Fairbanks, AK - The Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly continued work Thursday night on an ordinance that would create an area-wide natural gas utility. They heard from key players in establishing the Utility. And one assembly member hopes to refine the language before it goes before the public next week.
Language in the ordinance does not currently outline eligibility for potential members of a Board of Directors or employees. So, Assemblyman Guy Sattley plans to introduce an amendment that will do so. “I’m just a suspicious person by nature," he says, "and nothing around here is just a housekeeping ordinance.”
According to Sattley’s amendment, no local elected municipal official may be employed by the utility or appointed to the Board of Directors if such a Board is created while the elected official is serving a term and for a year after their term is up.
Assemblywoman Nadine Winters says she has a feeling the amendment is aimed at her. “Well, let me put it this way," she explains. "In terms of the amendment, the part that says a member of the assembly shouldn't then go work for an organization that they helped create because that's financial gain, I am totally up with that and I personally think our ethics code already does that," she says. "Serving on a board of an entity that you help create, I'm not so sure that I see that that as being an ethical issue. I think I see that as more of an opinion.”
Winters is one of five sponsors on the ordinance. She also helped write it. She say she hasn’t given much thought to serving on a Board of Directors should the ordinance pass.
“But at the end of the day, if my skill set was relevant or needed, I'd certainly like to have the option. Whether that's the case or not, we don't know yet, but I'd certainly like to have the option."
During their work session, the Assembly heard further discussion from representatives of Golden Valley Electric Association, the Alaska Energy Authority, the Alaska Industrial Development Authority and Fairbanks Natural gas, among others.
The North Pole City Council passed an ordinance earlier this week that transferred that city’s utility power to the Fairbanks North Star Borough. Fairbanks’ City Council meets to vote on a similar motion Monday.
The Borough ordinance goes before the Assembly for public hearing next Thursday, October 11th.