Eagle River group files paperwork to detach from Municipality of Anchorage

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Residents from Assembly District 2, callinmg themselves “Eaglexit,” have set taken the next step to create a new borough, the Chugach Regional Borough, encompassing the region extending from Eklutna to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

The process of detachment and incorporation initiated by Eaglexit began with the submission of a written petition recently, as well as a charter outlining the proposed governance structure, and a comprehensive legal brief supporting the move to independence and self-determination.

The documents were formally submitted to the Local Boundary Commission for review.

The Local Boundary Commission, established by the Alaska State Constitution, will evaluate the materials supporting the creation of the new borough.

Once the petition, charter, and legal brief pass muster, Eaglexit will embark on a timeline set by the commission for the subsequent steps:

  1. Signature Collection: With corrected and final documents in hand, Eaglexit will initiate the signature collection process. Signatures must be collected no more than one year prior to the formal submission of the petition package to the LBC.
  2. Analysis and Public Involvement: After successfully gathering signatures, the package will be resubmitted to the LBC for an in-depth analysis. This phase, lasting 18 months to 2 years, includes public hearings and the incorporation of community input.
  3. Decision and Transition: The LBC staff’s analysis and the input from the public will culminate in either approval or denial of the petition. If approved, a vote on detachment will be held, or a recommendation will be presented to the state legislature for further action. A successful outcome would trigger a two-year transition period to establish the new Chugach Regional Borough.

Eaglexit’s journey toward self-governance and borough creation carries historical significance, reflecting the determination of communities to forge their destinies.

As the late Lee Jordan, a prominent Eagle River advocate for local autonomy, asked decades ago, “Will the people of Chugiak-Eagle River have the opportunity to control their own destiny, or must they forever remain subject to what has been decreed for them by Anchorage?”

To support its mission, Eaglexit is seeking financial assistance for critical aspects such as media outreach, polling, and legal counsel. Community members are encouraged to learn more at the Eaglexit website at www.Eaglexit.com.

The driving force behind Eaglexit is the desire to empower its community through increased autonomy, enhanced public engagement, improved education, and tighter fiscal control. With a land area of 1,050 square miles and a population of 50,000, the proponents believe that the Chugach Regional Borough would serve as a significant and meaningful addition to the state.

58 COMMENTS

    • That is my fear, and assumption, as well.

      As much as I support this proposal, I fear that those involved with Eaglexit are narrowly focused on the official legalities of the project, rather than anticipating the extreme and underhanded opposition to this proposal by every radical leftist not just in the municipality of Anchorage, but in the state of Alaska. If there is one thing that diehard and zealous statists hate and will work to fight, it is the very thought of anyone slipping out from under their thumb.

    • Unfortunately, the muni won’t stop at the limits of their power. This will get ugly before it’s finished. The loss of revenue will panic the commies on the Anchorage Assembly.

      • Hardly any loss of revenue compared to cost incurred by the MOAto support ER education, fire and police support to mention street and public utility costs!! No appreciable tax base in ER other than housing !! But I do wish them well!!

          • Separating will allow us to not have to pay taxes to the muni of A anymore. The extra cash from that alone more than pays for it all.

    • My thoughts too. The assembly will not be willing to give up those tax dollars, nor a portion of their ‘kingdom’, even though it seems little flows back to Eagle River. It won’t be pretty. Still, I am rooting for Eagle River and hope they stay the course.

  1. Couple questions:

    Would JBER be part of Anchorage or part of this new Borough?

    Who polices this new Borough? Would this new Borough have police and fire departments? or act like the Mat-Su Borough and use the State Troopers as local police officers?

    What happens to all the MOA owned property in this new Borough? Does this new Borough annex them or do they buy them from the MOA at market rate?

    What money pays for infrastructure, road maintenance, etc?

    • Ask Eaglexit those questions after you take a look at their website. I hope that they elect some sheriffs to be the law and order! Alaska is long overdue in implementing sheriffs and getting rid of police and state troopers.

      • We will end up taking as many APD as want to work here. We have plenty of APD officers that live here and in the valley. Within a short walk from my house there are at least 4 houses owned by APD families. The lot by the senior center at any given time has 5 to 10 APD cars parked. The lot near Eklutna, at least that many more. Policing won’t be an issue. Nor education. Nor infrastructure, Mckenna already does our road maintenance and snow removal.

