Agenda
O'Malley Elementary School
Thursday, April 21, 2005
HOW MANY LATTES CAN YOU DRINK?
Having just gone through the election season and hearing many times how much the various bonds would cost in terms of "lattes per week," it begs one to find out just how many lattes we are expected to give up! Reaching for the book shelf and pulling down my signed copy of the 2003 MOA "Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFER), I flip straight to the back where the interesting stuff is placed.
The chart below shows for a ten year period the population, the debt our community carries, the amount we pay each year on that debt and how much those payments amount to for each resident.
If we assume it's about $2.50 for a latte, the last column shows how many lattes you need to quit drinking in a year to cover your share of the debt payments. It looks like you have to skip the java once a week. If that seems rough, take a look at 2001! We had to skip holidays, too!
It seems like not such a bad deal, until those days without caffeine roll around!
- John Weddleton President MHCC
| Population | Net Direct Debt ($ thousands) | Total Debt Service ($thousands) | Debt Service per Capita | Lattes per Capita | |
| 1994 | 255,422 | $417,202 | $23,478 | $91.92 | 37 |
| 1995 | 253,614 | $401,487 | $24,824 | $97.88 | 39 |
| 1996 | 254,269 | $434,990 | $26,954 | $106.01 | 42 |
| 1997 | 258,780 | $488,796 | $27,334 | $105.63 | 42 |
| 1998 | 258,780 | $493,514 | $27,290 | $105.46 | 42 |
| 1999 | 259,390 | $517,870 | $25,775 | $99.37 | 40 |
| 2000 | 260,283 | $631,457 | $29,552 | $113.54 | 45 |
| 2001 | 264,937 | $770,037 | $38,820 | $146.53 | 59 |
| 2002 | 269,070 | $907,285 | $36,212 | $134.58 | 54 |
| 2003 | 274,003 | $895,707 | $36,133 | $131.87 | 53 |
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THESE REPLATS CAN BE DRAINING! Back on the agenda is the replat at Beverly
and Birch Roads. This is a replat to combine 2 lots into one. That would allow
the builder to work around some tricky terrain. The issue is a small lake on
the adjoining lots that seasonally comes precariously close to flooding a house.
If the new house affects the drainage, there could be serious repercussions.
Last month, the Platting Officer sent the builder back to take another look at where the water flows. We'll take a look at the plan at this month's meeting.
A point to remember on replats is that they are renumbered (the suffix increases) as they change. This is now case S11335-2. Public comments regarding earlier versions get dropped off the Muni website when they're renumbered. Comments are due by April 29.
Any replat under 8 acres is a "short plat." and does not require public notice and typically goes only to a planning officer rather than to a public hearing. The planning officer writes a summary based on the code and comments from different agencies that respond.
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PROPOSED CHURCH ON BARONIK. Katie Nolan from the Huffman-O'Malley CC will visit us to ask for our support in requesting a public hearing or finding other alternatives for the proposed church on Baronik.
LDS President Mel Nichols said in a phone conversation that the church has owned the land for over 20 years with the expectation that it would build there. The time has come as their chapel on Brayton is too crowded.
The new church will support 400 members living on the Hillside. This meeting will be a great chance to hear from the people who will benefit from the church.
There are quite a few churches on O'Malley that appear to exist peacefully with their neighbors. That suggests that there is every likelihood that a new church can be designed that will do the same.
It would be great to support the request for a public hearing where the neighbors and church can present a development that keeps them all happy on the Hillside.
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DE ARMOUN ROAD UPDATE What's going on? According to acting
project manager Gerry Welsh, "Nothing." At a meeting earlier this year,
AMATS, the group that decides what roads get built, agreed to stop the project
until a decision is made on the project's future. DOT ceased work on the project.
They were in the early stages of reviewing a DSR that was written in response
to public comments to previous DSRs.
DOT will not release a DSR that it has not reviewed. That seems reasonable, but if you live along DeArmoun, it would have to drive you crazy knowing the fate of your home is sealed in a book you can't see!
Maybe nothing will ever happen. The clock is ticking on this project. Apparently, a project has ten years from the Design Phase to the Right of Way Acquisition Phase. If that deadline is missed, the Federal Highways Administration could ask for its money back!
As a project is studied, it seems like a "No Build" option should always remain on the list. But if choosing not to do anything means you have to pay back a load of money, it makes that alternative less likely.
According to David Post, a DOT planner, the environmental document could be amended to recommend No Build, but that can shut the door on later desires to build. Most efficient is to keep it moving forward even with a significantly smaller project.
According to Mr. Post, he is not clear if the clock starts ticking at end of environmental phase or end of DSR phase. Either way, the time has been passing so if this project is revived, it will have to move at a quick pace.
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SO LONG WINTER! HELLO WILDFIRE SEASON! Firefighter Jennifer Klug emailed to remind us that when the snow goes, the tall grass that died last fall is prime for burning. Start your summer firewise efforts by clearing that away from your house. The fire department will continue voluntary home assessments this year and can help pay a big chunk of the costs. Go to www.muni.org/fire1/wildfire.cfm for all the info.
The Wood Lot will be located at Valley Sawmill on O'Malley starting the first week of May. The wood lots are free!
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CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ANYONE? This is the time of year when we create
and prioritize a list of capital improvements we might like. The process continues
through late fall when projects are added to the budget. To take a look at the
MOA's list go to:
http://www.muni.org/omb/CommunityCouncils.cfm
To see the lists we have submitted, go to www.weddleton.com/CC and scroll down to the "Capital Improvements" link. Only a vague similarity between the two lists!
If you'd like to add or delete anything from our lists, please email john@weddleton.com. We'll compile a list for the May meeting.
Mid-HillsideBoard Members
John Weddleton -President 349-8370 john@weddleton.com
Brian Johnson -Vice President 345-5883 brian.johnson2@akanch.ang.af.mil
Tom O'Grady -Secretary 345-6948 ogrady@gci.net
Linda Perkins -Treasurer 346-2558 miniaturehorses@alaska.com
Kim Ross -Registrar 344-0333 kimross@alaska.com
John Jenkins 240-8609 laurieb@alaska.net
Shirley McGrath 345-1606 smcgrath@alaska.net
Mark Miner 336-2383 akminers@alaska.net
Lance Powell 346-2327 lwpowell1@juno.com
Hillside East Board Members
Tom Newins, President 345-8881 newins@gci.net
Bjarne Holm, Vice President robinholm@ak.net
Our next meeting is Thursday, April 21.
We meet at 7pm on the third Thursday of the month at O'Malley Elementary School on Rockridge off O'Malley. For more info see www.communitycouncils.org/hillside/hillmid.html