12/29/2011

Next Tuesday, the Borough Assembly will be taking up an ordinance that seeks to give $100,000 to the Kenai Watershed Forum for culvert restoration across the Borough. Robert Ruffner, the Executive Director of KWF, explained the project.

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Ruffner said his organization has lined up matching grants for this project that could mean for every dollar the Borough spends, there would be an additional two to three used for the work.

Throughout the discussion of this ordianance, many members of the public have questioned giving the funds to the watershed, claiming many reasons from the failed proposition to create a tax increase for funding “non-departmental” agencies, to the lack of oversight in the way the funds are used. Ruffner addressed some of the issues.

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When it comes to the non-departmental comparison, Ruffner can see where that argument can be used; however, he said that road projects like this are a primary function of the Kenai Peninsula Borough. He said that the forum, through the use of their grants, can do more work for every Borough dollar.

Filed under: News by Joe Nicks