    • I strongly suggest you actually read up on their website, it contains many of the answers you seek, including a map of District 2. Concerning the MOA property, please remember that Eagle River/Chugiak tax dollars contributed to them, via property taxes, so arguably they are already partly owned by those who wish to leave. The new borough will raise its own taxes to support government functions just like the Muni and has the ability to receive funds from the legislature just like Anchorage does. A smaller governing entity will be more responsive to the actual needs of the citizens and school will be able to create a curriculum that sets kids up for success.

  2. The Liberal cause has way too many resources and access to lots of dark money. They cannot have communities breaking away to control their own destinies and gain independence from their chosen leaders. Good luck anyway.

    • We used to be our own communities, Chugiak and Eagle River, before Anchorage unilaterally incorporated us as its ‘children’s bedroom’ in the north.

  3. Separation from Democrat wackos is the objective. Anchorage, Juneau, and Bush villages should be considered a political subdivision of the State of Alaska and they can be lumped into a separatist faction of the state. The remainder of Alaska will stand according to the articles of statehood. Two Alaska’s and two groups of Alaskans. Democrats should roll with this because they are the party of division.

    • Republicans = conservative and responsible.
      .
      Democrats = wacko liberal, out of touch with reality.
      .
      Independents = conservative and responsible.
      .
      I think Dogger figured that out before you, Tim. Can you throw stones at Sarah Palin’s house from your porch? Can you see her?

  4. Real Christianity is the answer, not separation. Jesus desires Christians to be ONE with each other that the world [including woke locals] will know!

    Jesus’ prayer in John 17:
    20 Not for these only do I pray, but for those also who will believe in me through their word, 21 THAT THEY MAY ALL BE ONE; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be ONE IN US; THAT THE WORLD MAY BELIEVE that you sent me. 22 THE GLORY WHICH YOU HAVE GIVEN ME, I HAVE GIVEN TO THEM; THAT THEY MAY BE ONE, EVEN AS WE ARE ONE; 23 I in them, and you in me, that they may be PERFECTED INTO ONE; THAT THE WORLD MAY KNOW that you sent me and loved them, even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also whom you have given me be with me where I am, THAT THEY MAY SEE MY GLORY, which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world. …THAT THE LOVE WITH WHICH YOU LOVED ME MAY BE IN THEM, and I in them.”

    • So, one world government is more godly than anything else? Did not God create the many nations and peoples? I’m not convinced that your cited verses pertain to civil governance or the responsibilities of citizenship.

      • Soldotnan,

        THANKS for pointing out how my statement could be perceived that way. I never meant to convey that Jesus’ words in John 17 supported Anchorage and Eagle River staying together politically. Jesus is talking about SPIRITUAL unity with each other and Christ. When we’re spiritually right with God and each other, we walk in love. Then “the world will know,” and the glory of God will be evident. Spiritual darkness will flee! Solving our problems will be easy, including the homeless crisis.

        Anchorage/Eagle River/Girdwood residents will then be led by the Holy Spirit to know what to do. We’ll all know what to do. People will be free inside and empowered by the Holy Spirit to speak the truth in love and do what’s right to set the people free — instead of being bound up by demons and fear — common with many nowadays.

        Hardly any now even have the courage to speak up in comments on Suzanne’s Facebook and website. The vast majority seem to have fallen into sin and temptation so they have no spiritual strength to do what’s right — even pastors. This can all change.

        A pioneering Anchorage pastor who is now in his 90s had a dream of Anchorage being a CHRISTIAN CITY! We can set the example for the world to see!

        Rand Paul said in 2013: America Needs a Spiritual Revival — “Don’t look toward your politicians for all the answers. Look to your spiritual leaders. This country needs a revival and a cultural reformation, but it’s NOT GOING TO COME FROM GOVERNMENT or a law”

        General Douglass MacArthur said many decades ago: “History fails to record a single precedent in which nations subject to MORAL DECAY have not passed into political and economic decline. There has been either a SPIRITUAL AWAKENING to overcome the moral lapse, or a PROGRESSIVE DETERIORATION leading to ultimate national disaster.”

        Jesus said earlier in John 17, verse 13: “But now I come to you, and I say these things in the world, that they may have MY JOY MADE FULL IN THEMSELVES.”

