Assembly Postpones Garbage Can Expansion Decision

Jacob Resneck/KMXT

The Kodiak Island Borough Assembly was at a deadlock last night (Thursday) over expanding Alaska Waste’s curbside garbage service into neighborhoods around Spruce Cape, Island Lake and Woodland Acres. The expansion plan has been hugely controversial, with a packed chamber full of people turning out to testify. KMXT’s Jacob Resneck reports.

— garbage hearing pkg 2:51 "Support for … I’m Jacob Resneck."

During the more than hour long public hearing, testimony to the roll cart expansion was overwhelmingly opposed.

— opposition1

Further dissent came from Alaska Department Fish and Game biologist Larry Van Daele. He said an ad-hoc committee of public safety workers including city police, state troopers, Coast Guard officials and borough and city workers have concerns about rollcarts being an attractive nuisance for bears.

— van daele1

Support for curbside trash cans came from Bob Johnson, a retired physician and B&B owner who argues that Dumpsters aren’t kept tidy and have their own suite of problems.

— johnson1

Assembly members appeared divided over the issue. Chris Lynch defended the process saying the expansion plan is the fruit of extensive studies and community involvement.

— lynch1

But the plan had its detractors on the Assembly. Dave Kaplan says he was concerned about bears and other logistics.

— kaplan1

By the end of the hearing it was punt it or play it. The Assembly deadlocked twice over a motion to postpone and finally relented to put the issue off for a future meeting.

The issue is certainly to come back around again.

I’m Jacob Resneck

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