It’s time for Page Two: news that might not make the front page on Tuesday September 16, 2025
Palmer, Wasilla, and Houston city elections are on October 7. Early voting begins on September 22. In addition to electing city council members and in Palmer’s case, the mayor, Palmer and Houston voters will decide on several ballot propositions.
Houston voters have four ballot propositions to decide:
- Proposition 1 asks voters if the city should pursue the development of a city-owned airport.
- Proposition 2 asks if Houston should temporarily raise its sales tax from 2% to 4% for a dedicated tax would last until 2031 to fund road improvements.
- Proposition 3 asks if the private Matanuska Thunder Festival should become an official city holiday in June.
- Proposition 4 would make Houston Founder’s Day an official holiday in August.
In Palmer, voters will decide whether the city manager can live within five miles of city limits instead of within city boundaries. Currently, the charter requires the manager to live within city limits. Changes to the charter are only made by a vote the electorate. There isn’t much available housing within city limits and City Manager Kolby Zerkel has been unable to find housing within Palmer’s boundaries thus far. The measure would also update charter language to include both male and female pronouns.
The council removed residency requirements for city directors in July – previously city code required some directors to live within 5 miles of the city. The council changes or amends the city code.
You can learn more about Palmer’s candidates. Kenni Psenak interviewed Palmer’s mayoral and council candidates. The interviews of mayoral candidates are posted under Podcasts > Elections. The interviews with council candidates will air on Sept. 21 at 5pm and be available on the website after that. The Palmer Chamber of Commerce is hosting a candidate forum on Wed. Sept. 24 at noon at the Palmer Depot. The Mat Su Sentinel’s 2025 Mat-Su Voters Guide is also a valuable resource.
On a different note, the Mat-Su Animal Shelter needs donations of dry dog for its Kibbles for Kritters Food Bank program that provides the community with free pet food and pet supplies. Donations can be dropped off during their open hours 12pm–4pm or left at the building doors near the Night Drop. They accept any brand of dry dog food.
Here are some events to look forward to today and throughout the week
- The Borough Assembly meets today at 6pm and is live streamed from our website.
- The School Board meets on Wed. September 17 at 6pm and is live streamed from our website.
- The first of 6 open houses to discuss the proposed 7 cent fuel excise tax will be held at Butte Elementary School on Wednesday Sept 17 from 6pm to 8pm
- The Houston City Council Candidate Town Hall, hosted by the Mat-Su Sentinel, is on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 6pm at the Houston City Hall.
- The Sitka Music Festival classical quartet is at 7:30pm on Wednesday Sept 17 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wasilla. More information and tickets are found at Sitka Music Festival.
This news announcement is posted on our website and Facebook page if you need to review something you heard.
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That’s it for today and the news on Page Two, Tuesday Sept. 16, 2025