[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6118136,"mediaKeyId","2724889-52b368d99cd9fcd4d011be60162aa08b","parentId",2724889,"title","Borough staff seek $100,000 to cover bid overage for Marysai pool replastering; project slated for August","audioSeconds",707,"startMs",17212000,"endMs",17919000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2724889-52b368d99cd9fcd4d011be60162aa08b&start=17212&end=17919","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2724889-52b368d99cd9fcd4d011be60162aa08b/thumbnail_17212000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6118136/Alaska/Borough-staff-seek-100000-to-cover-bid-overage-for-Marysai-pool-replastering-project-slated-for-August","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6118136-4f86df32944225bf057c6e8175395a33/orig.mp4?Expires=1770804232&Signature=AEYGnMMHjWXA-KwQJM0DFuxFfmWtGLR2WIExU2C9McJxHVwTtbEIktiXGIbe3Y4W1jURVD7aLHf-w0lUF0-osm2PSTc2vvSErYzarDPs53FMDbnznbxdGenzfPef3UM3dO5H65vDjeP4ftqgPlhc9Dg9DCNGgMPybE2eyLQuRiSp-K2Kvu8Xg-emrwkMcXTynSagDCHtP1dQrsOY21vX0gGJdc~s19g8WJ~4lKicudtzITfMnUWsUn~~coleTFOuGlVaknzusmI60BqPIWD-qGx3LU2Sd1PKyyGkzXjYf3K9nAHcphNrelXMp6jlyAQMMSmkZqyIgtGtboUKmhX91g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-03-06T00:00:00Z","article","Borough Public Works staff asked the Finance Committee to approve an ordinance appropriating $100,000 from the capital improvement program maintenance reserve to fund replastering and limited structural repairs at Marysai Swimming Pool.

Janice Smith, Public Works, said contractors will remove existing plaster, repair concrete where necessary, reinstall tile and new plaster, and refinish ladders and stairs. “The current available funds for the project are roughly $5,000 less than the lowest bid we received for this work,” Smith told the committee, and she said the additional appropriation would cover the bid price and a contingency for conditions that may be revealed once plaster is removed.

Mayor Hopkins said the project’s funding and schedule expectancy: the previously approved budget figure showed roughly $510,000 in available project dollars, of which about $60,000 has already been used on scoping and design, leaving about $450,000 on hand. The ordinance before the committee would increase the project budget and bring total funded project value closer to $610,000 (project and budgeting figures discussed in staff remarks). Smith said the contractor’s work is scheduled August 1 through about September 18 followed by the pool’s annual maintenance closure; Public Works estimated plaster curing and chemical balancing will require several additional weeks before reopening.

Why it matters: the work is routine but necessary maintenance of a community recreation asset. Committee members asked about timing (the work overlaps high school swim season) and about accessibility features; staff said they coordinated scheduling with Parks & Recreation and will follow up with details about pool revenue and any accessibility upgrades. The ordinance was presented as an appropriation request; the transcript records staff presentation and questions but does not show a final committee vote on the ordinance at that meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Fairbanks North Star Borough Finance Committee - March 06, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Public Works requested an additional $100,000 from the capital maintenance reserve to award a contract to replaster and repair Marysai Pool; staff warned bids exceeded available funds and the pool will be closed for the work and routine maintenance this summer.","taxTitle","Fairbanks North Star (Borough), Alaska","taxId",5063,"location","Alaska","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6118142,"Finance committee approves purchase of five CNG transit buses from Gillig using FTA grant",216,17698000,17914000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2724889-52b368d99cd9fcd4d011be60162aa08b&start=17698&end=17914","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2724889-52b368d99cd9fcd4d011be60162aa08b/thumbnail_17698000.jpg","/articles/6118142/Alaska/Finance-committee-approves-purchase-of-five-CNG-transit-buses-from-Gillig-using-FTA-grant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6118142-f18ed4b72aab1ad6b41949912ae75dfb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770804232&Signature=cfYEiLhDC5PCdEUHeoR3NLlCWN~5OA28gTKWxZdnReK2rYrkMnbbTKY91xYS5V-LPuNtwItrBku1jLVJVlU20oJRSofBeM7s27Psxl5ToJlqDwRaScSFMbq87MyO-IjIaugNfAvMN84KGa9TjpTsJcRKW2nX8nNgMj~pFw6tm5c4dm8FPxEpefy-kpWn-ZbHN~XHAI08WDshpA-AghuHstcnSAsio9As7lsfHHPgdfPMiLNMPtwTfdVFJohsx~ifN-mx~agi07dMc8JGYZZ5ty3gfMddGHDeQMxv62m9ukZbHoFr0fmhPJd1M2aMlo4cMD1eFacOTAclDzswHcsC2A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Fairbanks North Star Borough Finance Committee approved an award to Gillig LLC for five compressed natural‑gas transit buses, using a Washington State cooperative contract to take advantage of precompeted pricing and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funding.

Staff described the purchase as grant‑funded. “This purchase is being funded by a grant from FTA with a 20% borough match,” Corey Beal told the committee when he presented the staff report. The committee approved the purchase under the Washington contract and accepted a firm quote from the vendor; the committee adopted an amendment that updated the total to the finalized vendor quote of $4,339,340 for the five buses.

