ion interview Thursday that assembly meeting. While Johnson doesn’t he will probably not move for “In the notice of reconsidreconsideration at Tuesday’s eration I was trying to think think members are overcom-
In the news NTSB seeks Alaska air operators review
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ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Two fatal crashes of Alaska commuter aircraft and five other accidents or incidents have led the National Transportation Safety Board to recommend a comprehensive safety audit of the company that provides most commuter air service within the state. The NTSB announced Thursday an “urgent safety recommendation” that the Federal Aviation Administration review of the businesses operating under HoTH Inc. to check for regulatory compliance and operational safety. HoTH is the parent company of Hageland Aviation, Frontier Flying Service and Era Aviation doing business as Ravn Alaska, Ravn Connect and Corvus Airlines. In a statement, Ravn Alaska President and CEO Bob Hajdukovich said safety is the company’s top priority. Alaskan-owned HoTH Inc., he said, understands the responsibility of providing safe and essential air transportation services. “Hearts ache across our whole family of companies due to the recent tragedies,” he said. Alaskans are challenged by the weather, environment and lack of basic infrastructure and resources that the rest of the country enjoys, he said. — DAN JOLING, Associated Press
Index Opinion.................. A-4 Nation.................... A-6 World..................... A-8 Sports.....................B-1 Classifieds............ C-3 Comics.................. C-9
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pensated, he also doesn’t think the borough can continue to afford to offer healthcare to assembly members. He said it costs the borough $18,600 per year per assembly member for insurance, which he didn’t have prior to being elected. Johnson does estimate, however, that he likely loses money serving on assembly. Assembly member Charlie Pierce said when the hours spent answering phone calls, researching, staying current on issues and traveling are added together, he doesn’t think anybody can break even based current compensation levels. Pierce said when he travels for borough business, he takes personal leave from his job and the allowance for assembly members doesn’t come close to reimbursing him. Assembly member Bill Smith, who introduced a substitute ordinance to increase members’ monthly allowances effective in October 2016, said he also possibly loses income based on the same concept. “My viewpoint was that the income that I don’t receive because of the time that I take off is roughly equivalent or more that I lose than I get in compensation,” Smith said. Assembly member Sue McClure who represents the east peninsula and is a retired schoolteacher, said she estimates she makes money by serving on the assembly. See KPB, page A-13
Photo by Kelly Sullivan/ Peninsula Clarion
Over 40 community members, HEA employees and industry workers turned out for the dedication of the new Nikiski Combined Cycle Facility, Thursday, in Nikiski.
Powering up maze of whirring turbines and endless pipes crisscrossing within the new Nikiski Com“It’s humming!” Rick bined Cycle facility, where the Roeske, shouted over the deep majority of the Kenai Peninvibrations emitting from the sula’s power is now produced. By KELLY SULLIVAN Peninsula Clarion
The facility is considered the cornerstone of Homer Electric Association’s Independent Light program, which provides locally produced power the Kenai Peninsula. Homer Electric Association’s Larry Jorgenson led Roeske, Executive Director of the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District, and a
handful of people through one of the first guided public tours of the facility since it went online on January 1. More than forty community and industry members, and plant employees attended the dedication ceremony and subsequent tours, Thursday in Nikiski. See HEA, page A-13
incidents recorded by the Department of Forestry, bringing the total to 15 wildland fires on the Kenai Peninsula this year. Darren Finley, fire prevention officer from the DepartSee FIRE, page A-14
See IHS, page A-14
By RASHAH McCHESNEY Peninsula Clarion
See FEES, page A-14
Clarion file photo
Smoke and steam obscure firefighters as they work to extinguish a fire that consumed two homes Dec. 20, 2012 in Soldotna, Alaska. A drier than average April has raised the potential for wildfires and emergency personnel have been at-the-ready statewide. By DAN BALMER Peninsula Clarion
A drier than average April has elevated the potential for wildfires and Department of Forestry services across the
state remain at the ready. Firefighters from Kachemak Emergency Services contained a half-acre grass fire off of East End Road 13 miles outside of Homer Wednesday. The fire was one of three minor wildfire C
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By MOLLY DISCHNER and RASHAH MCCHESNEY Morris News Service
The Indian Health Service announced May 1 that it has settled additional contract support cost claims with Alaska providers, but an unknown number are still in limbo. IHS Acting Director Yvette Roubideaux sent a letter to Sen. Mark Begich May 1 informing him that additional Alaska claims have been settled. The Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association, Mount Sanford Tribal Consortium, Norton Sound Health Corp. and Metlakatla Indian Community received a combined $15.6 million for work done previously for which they were underpaid, bringing the total for the Alaska settlements so far to $209 million. Contract support costs are what Tribal organizations pay to manage Tribal health programs. In 2012, the Supreme Court said that Tribes should be fully compensated for the cost of delivering federal trust responsibilities, such as health care. Now, the IHS is working to repay those groups for prior years when they were not reimbursed for their full costs, and last week, the IHS announced more than $193 million in settlements to six Alaska Tribal health providers.
Fees for Dry weather elevates fire danger State cabins raised Most of the popular destinations have already been reserved, but campers will soon see a fee increase for the publicuse cabins maintained by Alaska State Parks. The increase, between $5 and $10 per night, depending on the cabin, will go into effect May 15 — though prior reservations made for the cabins will not be changed. Claire LeClaire, deputy director of the division of parks and outdoor recreation, many of the more popular of the state’s 66 cabins have been booked
More payments for Alaska Native health providers