Kodiak waste board passes bear resolution after softening its wording

Kodiak Island Borough's Solid Waste Advisory Board voted unanimously Sept. 9 to recommend borough engineering staff bring local Alaska Department of Fish and Game bear experts into every phase of keeping bears out of the landfill, including fence design. Together they would draft a plan adjusted as results come in.

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, approving the borough's bear management plan July 15, said the landfill was out of compliance with the state rule that bears be kept out.

Bears keep getting in despite fence repairs. The resolution, citing a regional plan, says about 34.6% of landfill waste is food, a prime bear attractant.

The idea arose in August, when Vice Chair Judy Philips said staff were not consulting Fish and Game on some plans. Before voting, the board changed "directed" to "recommended" and added a step sending the plan to the state environmental agency. Philips moved to approve it as corrected.

Engineering & Facilities Director Codi Allen described the part Fish and Game already plays in planning.

Member Marion Owen, who earlier reported on a composting webinar, sought to add composting. Chair Larry Van Daele said that could weaken later food waste recommendations; Assembly Member Jeremiah Gardner agreed it could muddy the focus. Van Daele recommended composting come back as its own resolution.