Cordova weighs an $870,000 electrified bear fence for its landfill

Cordova is preparing to spend as much as $870,000 on an electrified fence to keep bears out of its landfill, where council members have described bears climbing onto garbage trucks. At a special meeting Wednesday, a resident came to say part of the design will not work.

Aaron Sills told the council he was not there to argue about bears or fences in general, only about the cattle guards in the plan. "Cattle guards do nothing to stop either black or grizzly bears," he said. They are built for hoofed animals. Sills said he understood the intent was to keep bears from following vehicles through the gates, and called that approach a waste of time and money.

His objection is about the gates rather than the fence. Clay Koplin, Cordova's mayor at the time, has said electric fences are an effective, best-practice tool for deterring bears at landfills.

The council took up a motion directing the city manager to negotiate a construction contract with Cordova Power Sports LLC, for no more than $870,000, covering the work laid out in the city's solicitation for the 17 Mile Landfill fence. Four of the council's seven members were present.

The money is already committed. Voters approved accepting a State Revolving Fund loan of up to $870,000, of which $500,000 is forgiven, leaving Cordova responsible for $370,000 plus interest. The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation requires the fence around the active waste area at the landfill, at mile 17 of the Copper River Highway. The city has separately sought design services for roughly 2,600 feet of electrified fence with two vehicle gates.

Gate design has yet to be negotiated, which is exactly where Sills' objection lands.