Fairbanks North Star Borough

Wildfire smoke is impacting air quality in many areas of the state, with some of the worst conditions in the Interior, including at North Pole. The community is known for severe wintertime fine particulate pollution from wood and coal stove and boiler emissions, but as KUAC’s Dan Bross reports, this week’s wildfire smoke has been far worse.

The Salcha Fair is back! After two years of hiatus, planning is under way for a different kind of fair that’ll be held in mid-August.

The Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly considers an ordinance tonight (Thurs) which would authorize a loan to the Interior Gas Utility. The IGU was created by borough voters as a legally independent entity to expand availability of natural gas, to improve air quality, and lower energy costs, but its spending a lot of money on gas infrastructure, and there’s concern the consumer gas price won’t be low enough to drive a switch from more polluting coal, oil and wood fuels. KUAC’s Dan Bross reports.

The state has released a new plan to reduce Fairbanks wintertime fine particulate pollution. The updated plan is federally required because, areas of Fairbanks and North Pole continue to fall below Clean Air Act standards, when cold air inversions trap emissions form wood, coal and oil burning. KUAC’s Dan Bross reports.

It is budget season for the Fairbanks North Star Borough – the Assembly meets this Thursday to vote on a spending plan. But citizens are expected to weigh in as well. Borough Mayor Bryce Ward has posted a tool online where citizens can show how they would spend taxpayer dollars.

The state will no longer share federal trail money with Alaska communities. The Recreational Trails Program provides about one point 5 million dollars to Alaska annually, money which has been split between state park and community projects, but as KUAC’s Dan Bross reports, the funding is being re-focused.

Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Bryce Ward says his email in-box filled up yesterday after local media reported on a resolution to change the way seniors and disabled veterans pay property taxes. The measure is on tonight’s borough assembly agenda.

A million dollars for helping the Mary Siah Recreation Center get through the next five years was passed last night by the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly. Bids for the repair job go out in a few months and work will probably start in the fall.

Grappling with the borough’s building repair backlog, the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly last night passed a requirement that the mayor put   maintenance money in the budget each year. Borough staff estimates the schools, recreation centers, libraries and offices owned by the borough have millions of dollars-worth of repairs pending.