By Mayor Kristin Smith
From the bear encounters we’ve experienced in town when bears come to paw through trash cans, we know that bears and trash are not a good mix. For the city, this means that operating a landfill with open access for bears is generally unsafe – for the city staff who manage the landfill and for bears ingesting the plastics and trash mixed with food waste.
Our next municipal election will take place on March 3, 2026. On the ballot will be the question of whether Cordova residents support taking on debt through a low-interest loan issued by the State of Alaska to fund the installation of an electrified fence to deter wildlife from entering the Mile 17 landfill. A ‘yes’ vote on Proposition #1 allows the city to accept state revolving loan funding, complete the Department of Environmental Conservation-required project, and continue operating the landfill in compliance with state regulations.
Every five years, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation renews the city’s permit to operate the landfill. As part of that renewal process, the state evaluates conditions at the landfill and considers whether any changes need to be made. State DEC staff are concerned enough about the situation at the landfill, with over two dozen bears at a time seen visiting the landfill as a food source.
This year, as part of the permit renewal conditions, the dtate DEC is requiring that the city of Cordova install an electrified fence at the Mile 17 landfill. City staff have obtained estimates that put the cost of this fence at approximately $500,000 to $650,000. The city has been approved for a low interest loan from the State Revolving Fund (SRF) of up to $870,000 at a rate between 1% and 2%, and the state has also agreed to make $500,000 of the low interest loan forgivable, minimizing the total cost to the city. This means the actual cost to the city would be $370,000, plus interest, if the full loan amount is used.
The fence will be approximately eight to 10 feet tall, with an additional three feet installed below ground to prevent access. The fence will include electrified wires around the exterior of the fences perimeter to provide additional bear deterrence.
This requirement is part of the city’s responsibility to meet state environmental and operational standards for landfill operations. If the city is unable to complete the project, ADEC may take enforcement action, which could include fines, penalties, or, in more serious cases, the revocation of the permit that allows the city to operate the landfill.
As Cordovans know from last fall’s difficult budget process, between federal and state funding cuts and city spending for harbor re-build matching funds, our general fund has been depleted. The only realistic alternative would be withdrawing funds from our city “permanent fund,” which earns more interest than we’ll pay for a low interest loan from the state.
Please visit cityofcordova.net/elections for more information on this ballot proposition.
A ‘yes’ vote on Proposition #1 allows the city to move forward with this project, improve working conditions for city staff, and support safe and reliable landfill operations.