        People are trying to find joy in the world, which distances ourselves from God, the Source of true JOY.

        Our churches are spiritually dead. Jesus said: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” He wants worshipers who worship in SPIRIT and in TRUTH.

        He’s the source of wisdom, love, joy, peace…. Without Him we can do nothing. We’re just fooling ourselves, walking according to the flesh instead of according to the Spirit.

        Soldotnan, thanks to you, I reworded my comment on Suzanne’s Facebook page. I should have said this above:

        Real Christianity is the ONLY SURE SOLUTION. Separation may fix the problem for Eagle River TEMPORARILY, but wokeness is creeping in even there. Look at the last election. There is no guarantee that Palmer, Wasilla and Eagle River can hold off radical leftism unless we experience a real-Christianity, spiritual revival, which Jesus prayed for in John 17, that we’d be spiritually ONE with each other “THAT THE WORLD WILL KNOW!” The glory of God will be that strong — when we walk not according to the flesh, but according to the HOLY Spirit, living IN Christ — being salt and light! We’ll then be in the driver’s seat, not them. Jesus’ prayer in John 17 that we can see realized here in Alaska! Jesus’ solution:

        [Jesus’ John 17 quote posted above]

    • That’s the mission. Commitment.

      For a people (Alaskans) whom don’t know nor understand God’s Word quite well, they’ll do whatever they see is best or how they feel like Ezra thought scripture was telling every Hebrew man who married a foreigner to divorce his foreign wife. But God’s Word strongly discourages us not to get divorces unless the other is hardened and adultery is being committed; while it warns and advises at the same time God’s children not to marry unbelievers ( as well as be cautious of those believers who say they are a believer but have no walk with God).

      Pray for Eagleriver-chugiak, Wasilla, Palmer, Kenai, Sodotna, Nenana, Fairbanks that our brothers and sisters in Christ living there remain strong in the Lord and his strength is their joy not that they are further away from Anchorage, pray for there is a family bible being read every evening at the table after dinner to teach their communities next generation God’s word, and pray they receive love to serve their local church families to be one in the mission to bring the gospel to their unchurch neighbors.

      • Is that how you see Anchorage? A bastion of Christian values where the majority of people engage in family bible study. Do you honestly think that the hinterlands are a wilderness of pagan heathens?
        If so, you need to get out a bit more.

      • Is that what happens in a lot of Anchorage households? Family bible studies? Does the assembly as constituted endorse that activity? Much more likely in the rural hinterlands you are praying for.

    • What a bunch of indecipherable gobbledygook.

      “The man who prays is the one who thinks that god has arranged matters all wrong, but who also thinks that he can instruct god how to put them right.”

      ― Christopher Hitchens, Mortality

      • Whidbey, I see a problem with your quote. While you quote someone talking about god; these folks you are directing your comment at are talking about God who is the Creator of All Creation.

    • Jeff, sodotnon doesn’t know God’s word well to not see there nothing in the first comment to encourage a one-world government. It’s about brothers and sisters in Christ bring unified, it’s not about unbelievers and believers being unified. At least that’s how I reading the New Testament. Eagleriver-chugiak may be making the right choice and maybe not. As the body we pray this community will humble itself before God and live out his way else it’ll all been in vanity and for naught. For those still left behind in Anchorage we keep serving one another (the Christ family) , being one in mission, and work so God may be glorified here on Anchorage until God calls us out.

  5. Chugiak/Eagle River/Peters Creek should NEVER have been absorbed into the Municipality of Anchorage. It was bad enough when the City and the Borough combined in the late 70s and all my electric and water/sewer bills went up. The bigger this city government gets the more self absorbed the governing body becomes and the less it does for the citizens. Go Eagle Exit! I am rooting for you. The tax base out there is being raped by the Muni for little to no services. They could have a really great community with lower taxes if they operated on their own.

  6. Happy for them, if they can escape our Assembly.

    Would be better to get rid of mail-in elections, than get rid of Eagle River. That is the real reason our Assembly is permanently locked up by gays and wacko activists. Remember – the Assembly ‘coup’ was September 2016. They rammed through mail-ballot elections on a 9-2 vote, insuring they never again lose power – like good communists. Even when Weddleton was removed, they just used the new ballot system to vote themselves a fresh new downtown Assembly seat to make up for the loss.

