KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
Kayla Desroches/KMXT
The resolution to support a Termination Point conservation easement was on the agenda again at the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly’s work session last night. The resolution would confirm the assembly’s interest rather than commit the assembly to involvement. At the assembly chambers, community members filled the seats and doorway, and a few stepped up to the podum to voice their opinions.
Assemblymembers later responded to the concerns brought up during public comment.
Assemblyman Larry LeDoux said the assembly needs to move forward and be diligent, and also explained that he doesn’t think Termination Point’s value is in building potential.
“I was thinking when they designated Central Park. It’s the most valuable property in the world and what New Yorker would give up Central Park to build houses so that land values would come down? They wouldn’t. And this may be our only Central Park the way we’re chopping down trees everywhere in a 100 years. And so those who say that we need to protect it so that we need to turn it into housing in 100 years. That just tells me that we really do need to protect it.”
Assemblyman Dan Rohrer said he’d like to see where negotiations take the assembly, but he has concerns about the liability they’re taking on.
“The conservation easement on land is not the same as the Kodiak Island Borough owning a parcel of land. And I understand we own few simple property around this parcel. We may or may not, based upon the rules of the conservation easement, we may or may not be able to treat the conservation easement at Termination Point the exact same way we treat the acreage right in front of it, right around the reservoir.”
Assemblyman Frank Peterson said he’s in favor of passing the resolution.
“We’ve got a lot of time to discuss this. I do have concerns just as Assemblymember Rohrer does about our liability, and what’s gonna to happen, what’s the cost gonna be to us, but again, we have time to discuss this. Let’s move this forward. Let’s get this resolution passed so we can start having those discussions.”
The next regular meeting, at which the assembly can make a decision on the Termination Point resolution, is scheduled for October 15.
