Railbelt Mental Health & Addictions

Nenana Wellness Coalition

Minutes

October 19, 2004

 

 

Meeting began at 12:20 AM

 

Meeting officiated by Bud Krause

 

Prayer was led by Bonnie Reed

 

Pledge of Allegiance recited

 

Diane Carson submitted an email modification to the minutes (as pointed out by Gayle Ramey) regarding Ricky Martin’s comment about the troopers at the September 14^th meeting. The correction was accepted and the minutes were approved.

 

Introduction of Guests:

Amy Solomon and Blossom Davies - are here from the federal government as a part of the Alaska Behavioral Health Intervention Project Evaluation team and are here to evaluate Railbelt Mental Health and Addictions. RMHA was chosen for evaluation specifically because of the fact that our community has an active wellness coalition and they wanted to see how the coalition interfaces with RMHA.

Theresa Hall - is visiting as a member of the Railbelt Mental Health Board of Directors and a newly (again) elected assembly member of the Denali Borough.

 

Updates/Announcements

 

Chamber of Commerce - Miles Martin invited the public to attend their annual Welcome to Nenana Dinner at 6:30 PM at the James Coghill Community Center

 

Local Churches - Bonnie Reed invited the public to celebrate the birthday of founder of the Bahai faith by sharing a dinner with them at milepost 311.8 Parks highway at 5:30 PM

 

School - Ken Eggleston

            The warehouse and the surrounding area are currently being cleaned up to accommodate the new office building that will be built between the school and the warehouse to house the CyberLynx office and 10 other offices such as the various grant program administrators. It is being build by the construction class.

This new office will free up the rest of the living space at the student living center so that next year it can operate at full capacity which should accommodate about 82 students.

Representative John Coghill has pre-filed a bill for the funding the student living center. The bill addressed all the concerns expressed by Senator Wilken last year that kept it from advancing in the senate even though it passed the house unanimously. By pre-filing it should get out there soon enough that if there are still concerns they can be addressed and resolved before the end of the session. The bill anticipates the living center being funded each year in the same fashion as they fund Mt. Edgecombe each year.

Endil Moore from the Nenana Valley Sports Association has asked to be put on the agenda at the school board meeting tonight to discuss the location of the proposed skating rink.

A proposal to provide student busing has been submitted and will also be considered at the school board meeting.

The steam house is very close to finished and should be operational within a week.

A dinner to which the public is invited is provided every Wednesday at the student living center at 5:30 PM

           

Milt Haken - Barbara Barry who has been a consultant to the Seattle Sonics and owns her own consulting firm will be speaking here in Nenana next week. She is bringing with her the Vice President of COSTCO. They will be arriving too late in the day to attend our wellness meeting but we may want to meet with them at another time or hold our meeting at another time. It was agreed that for the sake of consistency we should hold our meeting at the normal time and meet with them at another time. It was agreed that those who are available will meet with them on Wednesday night. Milt will get back with us once he has verified this with them.

Milt also reminded us that next week is red-ribbon week at the school.

 

Railbelt Mental Health and Addictions - Kat McElroy informed us of the passage of Senate Bill 1194 which is entitled Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act of 2003. Funding that results from this act could be used to work with expanding court-based programs for the mentally ill, or for providing specialized training to personnel involved in the criminal, juvenile justice, and mental health agencies, or for programs that provide mental health and substance abuse treatment services, etc. This may be a source of funding to help us establish some of the programs that we want to set up.

 

Mike Anderson - Informed us that it looks like the federal government may end up with the corner bar and if they do we may want to contact them about utilizing it for one of our programs.

 

Endil Moore - Seniors Center is just about done. Hopefully it will be finished in time for our meeting next week. We would like the first people who utilize it to be the senior’s themselves.

 

Paul Verhagen - Gave a brief update on the status of progress towards building a hockey rink here in town. It looks like we have commitments for the bulk of the donations that will be needed. One thing that has been holding things up is the orientation of the rink. It has been suggested that perhaps the rink should be built over the existing tennis and basketball courts making it a dual purpose facility (like they have in Anchorage) where it is used for skating in the winter and other sports in the summer. This matter may be resolved at tonight’s school board meeting. After that issue is resolved construction should be able to begin - IF the weather holds. Unfortunately, if it snows or the ground freezes construction may have to be put off.

