Legislature(2001 - 2002)
02/19/2002 09:30 AM House CRA
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
February 19, 2002
9:30 a.m.
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
ALASKA NATIVE HEALTH BOARD
TAPES
02-7, SIDE A
CALL TO ORDER
Representative Carl Morgan, Co-Chair, reconvened the House
Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee to order at
9:30 a.m. [Minutes pertaining to the portion of the meeting
relating to legislation can be found in the 8:08 a.m. minutes of
the same date.]
PRESENT
Committee members present were Representatives Meyer, Murkowski,
Guess, and Kerttula.
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION
CYNTHIA NAVARRETTE, President/CEO Of The Alaska Native Health
Board, offered an overview the ANHB's 2002 legislative
priorities. She explained that the ANHB is a statewide Native
health advocacy organization with membership including all 638
Compact members in the State of Alaska. She announced that she
is present to discuss rural sanitation, runway lights in rural
Alaska, and other concerns such as power cost equalization,
borough formation, municipal taxes and other matters placing
restrictions and additional costs to communities already dealing
with less than desired economies of scale.
LINCOLN BEAN, SR., Treasurer, Alaska Native Health Board, spoke
to rural sanitation issues. Mr. Bean stated his support for
sewer and water funding, and stated his concerns over Little
Davis-Bacon projects "coming at" rural areas. He cited several
instances of not having water in Kake. He requested the
committee's support for funding of water and sewer facilities.
He concluded by thanking the committee for the work it is doing.
There was dialogue among committee members and Mr. Bean on the
regions of the state where "honey buckets" are in use.
ANDY JIMMY, Member, Alaska Native Health Board, addressed the
problems with landfills and runway lighting.
There was additional dialogue among committee members and Mr.
Jimmy on landfill problems.
DONNA GRAFFIUS, Member, Alaska Native Health Board, spoke to
landfill problems in Mentasta. She went on to discuss the
communities concerns with Mentasta's water supply. Previously
the public water supply was from Fish Creek, above which are two
large sinkholes where the military deposited waste. This was
unknown to the community and they are now trying to have core
samples taken as proof. Another dumpsite was found but
apartments were built on top of it. No environmental impact
statements were done. She informed the committee that Mentasta
has a population of 125 with 14 confirmed cases of colon cancer.
She would like to establish a connection, but has a tough time
working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. She stated
Mentasta does not drink safe water. Ms. Graffius spoke in
opposition to SB 48 and SB 186.
FRITZ GEORGE, Member, Alaska Native Health Board, spoke on water
and sanitation issues, as well as the need for continued funding
of Power Cost Equalization. He concluded with the need for
continued education of behavioral health.
RITA STEVENS, Treasurer, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium;
President/CEO, Kodiak Area Native Association, stated that
funding for rural sanitation is essential. She related her
personal experiences in traveling with the Denali Commission to
six outlying native villages on Kodiak Island.
DON KASHEVAROFF, President and Chairman, Alaska Native Tribal
Health Consortium, expressed opposition to SB 184. He urged the
legislature to deal with rural sanitation issues before state
funds are depleted. He also urged action on runway lights. He
reminded the committee that revenues from rural Alaska support
Anchorage.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CO-CHAIR MORGAN announced that at the next meeting on Thursday,
February 21, 2002, at 8:00 a.m., the committee would take up the
Homer Annexation and HB 358.
COMMITTEE ACTION
The committee took no action.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Community and Regional Affairs Committee was adjourned at 10:12
a.m.
NOTE: The meeting was recorded and handwritten log notes were
taken. A copy of the tape(s) and log notes may be obtained by
contacting the House Records Office at State Capitol, Room 3,
Juneau, Alaska 99801 (mailing address), (907) 465-2214, and
after adjournment of the second session of the Twenty-Second
Alaska State Legislature this information may be obtained by
contacting the Legislative Reference Library at (907) 465-3808.
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