The group against Soldotna’s proposed annexation deemed this fall as the deadline for when they need to present a unified action to show their opposition.
Brian Olson with Borough Residents Against Annexation, has been organizing efforts of the residents who oppose being included into Soldotna’s city limits.
Olson: “We’re discussing strategies, doesn’t mean we’re going to implement them but, same as the city, they’re discussing strategies for taking a look at annexation; that’s what we’re doing, taking a look at strategies on what can we do to counter annexation.”
One suggestion at the Monday meeting was politicking, since Soldotna city councillors Linda Murphy and Paul Whitney are up for election this October as well as an upcoming special election for Mayor.
Olson: “To discuss with city individuals who may be interested in running for city council, who may be interested in running for city council, that may be opposed to annexation but live in the city limits and run against the city council members who may be adamantly for annexation.”
Assembly Member Kelly Wolf, who represents K-Beach, attended the meeting and said the group is legally allowed to collect and keep track of donations without registering with Alaska Public Offices Commission, until the annexation question is put on the October ballot.
A couple other ideas discussed included publicizing their goal through public events like parades and talking to locally owned businesses about the possibility of boycotting if the annexation goes through.
Olson: “We all know what happens to the peninsula during June, July and August, the population goes up 150,000 so 1,000 people not shopping in Soldotna is not going to make a big impact these months, that’s realistic. However come September, October, November, December, and January, if we do it in a unified way, to show that we’re an economic force.”
Ultimately, the group decided to investigate setting up a bank account, in Kenai, so that they can begin to start taking and tracking donations.