 

Guest Speakers

 

            None

 

Old Business

 

Halloween - The date for trick-or-treating was discussed. There were compelling reasons for changing the date and good reasons given for leaving it to the families to decide. In the end a consensus was not reached as to what to recommend so the default consensus was to not make a recommendation to the city council one way or another.

 

Wellness Annual Dinner - Traci shared with us the sign she made up for our second annual wellness dinner. Paul will ask for church volunteers for help with setting-up. Ken will check with Andre Lavell and let us know by next week to see if Andre can attend the dinner and speak to us about the state-wide Access program. The school will coordinate community work service (CWS) kids to do the clean-up afterwards. Mike Anderson has agreed to do the cooking! Bud Krause and Rose Vance will do something around the theme of Veterans Day. We will make available blank certificates of appreciation like we did last year only this year they will not only be posted but also distributed or mailed out by RMHA. Ken indicated that the CWS kids could be utilized for mailing them out. Paul will ask the radio station to put notices on the air for a few days before hand. The Bahai’s have volunteered to provide child care during the evening.

           

 

New Business

 

Court - Paul Verhagen - Community Diversion Panel for Minor Consuming. Paul explained that the legislature wrote into the most current legislation regarding minor consuming a means for the community to become more directly involved in helping resolve the problem of minor consuming. It contemplates the creation of a community wide panel to deal with first time minor consuming offenses. Paul suggested that since we are almost out of time that we discuss the subject more next week. He suggested that we each invite people who we think would want to be included not only in the discussion but would perhaps like to serve on the panel. He pointed out that such a panel might then go on to help establish a youth court that could help deal with the issue because often times youth pay more heed to other youth than to adults. It was suggested that after some preliminary meetings during our regular meetings that we might want to set up some evening meetings so that those who can’t be here during the day can also participate. He will put this on the agenda again for next week.

Ken Eggleston pointed out that the issue is a serious one that is having an impact not only on the school but also the student living center. He pointed out that recent incidents have made the newspaper and television news and that they were both reported incorrectly. That is not helpful to our community or to the school. Ken mentioned that Chief Charlie Stevens called and was also concerned about bad press and offered to help in any way he can.

 

Railbelt Mental Health and Addictions (RMHA) - Kat McElroy was volunteered (and graciously agreed) to share a presentation with us that helps people gain a better understanding of the dynamics within families where one or more family members are alcoholics.

 

Open Floor for Comments/Questions/Discussion

 

            None - Ran out of Time           

 

Next Wellness Meeting Date/Time/Chairperson/Guest Speakers/Subjects

 

The next regularly scheduled wellness meeting will be held on October 26^th 2004 at the Nenana Senior’s Center at noon (if the remodeling is finished).

 

Meeting Adjourned at 2:08 PM

 

There were 18 people in attendance from the following organizations (and various interested citizens):

Chamber of Commerce, Nenana Library, Nenana Valley Sports Association, Nenana School, Nenana Student Living Center, Nenana Visitor’s Center, Alaska Court System, Nenana Bahai Church, Railbelt Mental Health and Addictions, LDS Church, Denali Borough Assembly, Alaska Behavioral Health Intervention Project Evaluation Team;

Miles Martin, Ken Eggleston, Bud Krause, Bonnie Reed, Blane Reed, Traci Wiggins, Elder McCoy, Elder Chaprian, Teresa Hall, Amy Salomon, Blossom Davis, Rosemary Allen, Kat McElroy, Sam Verhagen, Paul Verhagen, Tim Horn, Milt Haken, Pia Jensen

 

Nenana Wellness Coalition

Minutes

October 5, 2004

 

 

Meeting began at 12:20 AM

 

Meeting officiated by Traci Wiggins

 

Prayer was led by Sam Verhagen

 

Pledge of Allegiance recited

 

No modifications to the agenda

 

Minutes of September 21^st, 2004 approved without modifications

 

Introduction of Guests:

 

Dan Bockhorst, Staff to the State local Boundary Commission

 

Updates/Announcements

 

          Put off to next week

 

Guest Speaker:

 

Dan Bockhorst - Boroughs

 

     Some time ago Bud Krause and others suggested that it might be good for us to discuss boroughs at one of our wellness meetings. It was agreed that rather than just discuss it amongst ourselves that it would be good to have someone speak to us who had the ability to answer the questions that would inevitably arise over a subject that has been so hotly debated over the last 40 plus years. “Bear” Ketzler had been in contact with Dan for some time prior and agreed to invite him to speak to us. He did so and today’s meeting was arranged.