Why it matters: committee documents say the purchase fits the borough’s planned multi‑year conversion from diesel to CNG vehicles to reduce fuel and maintenance costs. With the addition of five buses the borough will own eight CNG buses (the borough had previously purchased three) and staff told members the fleet conversion target is 13 CNG buses. Staff said the state contract is well suited to the borough because it is designed to be used with FTA funding and helps streamline procurement.

Debate and vote: committee members asked about statewide procurement, warranty and testing in sub‑Arctic climates. Staff said the buses are 35‑foot models and that testing and training were underway for earlier CNG deliveries; warranty and commissioning items remained in process for the units already in the fleet. The motion to award the contract (moved by Ms. Wilson, seconded by Dr. Haney) was amended to reflect the final, lower vendor quote and passed unanimously by roll call (8–0).

Funding and implementation: staff said the purchase will be funded by an FTA grant with a 20% local match; the match will come from the transit enterprise fund. Staff also told the committee the expected fuel and maintenance savings would accrue over time as the borough grows the CNG fleet and reduces diesel consumption. The administration will return to the assembly to finalize contract documents and appropriation adjustments as required.","The committee approved buying five 35‑foot compressed natural gas buses under a precompeted Washington state contract, funded primarily by an FTA grant with a 20% borough match; the award carried 8–0.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6118147,"Assembly declines five‑year renewal with Dominion Voting Systems after widespread public opposition",5383,289000,5672000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2724889-52b368d99cd9fcd4d011be60162aa08b&start=289&end=5672","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2724889-52b368d99cd9fcd4d011be60162aa08b/thumbnail_289000.jpg","/articles/6118147/Alaska/Assembly-declines-fiveyear-renewal-with-Dominion-Voting-Systems-after-widespread-public-opposition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6118147-5352a3ad45ad0e71ea05a00ce2bb5fb9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770804232&Signature=k-zNnyqWG40G6lZZEJ1PybxkcaSPoIUp9o2e8D8JDvdH2nczD09vOsEJ4h8NxjU9rVIgFdmtdjRMZB3wQsyb1dn5~ReghCFMogC9LeWKqA8ArgZKYFz7Ro38BhF5KbR1CYl7DOaNlVmDiT2cUgjnDuOeEpe1PtLcwrjWIWKZEmU6Kak9JiGW-iFBPEPmUURtbPUpt7nNJr0bGR6lSqSKajx3tp0~VY9fqQsI2MFyT0~hjvyDERn7XG54K1sXZbUg5iK0yNB~bwo6SfMBUTdS5FNuktTu1SxkIAWgxY78GvzB1IyZtHU5PFQKsX-hD-N-4qSvrKqesHW5HJhEg97Mtw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly Finance Committee voted on a sole‑source contract renewal with Dominion Voting Systems but failed to reach the majority needed on the 4–4 vote, leaving the five‑year licensing and warranty agreement unapproved.

Residents and local election volunteers filled the committee’s public comment period and urged the committee to reject or delay the contract. Dozens called in and testified that they distrust the machines and want a return to hand‑counted paper ballots; several cited demonstrations or reports they said showed security weaknesses in Dominion equipment. “I do not support renewing the Dominion Voting Machine contract because it is a no‑bid contract and no other options are being considered,” Ruby Shorey told the committee during public comment. “Paper ballots can accomplish a more transparent, verifiable, auditable outcome at a fraction of the cost,” she added.

Why it matters: the contract would have continued annual programming, license and warranty services for proprietary election equipment the borough purchased in 2020. Borough staff told the committee the vendor is the sole provider of support for the borough’s existing equipment and that a contract is the standard way to budget and guarantee licensing and warranty coverage. Corey Beal of General Services summarized the recommendation: “We’re recommending approval of the award in the amount of $219,489.32 for the total five year contract.” Clerk Miss Tricky explained that borough code currently authorizes machine‑counted optical‑scan ballots, and that changing back to hand counting would require an ordinance.

During debate, Assemblymembers stressed competing priorities: several members said they were persuaded by the intensity of public opposition and by examples of jurisdictions that tried hand counting; others argued the borough still needs a stable, budgeted licensing arrangement to run legally required elections and that staff would be left without a maintenance and programming path if the contract were not approved. A motion to postpone the award until the May 15 finance meeting failed. A later motion to award the sole‑source contract (moved by Mr. Guttenberg, seconded by Mr. Kress) failed on a 4–4 roll call, so the committee did not approve the five‑year agreement.

Next steps and constraints: staff and the clerk told the committee they can run elections under current procedures while the borough examines options. The clerk said the current contract for those services expires in spring; she also noted that the borough owns the hardware and would need a path for licensing and warranties if it keeps operating optical scan equipment. Several assembly members suggested short‑term remedies such as a one‑year contract, targeted audits, or a pilot hand‑count audit of a small number of precincts by lot. The committee did not adopt an alternative contract at the meeting.

Public testimony highlighted a sustained distrust among some voters and volunteers. Committee members noted that distrust itself can depress turnout and that the borough must balance legal requirements, technical support needs and community confidence. The committee did not approve the five‑year sole‑source renewal; any future contracts or ordinance changes would return to the assembly for action.","After more than two hours of public testimony and committee debate, the Assembly Finance Committee voted 4–4 and failed to approve a five‑year sole‑source contract with Dominion Voting Systems for ballot programming, licensing and warranties.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Borough staff seek $100,000 to cover bid overage for Marysai pool replastering; project slated for August

Finance committee approves purchase of five CNG transit buses from Gillig using FTA grant

Assembly declines five‑year renewal with Dominion Voting Systems after widespread public opposition