Like most government bodies, the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly has been meeting online since mid-March to promote social distancing. But while other governments have resumed in-person meetings, the assembly hasn’t made that move yet, and won’t for the foreseeable future.
Some members of the assembly are pushing to go back to meeting in person. Assembly member Jesse Bjorkman of Nikiski introduced a resolution Tuesday that would have the assembly and public gathering in person again at the upcoming July 7 meeting. Because the assembly chambers are too small to be practical, Bjorkman suggested asking the school district to use a local high school auditorium to allow for social distancing.
Bjorkman pointed to the number of coronavirus cases on the peninsula so far and noted that the state guidance allows for larger gatherings with masks and social distancing. People could still call in if they’re not comfortable coming in person, as they have done in the past from regions of the borough away from Soldotna.
"The state’s already relaxed all these mandates, they’ve provided safe methods to stay safe while meeting together—by staying six feet away, by wearing masks, by washing our hands," he said. "What we’re seeing now is reticence to allow people to access their government in person, and to allow people that freedom of choice."
Assembly member Willy Dunne moved to amend the resolution to change the date from July to “as soon as safe and practical,” and to add the assembly chambers as an option in addition to a school building. July would be too soon, he said.
Multiple assembly members own businesses and said they wouldn’t be comfortable coming to meetings themselves. Member Brent Hibbert, who owns Alaska Cab on K-Beach Road, said he was concerned about the rising number of cases and he brings the disease back to his staff, it could shut down his business.
"If I infect my staff, for one, we can’t do business as usual, because I have dispatchers that are 24 hours a day, 7 days a week," he said. "If one of the links breaks, it makes it hard on all of us."
Assembly president Kelly Cooper, who owns rental cabins in the Homer area, echoed those sentiments, as did member Brent Johnson, who operates a commercial setnet fishing site. Member Norm Blakeley said he was okay with waiting until August but didn’t like the ambiguous language of what “when safe and practical” meant. Dunne said this was just a recommendation to have a plan. Dunne’s amendment passed 6-3, with Bjorkman, Blakeley, and assembly member Kenn Carpenter voting against it.
However, Bjorkman ultimately withdrew the entire resolution, saying he didn’t want his name on a resolution that differed so significantly from his original intent. The state has endorsed steps to reopening, and the borough is lagging behind, he said.
"We should have been working toward this solution sooner," he said. "We should have been on this road sooner. But people have not wanted to have this conversation and have put off having it. That’s unfortunate. You don’t want to be physically present—please don’t not allow the public to that opportunity as well, because that’s what you’re doing. You’re taking strategic steps now to not allow the public to comes to meetings physically if they choose to do so. You’re also seeking to take steps to not allow assembly members to meet in person if they want to as well. Allow people to choose the level of risk they want to take."
The assembly’s next meeting is scheduled for July 7. For now, it’ll be on online and over the phone.
Reach Elizabeth Earl at eearl@kdll.org.