     Our usual approach to subjects like this is to allow the speaker to finish their presentation before we go to questions and answers. Dan commented afterwards that it is rare for him to be able to make his entire presentation (which lasted about an hour and a half) because he is usually interrupted with too many questions somewhere between 25 and 45 minutes into it and usually isn’t able to get back and finish his presentation.

     The question-and-answer session afterwards was not at all controversial which may have been due to the fact that many of the questions that people might have asked, pro or con, were answered in the presentation.

     It was proposed that between now and our next (or later) meeting we consider dedicating one meeting a month to various topics pertaining to boroughs, that we get the word out as much as possible, that we hold meetings in different locations, and at different times so that views from all sides of the issue are able to be presented and discussed.

     One important point that was made is that no decisions on the matter should be made out of fear. Dan pointed out that he is not aware of any efforts by anyone to force a borough upon us in the near future. He pointed out that one reason that some legislators use to push for the formation of boroughs in certain areas is whether or not the area is contributing their share to pay for schools. Last year Senator Wilken introduced a bill that would require the formation of 4 new boroughs based on this issue but, because it is perceived that Nenana is fairly contributing, Nenana was not included in the bill. Dan’s point, again, was that he is unaware of any current efforts to force Nenana into a borough.

     However, he did point out that it is the intent of the Constitution that all areas of the state with the administrative and fiscal capacity to operate a borough become part of an organized borough and that the legislature has the authority to force all areas of the state into boroughs and that they have used that authority in the past to the extent that the vast majority of the population that is included in boroughs did not vote to be in boroughs but was forced into boroughs.

     He also pointed out that the Constitution promotes the extension of borough government (either through incorporation or annexation) so that all areas be included in organized boroughs and that the boundary commission, to which he is staff, has a duty to  uphold the Constitution and thus work to facilitate the transition.

     Twenty years ago, he thought that the process would be complete long before now so he is hesitant to predict how much longer it will be - another ten, or another 40 years - before the process is complete but, in any event, it would be wise for people to discuss and consider the matter at a measured pace rather than try to respond in short order if someone decides to push our area into becoming a borough or tries to force us into an existing borough.

     His presentation included an outline encompassing five subject areas.

 

The Nature of Boroughs

          Article X of the State Constitution sets out the framework. All areas of the state must be included in a borough - either organized or unorganized. An organized borough is a municipal government. An unorganized borough is subdivision of the state and the state legislature serves as its governing body. One of the reasons for choosing a system of borough governments was to decentralize state services. Boroughs should encompass “common interests”. Among other things “common interests” include such considerations as: Regional Educational Attendance Areas, Social, Economic, Cultural, Size, Natural Geography, Transportation, Natural Resources, and Capacity to Administer. Boroughs and cities are similar and different. Similarities include that they are both municipal governments, although boroughs are sometimes at a regional level. Size is one of the big differences. The average size of the 146 Alaskan cities is 27 square miles. The average size of the 16 organized boroughs is more than 17,000 square miles. The number and types of boroughs are:

 

·       3 Unified Home-rule Boroughs

·       6 Non-unified Home-rule Boroughs

·       0 First Class Boroughs

·       7 Second Class Boroughs

 

Prescribed Duties

          Except for the 18 home-rule, and one first-class, cities in the state, cities have few fundamental duties; however, ALL boroughs have fundamental duties. Three of the area-wide duties required of a borough are education, planning and zoning, and taxation.

 

Pros and Cons

          There are three main issues of concern when the subject of boroughs is discussed. The first comes from school administrators, the second is the concern is people not wanting more government, and the third is taxes. At present four of the boroughs in the state levy no property taxes and one borough levies NO taxes at all.

          In 1963 the state legislature promised to not penalize areas for organizing into boroughs - as often happens with such promises - the promise was broken.

