MATANUSKA-SUSITNA BOROUGH  
350 East Dahlia Avenue, Palmer, Alaska 99645 - 907-861-8683  
BOROUGH MAYOR  
Edna DeVries  
Michael Bowles, District 1  
Stephanie Nowers, District 2  
Dee McKee, District 3  
BOROUGH CLERK  
Lonnie R. McKechnie, CMC  
Maxwell Sumner, District 4  
Bill Gamble, District 5  
Dmitri Fonov, District 6  
Ron Bernier, District 7  
BOROUGH MANAGER  
Michael Brown  
BOROUGH ATTORNEY  
Nicholas Spiropoulos  
MEETING MINUTES  
WILLOW COMMUNITY CENTER  
MILE 69 PARKS HIGHWAY, WILLOW  
ASSEMBLY SPECIAL MEETING  
THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2026  
6:00 PM  
Budget Public Hearing  
I. CALL TO ORDER  
The special meeting of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly was held  
on Tuesday, April 23, 2026, at the Willow Area Community Center,  
Milepost 69, Willow, Alaska. The meeting was called to order at 6 p.m. by  
Mayor Edna DeVries.  
II. ROLL CALL  
Present: 5 - Assemblymember Michael Bowles, Assemblymember Maxwell  
Sumner, Assemblymember Bill Gamble, Assemblymember Dmitri  
Fonov, and Assemblymember Ron Bernier  
Excused: 2 - Assemblymember Stephanie Nowers, and Assemblymember Dee  
McKee  
III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA  
Mayor DeVries queried if there were any changes to the agenda.  
The agenda was approved as presented without objection.  
The Mayor requested a moment of silence in remembrance of the dogs lost  
in the Caswell incident.  
Mike Brown, Borough Manager, provided an update regarding the  
independent review that will be conducted concerning the Caswell dog  
incident.  
IV. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  
The pledge of allegiance was led by Assemblymember Bernier.  
V. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (Three Minutes Per Person.)  
The following persons spoke to the need for changes in policies regarding  
animal abuse cases and to funding additional Animal Care Officers: Kai  
Leddy; Cindy McCann; Shantel Wiley; Kathleen Frederick; Jan Stevens;  
Adam Larson, Willow Dog Mushers Association President; Dameon  
Kowalke; Patricia Burks; and Kirsten Peterson.  
The following person reported on all the grounds improvements made to the  
Willow Area Community Center, funded through Borough grants and public  
donations: Jim Huston.  
The following person thanked the Borough for the revetment repairs in  
Talkeetna and to concerns with the length of the closure for the Fireweed  
Playground: Jon Korta, Talkeetna Community Council Chairperson.  
The following persons spoke to the need for increased public  
transportation: Zoltan Stersky; Helen Katz; Brian Gearry; Paul Causey,  
President of Valley Transit Board; Wendy Odom; James McCleese, Valley  
Transit Driver; Jennifer Bush, Executive Director of Valley Transit; and  
Elizabeth (did not provide last name).  
VI. ITEMS OF BUSINESS  
A. PUBLIC HEARING  
An Ordinance Appropriating Monies From The Central Treasury For The  
Borough Operating Funds, Enterprise Funds, Education Operating Fund  
And Capital Funds, Establishing The Rate Of Levy For All Borough  
Functions For The Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2026, And Ending June  
30, 2027; And Setting The Surcharge Rate For The Wireline And  
Wireless Enhanced 911 Systems For The Period Of July 1, 2026,  
Through June 30, 2027.  
OR 26-026  
Ms. McKechnie read the legislation into the record.  
Mayor DeVries opened the public hearing.  
There being no one present who wished to testify.  
Assemblymember Bernier moved to continue the public  
hearing for Ordinance Serial No. 26-026 to April 28, 2026.  
The motion passed by the following vote:  
Yes: 5 - Assemblymember Bowles, Assemblymember Sumner,  
Assemblymember Gamble, Assemblymember Fonov, and  
Assemblymember Bernier  
VII. MAYOR, ASSEMBLY, AND STAFF COMMENT  
Assemblymember Bowles moved to rescind his April 21, 2026,  
motion regarding library materials.  
The motion passed by the following vote:  
Yes: 5 - Assemblymember Bowles, Assemblymember Sumner,  
Assemblymember Gamble, Assemblymember Fonov, and  
Assemblymember Bernier  
Assemblymember Bowles thanked the public for their attendance.  
Acknowledged the community’s concerns regarding the unfortunate dog  
incident in Caswell and stated that he empathizes with those concerns.  
Concluded by stating that it is a privilege to serve.  
Assemblymember Bernier thanked everyone for attending the meeting.  
Recognized the service of military Veterans in the audience and said a  
prayer.  
Mike Brown, Borough Manager, invited Ken Barkley, Emergency Services  
Director, to introduce the new Willow-Caswell Fire Chief.  
Ken Barkley, Emergency Services Director, introduced Ben Knowles, Fire  
Chief for the Willow-Caswell Fire Service Area.  
Ms. McKechnie spoke to the process for budget amendments.  
Assemblymember Gamble stated that the budget public hearing in Willow is  
his favorite and thanked the public for attending.  
Assemblymember Sumner thanked the public for their attendance. Spoke to  
the potential seat composition of the special review committee for the  
Caswell dog incident.  
Assemblymember Fonov thanked Mr. Brown for the update regarding the  
independent review of the Caswell dog incident.  
Mayor DeVries noted that Borough Libraries will be adorned in  
patriotic decorations in honor of the 250th Anniversary of the United  
States. Read a statement into the record regarding the same.  
VIII. ADJOURNMENT  
The meeting adjourned at 7:16 p.m.