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  
MENARD SPORTS COMPLEX  
1001 SOUTH CLAPP STREET, WASILLA  
ASSEMBLY SPECIAL MEETING  
TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 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 28, 2026, at the Menard Sports Complex, 1001 South  
Clapp Street, Wasilla, Alaska. The meeting was called to order at 6 p.m. by  
Mayor Edna DeVries.  
II. ROLL CALL  
Present: 6 - Assemblymember Michael Bowles, Assemblymember Stephanie  
Nowers, Assemblymember Dee McKee, Assemblymember Bill  
Gamble, Assemblymember Dmitri Fonov, and Assemblymember  
Ron Bernier  
Excused: 1 - Assemblymember Maxwell Sumner  
III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA  
The agenda was approved as presented without objection.  
IV. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Assemblymember Fonov.  
V. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (Three Minutes Per Person.)  
The following person spoke to spoke the organization REACH 907: Skyler  
DeBoer.  
The following persons spoke to potential school closures: Patricia Fisher,  
Caroline Arnold, and Aunia Brasher.  
The following persons spoke in support of Valley Transit: Brian McRumitt,  
Margaret Provost, Caroline Robinson, Zofta Sturtsy, Helen Katz, Brian  
Geary, Sonya Debec, and Steve McHomey.  
The following person spoke in support of Meadow Lakes Elementary  
School: Riley Laws.  
The following person thanked the Assembly for their grant to Hatcher Pass  
Avalanche Center: Heather Johnson.  
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.  
The following person spoke to the proposed budget, Government Peak  
Chalet, and the funding formula for schools: Jim Colver.  
Assemblymember Bernier moved to continue the public  
hearing on Ordinance Serial No. 26-026 to April 30, 2026, at 6  
p.m. in the Borough Assembly Chambers.  
The motion passed by the following vote:  
Yes: 6 - Assemblymember Bowles, Assemblymember Nowers,  
Assemblymember McKee, Assemblymember Gamble,  
Assemblymember Fonov, and Assemblymember Bernier  
Excused: 1 - Assemblymember Sumner  
B. TRANSIT DISCUSSION  
Jennifer Busch, Executive Director of Valley Transit, presented on  
public transit.  
The meeting recessed at 7:52 p.m. and reconvened at 8:05 p.m.  
VII. MAYOR, ASSEMBLY, AND STAFF COMMENT  
Assemblymember Bowles spoke to serving as an elected officials and  
requested the public reach out with their ideas.  
Assemblymember Bernier said a prayer.  
Assemblymember McKee spoke to her appreciation of public transit and  
thanked everyone for attending.  
VIII. ADJOURNMENT  
The meeting adjourned at 8:13 p.m.