    Up until 2016, a balanced 6-5 Assembly was typical, and moderate Democrats such as Dick Traini held seats. Returning to an election-day, in-person voting system would reduce cheating and return some sanity to our local government. Perhaps someday we’ll be able to get rid of it by initiative – just like we got rid of the Parking Authority 20 years ago.

  7. I disagree with the move. Nothing improves when we go our separate ways. I hoping for Eagleriver-Chugiak will find the peace, contentment, and joy in God after they had temporarily separated themselves from the stress running a government and maintaining a unified community whom majority agree with biblical values and lifestyle.

    • The Anchorage assembly does not listen to or respect us. This is essentially the same reason for American independence from England. We wouldn’t be having the discussion IF there was unity. The values of Chugiak are not the values of downtown or West Anchorage. We see a person like Loki what’s her name and think how in the blazes, not, well there is a rational leader, same with Constant, Lafrance, Zeletal or Rivera. None of those people represent us in any way. They certainly don’t agree with your religion or reliance on biblical principles to govern societal behavior. We have a legal option to separate and determine our own future. It is OUR right to decide what that looks like not Loki or Meg or Felix.

    • You can disagree if you want Jen. This succession is a long-time coming and I hope that they are successful. This has been on the table since the 1980s or earlier. Glad to see a group that can finally get it pulled out to the front instead of always being pushed to the back.

    • Well the first step is to leave. Then a bunch of non-tribe members get elected with non-tribe money. Then everyone talks out loud about how tribe-funded politicians have been actively working to make things bad for the public and giving tax dollars to tribe-run 501organizations that never fix the problems they set out to address.

      • We used to be our own communities, Chugiak and Eagle River, before Anchorage unilaterally incorporated us as its ‘children’s bedroom’ in the north.

      • Nothing to do with anything other than the fact that Chugiak, Eagle River, Birchwood Loop, Peter’s Creek, and yes, Eklutna Village have their own history, and personality different from the big bucket-o-oats Anchorage. We used to have our own newspapers, parks, schools, etc, but probably one sign of separate identity is that when the People Mover had multiple daily runs, even as far as Peter’s Creek. Now? Also, some prefer not to be lumped in with Anchorage silliness.

  8. In this day of woke and aloof ideologies being rammed down the throats of conservative Americans communities, TR reminds us that glory and honor come to those “who spend themselves in a worthy cause.”

    To hell with the cesspool aka, Anchorage!! I refuse to spend a dime in Anchorage will drive to the valley, gladly paying taxes on goods and services. If these marxists leftists in the MOA want a fight, well as the saying goes: The glory belongs to the persons fighting the big battles, even if those battles end in defeat.

    Come and get in the arena!

  9. The direction of the current Anchorage assembly is not in concert with the values of Chugiak and Eagle River. We are not respected or really represented in the MOA government. We have a legal procedure to attempt to separate from an entity that does not represent our concerns and issues yet taxes us regardless. It wasn’t Chugiak that went down the path of woke leftism. As to unity, where exactly do you see that is Anchorage?

  10. All of the anonymous trolls will need to relocate to Assembly District 2 from their Moscow couches and then register to vote.

  11. There is a natural consequence for refusal to represent the rights and interests of neighbors who elect their servants.

  12. A fine time to file, as we approach the deadline to pay our property taxes or loose our homes. To say we get little in return for these taxes is a huge understatement. All the while the huge amount of real estate that is tax exempt by government and nonprofits, often the same, get a free ride. Our values in Chugiak/ Eagle River have long been very different than the governing body of Anchorage. They also have the means of replacing our revenue by taxing fairly. As for the difficulty of making the move can you think of anything good that was easy? These are black bears attacking, so playing dead won’t help. Stoned black bears.

  13. Good luck. Abraham detach from Ur, the City With Real Foundations due to bad religious practices Baal Molech inclinations including child harm in the extreme.

  14. Good luck. Abraham detached from Ur, the City With Real Foundations, due to bad religious practices of Baal Molech inclinations including child harm in the extreme.

  15. It’s amazing how the usual suspects will go to extreme lengths to turn anything into a religious debate which has nothing to do with the issue at hand.

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