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            The Kodiak Island Borough Assembly approved its yearly construction wish list at last night’s meeting, and it should be on its way to the State of Alaska soon. The Capital Improvement Projects priority list is the top dozen items the borough would like the state’s help in paying for next year.

            And it is just a wish list. Even when flush with money the state never funds everything, and sometimes the top items don’t make it through. That happened to the borough with last year’s list when the number one priority, a request for money to earthquake proof island schools, was vetoed by Governor Sarah Palin.

            The 4-plus-million-dollars in earthquake upgrades are at the top of the list once again this year, and Assemblywoman Pat Branson urged her colleagues to help get it passed:

--          (Wish List 1               19 sec              “I would very much … it’s pretty disappointing.”)

            Number two on the list is a request for another 3-million-dollars for a new Alaska Department of Fish and Game headquarters on Near Island. The state has already given nearly 5-million towards the projected 15-million-dollar building. However, Assemblywoman Louise Stutes once again expressed concern that the borough did not yet have a deal with fish and game to occupy the building:

--          (Wish List 2               36 sec              “I believe that Kodiak … we have anything in writing.”)

            Twenty-three-million-dollars to go towards a new high school is third on the list.

            Road improvements showed up in two places on the wish list, in positions nine and 12. Item nine asks for 2-million-dollars to pave road service areas, while item 12 asks for 10-million to resurface Rezanof Drive. Borough Manager Rick Gifford explains:

--          (Wish List 3               43 sec              “It was interesting … and so that’s been added.”)

            The state Capital Improvement Projects priority list was approved on a 6-to-0 vote. Also on the list: A new nursing home, an emergency shelter in Women’s Bay, emergency generators at schools, traffic improvements at East Elementary School, street lighting from town to the base, an addition to the Bayside fire hall, and a new track and field at Baranof Park. You can find the complete list on our web site, KMXT dot ORG.

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