 

Incorporation

          The state gives a $600,000 grant to each new borough in order to help get started. The process of becoming a borough includes 12 steps:

1.                            Petition

2.                            Review

3.                            Public Notice

4.                            Service of Notice to Required Parties

5.                            Public Comment

6.                            Reply from Petitioners

7.                            Information Meetings

8.                            Dept. of Community and Economic Development Reports

9.                            Local Boundary Commission (LBC) hearings

10.                       LBC decision

11.                       Reconsideration

12.                       Election or Legislative mandate

 

It usually takes from one to two years to complete the process.

 

Formation

          Boroughs are given two years to take over education duties. The current maximum local school tax is 4 mils and is phased in over four years (but can come from other sources within the borough such as the borough that levies no taxes). The LBC has formulated and proposed 18 model boroughs for the areas that are now included in the unorganized borough. Under the current proposal they recommend that Nenana be included in an existing borough but the option exists for Nenana to propose a new borough of which it would become a part.

 

Contact information:

 

Local Boundary Commission

Dan Bockhorst

550 West 7^th Ave, Suite 1770

Anchorage, Alaska 99501

907-269-4559

 

Questions and Answers:

 

Tim Horn asked if it were proposed that Nenana be included in another borough and it were to go to an election how would it compete? The answer was that it couldn’t if it just went to an election wherein everyone’s vote counts. However, more options exist. Nenana could propose the creation of new borough of which it would be a part. Voting could to be limited to the Nenana area residents, or a combination of voters in the borough and the Nenana area could be held, etc. Before any such actions were taken the LBC would hear suggestions and make recommendations.

 

Paul Verhagen asked for a confirmation that it is not a matter of who beats who in filing a petition. The answer was that the decision is not made on which proposal is filed first or that one filing would preclude another.

 

Henry Cole mentioned that a recent study in an economics magazine described countries that either develop their natural resources – if they have any – or their personal resources through education and training. Canada, Argentina, Brazil are some of the former and Taiwan, Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong are some of the latter. To adequately develop one’s natural resource base you need your personal resource base and there must be a balance between these two. As an example, we can look at Fairbanks: lack of local skill in management, marketing, and finance in regards to tourism led to ‘outsiders’ (referring to Princess Tours, WestTours, etc.), ’swooping in’ and gaining control of the tourism industry there. In Nenana this issue was brought up on the context of the formation of a borough from outside, essentially annexing Nenana. A way to explore this situation and its solution could be through a discussion: where people propose a hypothetical discovery of resources – gold north of town or natural gas to the west – determining the extent of the resource, the value, and the technological skills necessary to develop it; then they ask the question: “What kinds of people, education and skill sets should we have in Nenana to take advantage of this opportunity so as not to have Nenana developed by outsiders.” This kind of scenario discussion could start to raise the awareness of Nenana to new developments and possibly also sketch out a defense against takeover by an outside borough.

 

Ken Eggleston suggested that anyone who is interested should consider getting a copy of the School Consolidation CD because it has a lot of valuable information pertaining to boroughs and their effects.  The School Consolidation CD is available from Dan Bockhorst.  The study is available online at http://www.dced.state.ak.us/dca/lbc/school_study/school_study_report_final2.htm

 

Old Business

 

The time did not allow the rest of the agenda items to be addresses and it was agreed to put them off until the next meeting except for announcements of immediate concern.

 

New Business

 

          See above

 

Open Floor for Comments/Questions/Discussion

 

          See above

 

Updates and Announcements

 

Margaret Sanders announced that the renovation at the senior’s center is progressing nicely but that they still need help from volunteers.

 

Next Wellness Meeting Date/Time/Chairperson/Guest Speakers/Subjects

 

The next regularly scheduled wellness meeting will be held on October 14^th 2004 at the Nenana Senior’s Center at 6:00 PM (just prior to the regularly scheduled city council meeting). Bud Krause will chair the meeting.

 

Meeting Adjourned at 1:58 PM

 

There were 25 people in attendance:

Margaret Sanders, Dan Bockhorst, Kat McElroy, Karen Harvey, Floyd Terry, Bud Krause, Henry Cole, Sam Verhagen, Paul Verhagen, Merrily Verhagen, Ken Eggleston, Traci Wiggins, Tim Horn, Virginia Young, Miles Martin, Al Stevens, Bonnie Reed, Blaine Reed, Ned Griffith, Ralph Lindquist, Diane Carson, Mike Anderson, Dwight Hale, Carl Horn, Pia Jensen