McCarthy Area Council Holds Last Meeting of 2021
Fall on the McCarthy Road. Photo courtesy of Ben Swinehart.
By Amanda Swinehart
With restaurants, lodging and all other services closed for the winter, the McCarthy Area Council (MAC) followed suit, ending its season with a short meeting the last week of September. MAC resumed in-person meetings in May this year, gathering outside at the ball field near downtown once a month, rain or shine, to conduct business.
In addition to funding several road maintenance projects, overseeing bylaw revisions and board of director elections, MAC managed several other projects including the creation of an essential community infrastructure grant program and application process, bridge cart repair and replacement, and the formation of two committees; one to address roads and access, and a second for parks and recreation.
The essential community infrastructure program was voted on and approved in July. It formalizes the application process and distribution of funds for community projects that require a large amount of investment to complete.
According to the program’s guidelines, these projects should develop or expand essential infrastructure and/or services in the area, improve the health and safety of the community, comply with any relevant licensing and codes, and “include significant community cash donations, in addition to any in-kind support, and grants and/or loans from other sources.”
The board of directors will determine the amount of funding available through the program each year based on MAC’s savings and the estimated amount of Community Matching Funds it expects to receive from the State. Proposals will be accepted the following March through June, and a sub-committee of at least five people will be formed to review proposals and decide on award amounts. Every August, MAC members will vote on which projects to approve.
At September’s meeting, MAC President Nik Merlino announced that the amount available through the program next year is $65,000. Of which, $40,000 has been “earmarked” to help the Kennicott-McCarthy Volunteer Fire Department construct a firehall.
If you have ever traveled to McCarthy, chances are you’ve used one of the hand carts parked at the footbridge to schlepp your gear and luggage across the Kennicott River. The carts and their misuse were the subject of discussion at multiple MAC meetings over the summer. The council was able to purchase two new carts and, with the help of several community members, repair the existing two; one of which was crumpled when run over by a vehicle earlier this year.
Two new committees were also established over the course of the season. One was formed by incoming board member Michelle Raven, and it will focus on local road and access issues as well as relevant funding opportunities.
The second committee was formed by MAC Vice President Hannah Rowland. Hannah has been managing the construction of a new playground area in town, and committee met with an Anchorage landscape planner to discuss the endeavor. The committee plans to create a non-profit organization this winter that will hold ownership of the playground and address liability issues. In addition to the playground, she said the committee will have a general focus on parks and recreation in McCarthy, mentioning kids’ sports camp and trail grooming/maintenance as potential projects.
The new MAC board of directors will be seated on January 1, 2022. If you are a community member interested in becoming a MAC member or getting involved, email mccarthyareacouncil.secretary@gmail.com.