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P E N I N S U L A
THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015 Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Vol. 45, Issue 84
Question How do you feel about the low price of oil? n I’m worried about the negative impact on the state budget. n I’m happy about the positive impact on my personal budget. n I have a mixed opinion.
50 cents newsstands daily/$1.00 Sunday
AGDC dismissals draw concerns Walker removes three from board; lawmakers worried about project delays By BECKY BOHRER Associated Press
JUNEAU — Two Republican lawmakers are questioning whether the removal of three board members from an organization expected to play a key role in Alaska natural gas pipeline projects will delay the group’s work. Reps. Mike Chenault and Mike
Hawker led legislative efforts to create the Alaska Gasline Development Corp. In a release Wednesday, they said they were concerned that Gov. Bill Walker’s shake-up of the board — which included instructing two state commissioners on the panel not to sign confidentiality agreements — could delay the group’s efforts. “It’s going to be hard to replace the
60 years of knowledge that these three board members bring, and in particular, the expertise of Dick Rabinow, who is the only board member to have actual gas line construction experience under his belt,” Chenault, R-Nikiski, and the Alaska House speaker, said. Walker said he doesn’t foresee a disruption. Late Tuesday, Walker’s office an-
nounced that Walker had removed three of the board’s five public members: Rabinow, Drue Pearce and Al Bolea. All five members were appointed by Walker’s predecessor, Republican Sean Parnell. Walker told The Associated Press he wants Alaskans on the board, as well as greater geographic representation. He
Health care costs under scrutiny
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In the news 2 bills address discrimination based on sexual orientation
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JUNEAU (AP) — Two Alaska state representatives plan to reintroduce separate bills that would make it illegal to discriminate based on sexual orientation. KTOO reports former Juneau Rep. Beth Kerttula, a Democrat, introduced the same bill in 2011 and 2013. Rep. Cathy Munoz, a Juneau Republican, was a co-sponsor in 2013. Munoz is hopeful the bill will carry more weight with her Republican majority colleagues this time. Rep. Andy Josephson, an Anchorage Democrat, says in a release he also will sponsor legislation that would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. Josephson is also sponsoring an amendment to the state constitution to legalize gay marriage in Alaska. A federal court in October struck down Alaska’s former constitutional amendment banning samesex marriage, but an appeal is pending.
Inside They ‘went straight for Charb and his police bodyguard, killing both immediately with automatic weapons, then firing on others.’ ... See page A-5
Index Opinion.................. A-4 Nation/World.......... A-5 Sports.....................A-6 Arts........................ B-1 Classifieds............. B-3 Comics................... B-6
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See BOARD, page A-8
Proposed task force would look for local solutions By DAN BALMER Peninsula Clarion
Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion
Nearly 100 people gathered for dinner and to hear Alaska LNG project manager Steve Butt speak during the first day of the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District’s Industry Outlook forum. The second and final day of the forum will feature speakers from area utilities, Alaska’s Department of Natural Resources, Cook Inlet gas producers and explorers, local legislators and economists at the Old Carrs Mall in Kenai.
A healthy economy Dena’ina Wellness Center part of industry forum focus By IAN FOLEY Peninsula Clarion
The impact that the Kenaitze Indian Tribe’s Dena’ina Wellness Center has had on the tribe and the Kenai Peninsula community was described at the Industry Outlook Forum in Kenai on Wednesday. The session marked the first time the Kenaitze Indian Tribe spoke at the annual forum, which is attended by representatives of various industries including oil, gas and mining. Speaking on behalf of the tribe, Jaylene Peterson-Nyren, executive director of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe, said that
‘Economically, we have brought a lot to the community.’ — Jaylene Peterson-Nyren, executive director, Kenaitze Indian Tribe while most of the other speakers were from oil, gas and mining backgrounds, the Kenaitze Indian Tribe deserved to be at the forum.
“Economically, we have brought a lot to the community,” Peterson-Nyren said. The Dena’ina Wellness Center had its grand opening in Old Town Kenai in June 2014. It provides an array of services including medical, behavioral and wellness programs. The project was aided by numerous grants, sponsors and the Indian Health Service Joint Venture Award. The award provides the Dena’ina Wellness Center $10 million annually for a minimum of 20 years. Peterson-Nyren said the Dena’ina Wellness Center may have been possible without the IHS Award, but it probably See FORUM, page A-8
For its first meeting of 2015 on Tuesday, the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly put into practice new legislative procedures to help improve efficiency and discussed the rising cost of health care. With seven ordinances up for public hearing, four were moved to the consent agenda and passed unanimously without discussion. Among them were two ordinances that confirm refunds to property owners in the Bayshore and Funny River West Subdivisions Utility Special Assessment Districts for the installation of a gas line. An ordinance to purchase replacement fluoroscopy equipment for $438,713 and an appropriation of $24,427.25 from the U.S. Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service for the Coastal Impact Assistance Program were also enacted. At the Nov. 25, 2014 meeting, the assembly passed an ordinance, sponsored by Assembly President Dale Bagley, See HEALTH, page A-8
Three arrested in Soldotna council ready theft of log splitter By DAN BALMER Peninsula Clarion
Three men were arrested near Kasilof on Jan. 2, hours after a man reported a theft from his property, which had been witnessed by his neighbor. The neighbor told Alaska State Troopers he was awakened at 2 a.m. by two vehicles on Covenant’s Circle off Tote Road and saw one truck pulling a log splitter thought to have belonged to his neighbor. The log splitter is valued at $2,500. The eyewitness followed the two vehicles to Cardwell Road off the Sterling Highway, according to a trooper affidavit. After finding tire tracks and shoe prints on Covenant’s Circle, troopers responded to a residence on Cardwell Road and came in contact with four
men — David Beaupre, 26, of Nikiski, Tanner Comoza, 26, of Sterling, Joey Comoza, 37, of Kasilof, and Neka Pannick, 32, of Anchorage. Outside the residence, troopers first approached Tanner Comoza who provided a false name and was initially released. Troopers then talked with Beaupre who was texting while sitting in the driver’s seat of a white Ford F-150 that matched the description given by the neighbor. Beaupre also provided a false name and denied knowledge of the log splitter that was directly in front of the truck. He told troopers he was sitting in the vehicle to warm up, but was not driving it. The trooper smelled an odor of alcohol on his breath and Beaupre provided a breath See THEFT, page A-8
for challenges ahead By KELLY SULLIVAN Peninsula Clarion
The Soldotna City Council is headed into the 2015 year with financial uncertainties and pending legislative changes. Council members agree their priorities and concentration will be directed to the potential adoption of a homerule law charter, and how to accomplish operations with minimal funding from the state, which is facing a year of tight budgeting. Council member Linda Murphy said it is a very real possibility Soldotna may not receive any supplemental resources for city projects and maintenance. C
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“The state may not have a capital budget this year,” Murphy said. “We will have to look at our wish list, look at what we can do and what we will have to defer.” Mayor Nels Anderson said the city has remained functional under financial constraints in the past. Some projects may have to be put on hold, or other alternative revenue sources needs to be explored. Despite uncertainties, he is confident the city can continue running efficiently, Anderson said. Funding for summer construction has already been properly allocated, Anderson said. “Beyond that it may be
kind of gray what we can get done,” Anderson said. While the council identified an expansion to the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex as its top capital project for the fiscal year 2016, the project may not receive any immediate action, Murphy said. Council member Keith Baxter said the council will likely continue to flush out plans for the project, so when funds are available they can take action. “Nothing has as much unified support at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex expansion,” Baxter said. The council is also in the middle of allocating funding and approving steps for See CITY, page A-8