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What’s that Smell? The increasing Methane Gas problem at the Mat-Su Landfill and the MSB’s failure to follow State Reporting Requirements

Over on the Facebook group, “Glenn Highway Traffic Report,” the administrators were tired of people asking this question over and over: “What’s that Smell?!” So, they put the answer in the pinned post. Travelers on the Glenn Highway from the Mat-Su Valley to Anchorage notice that as you get near…

The “Fishiest Ordinance Ever”and the Fish Creek Access Project are connected to an even fishier working group whose members include AIDEA execs, Clark Penney, and folks with ties to a private railway company (not A2A), COAL MINING, and CHINA

Remember this MatsuMuckraker post from last August? https://matsumuckraker.com/2019/08/13/the-fishiest-ordinance-ever-proposed-by-the-msb-staff/ The MSB staff proposed draining the Land Fund of millions of dollars to start working on the “Fish Creek Access Project” and fund the new Willow Library. The ordinance was very odd for several reasons. 1. The MSB is having big budget…

More info on “AK Environmental Preservation LLC” – the proposed buyer of the Knik Glacier acreage

It turns out that “Alaska Environmental Preservation LLC” is owned by Chad Emswiler of Alaska. See Related/Original Post: https://matsumuckraker.com/2020/02/12/a-mysterious-company-named-alaska-environmental-preservation-llc-is-buying-365-acres-located-next-to-the-knik-glacier-from-the-alaska-mental-health-trust-authority/ Mr. Emswiler incorporated the company in Wyoming on Jan 20, 2020. However, when he initially applied to purchase the land from the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, he applied in his…

A mysterious company named “Alaska Environmental Preservation LLC” is buying 365 acres located next to the Knik Glacier from the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority

This legal notice was published in today’s Frontiersman: The Alaska Mental Health Land Trust is giving legal notice that it is selling – via a negotiated sale – not a public sale or land auction – a large parcel of land near Palmer. If anyone objects, they have until March…

Port Mac had revenue of $13,816 but operating costs of almost $2 million for Fiscal Year 2019.

The newest CAFR (Comprehensive Annual Financial Report) is on the MSB’s website. This report is generally released in January each year. It is an audit and analysis of the previous fiscal year. Here are the pages for the “Port Enterprise Fund.” The MSB is valuing this asset at $28,892,167. The…

The MSB has paid contractor HDR almost $6 million over the years

The Matanuska Susitna Borough has contracted with engineering firm HDR for many years on various projects. I will update this post later, but for now, here are records I obtained via a Public Records Request of all of the payments the MSB has made to HDR over the years. HDR…

MSB Parks & Recs Director says he doesn’t need approval from Parks & Recs Board

Whelp, the MSB Parks & Recs Director (Hugh Leslie) and former MSB Assembly member Steve Colligan finally admitted what the Mat-Su Muckracker has been complaining about for the better part of two years. Yes, the MSB helped set up a Drone Park for Mr. Colligan’s non profit group.  Yes, the…

Behrens Lawsuit update with trial date

The Lisa Behrens vs. MSB lawsuit will be discussed in Executive Session at this week’s Assembly meeting: The case is set for a 15 day trial in Palmer Superior Court in October & November: The MSB has filed a Motion for Partial Summary Judgement and a ruling is still pending.…

The Fishiest Ordinance ever proposed by the MSB staff

This item is on the agenda of the next MSB Assembly meeting.  Ordinance 19-101. OR 19-101 RS 19-071 IM 19-134 The MSB staff  wants the Assembly to drain the Land Management Permanent Fund of $3.5 million (of the total $3.9 million which would leave a balance of only $400K in the…