The City of Palmer Fire & Rescue is challenged with its set of tired, aged equipment that is vital for emergency response. A 1987 Fire Engine, a 1990 Brush Truck, and a 1991 Ford Explorer must be replaced. The replacement cost for each of these vehicles is $1,100,000 for the Fire Truck, $150,000 for the Brush Truck, and $80,000 for the Fire Support Vehicle.
A pressure booster station will be constructed to serve the Bogard Road water main extension constructed under Phase I of the Bogard Water Extension. A State grant provided funds for the extension of the City's water main to the 49th State Street area. Total estimated cost to complete the booster station is $1,800,000.. Initial design and engineering is complete. Costs for the booster station include final engineering and design, construction administration, gas utility extensions to the booster station, piping, fittings, equipment and controls.
Numerous City Streets are still of the gravel variety. Cost of improvement has been a detriment to progress.
South Cobb is a major arterial serving the regional post office, City Hall complex and Fire Station. Improvements include reconstructed and widened road width to add parking lanes and to accommodate higher and heavier traffic loads. The project will remove existing pavement, replace sub-base material and existing sidewalks and curb, gutter and curb returns where needed, widen and install sidewalks, and replace streetlight fixtures with LED luminaries.
The large amount of community events and the love of Palmer has the city scrambling to take advantage of any and all space. This program with heavy public involvement will take advantage of this unused public space, while preserving the historical nature of the colonist and AKRR history. The City is working with the 557 Group which as restored an engine.
The City is attempting to preserve the value of our 37 year old library to meet the growing needs of our community.
The City of Palmer has been working to extend water service to portions of the Core Area within its utility service area since 2004. Development of this area continued throughout the early 2010's with several separate projects to provide service to the Mat-Su College campus and open up areas for denser commercial/residential development along the recently upgraded Trunk Road Corridor.
Access to safe, reliable drinking and fire protection water is a key component in the continued development of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Core Area. The City of Palmer has been working to extend water service to portions of the Core Area within its utility service area since 2004, when it started the process of serving the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, near the Trunk Road/Parks Highway exit. Development of this area continued throughout the early 2010's with several separate projects to provide service to the Mat-Su College campus and open up areas for denser commercial/residential development along the recently upgraded Trunk Road Corridor.
After Trunk Road, the Bogard Road corridor is the next most likely area for development. In 2015, approximately 12,000 linear feet (LF) of 18-inch HDPE water main was installed along Bogard Road as part of the Bogard Road Water Extension, Phase 1 and Phase 2 Projects. The water main connects to the existing Palmer Water System near Palmer's Reservoir 1 and ends west of 49th State Street at Colony High School. The water main crosses from a lower pressure zone (Pressure Zone 2) to a higher-pressure zone (Pressure Zone 3) just east of Arabian Lane, and requires a booster station to increase the pressure to serve Zone 3. Until the Booster Station is complete, the water main along Bogard Road will remain disconnected at Reservoir 1. Due to funding constraints, Palmer limited the project to include a gravel pad, grading, and installation of approximately 180 LF of 16-inch ductile iron pipe (DIP) piping stubbed out for connection to the proposed booster station.
With the completion of the Bogard Road Booster Station, Palmer will have the ability to provide needed drinking and fire protection water along the Bogard Road Corridor and the Colony Middle and High School complex. This project is also the next step in completion of the outermost planned water main loop in Palmer's water distribution system. This project has been identified since the early 2000's under the Palmer Water System Master Plan.
Single or multiple projects which include connecting the Auklet Bike Tunnel to the Matsu River Park/Butte Trail, connecting the Butte Trail to the Cope Industrial Trail, connecting Downtown to the State Fair Grounds and connecting Palmer to Sutton.
The Palmer Police Department and Fire Department are currently housed in midcentury aged facilities that are no longer meeting the City of Palmers needs. The request is for facilities, which may include the Palmer State Trooper Office.
Rescue Support Vehicle for Fire Department.
This is a legacy project that would connect the city of Palmer's water system to the city of Wasilla's water system to build resiliency and a needed emergency backup. It will also provide an important utility service that will lead to more affordable housing opportunities.
Long desired community request to honor local veterans.
The steel water tower in the historic district of downtown Palmer is iconic of the local agricultural heritage associated with the 1935-1940 Matanuska Colony. It is a contributing structure in the Colony Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places, and is visible from most of Palmer. The tank is no longer in use and is in private ownership. The purchase of the water tower property will ensure preservation of the icon, as a key component of Palmer history.
This grant request of $575,00 is to augment the Continuing development of city parks and trailheads. The project is three-fold, create safe access to the Matanuska River trail head and bike trails; a comprehensive recreational Matanuska River Trail Head master plan and the addition of a park in Hidden Ranch. The City acquired 20.11 acres of property on the Old Glenn Highway from the Matanuska Borough. The property has direct access to the Matanuska River and bike trails. The community will benefit greatly from a developed trailhead for access to the Matanuska River for rafting, hiking, and off-road vehicles. It will eliminate congestion and safety concerns entering and exiting the Old Glenn Highway as well as service as an economic engine for the community. A master plan will assist the efficient and comprehensive development of the area. The city also purchased property in our newest subdivision, Hidden Ranch. This park will satisfy the cities commitment to neighborhood's recreational opportunities.
Parks and trails are a major part of the quality of life in Palmer and the surrounding residential areas but has not always been a part of the City's services. Traditionally, parks and recreation facilities and services in Alaska are the responsibility of Borough Governments. In 2005, however, the City of Palmer requested responsibility for the parks, trails and recreational fields within the city from the Mat-Su Borough, and this request was granted. Since that time, the City of Palmer has worked to proactively manage and develop its parks and recreation system in alignment with the needs, interests, and priorities of the community.
Building needed paths and bridges near busy roads. An important safety need due to the climbing population and vehicle traffic.
Walking and biking path from Cedar Hills to town. The City of Palmer has a huge need to provide walking and biking safety from the northside of our community along the heavily trafficked
Glenn Highway.