The Mat-Su View

Welcome to the site for news in the Mat-Su, where we’re surrounded by fantastic scenery – from Denali to Pioneer Peak to Tahneta Pass.

The Mat-Su View is a creation of the Valley staff of the Anchorage Daily News, and is updated frequently from the newsroom in Wasilla.

Check in for breaking news, advance word on upcoming ADN reports from the Mat-Su, for links to Outside stories with a Mat-Su connection and to read or post comments about hot topics in the Valley.

Keep your comments civil and on point. Avoid personal attacks. Do not use profanity. Posts that violate the Terms of Use will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be banned.


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Young Stumps through Wasilla - 10/14/2008 2:56 pm

“Daddy’s Roommate” to go up for sale - 10/14/2008 1:29 pm

Target Town - 10/8/2008 2:40 pm

Got school access? - 9/16/2008 12:28 pm

Seizing the moment in Wasilla - 9/11/2008 5:50 pm

No Room at the Inn - 9/10/2008 2:49 pm

PTA shrinking? - 9/4/2008 10:38 am

Press Call - 9/4/2008 10:33 am

RV Crash no, bash maybe? - 8/21/2008 5:11 pm

Live, from the Alaska State Fair - 8/21/2008 10:53 am

Crash and Bash called off - 8/18/2008 3:53 pm

Mat-Su schools hold steady with AYP - 8/8/2008 12:24 pm

School Board member Turner not running - 7/30/2008 2:40 pm

A peek inside Target - 7/30/2008 10:07 am

Termination dust: it's a perspective thing - 7/21/2008 10:46 am

Talkeetna toilet explosion - 7/16/2008 1:24 pm

No scolding for city employees - 7/14/2008 10:18 pm

Wasilla Council considers employee reprimands - 7/11/2008 2:30 pm

Glenn Highway Road Closure - 7/11/2008 12:12 pm

Wasilla Council votes out mayor, who says she ain't going - 7/1/2008 11:56 am

Palmer skateboard park nears completion - 7/1/2008 10:21 am

Knik river rescue - 6/30/2008 3:01 pm

Su Vally bid process shut down

From Mat-Su editor Joseph Ditzler:

Mat-Su Borough Manager John Duffy put out a press release this morning saying the bid solicitation process for a new Su Valley Jr./Sr. High School is called to a halt. He cited improprieties in the bid process.

The borough Assembly was expected last night to award Collins Construction a $17.85 million contract to rebuild the school, which was leveled one year ago by fire. Students moved across the Parks Highway near Trapper Creek to the Upper Su senior center for the duration.

Borough beat reporter Rindi White says the bid award was pulled from the Assembly agenda last night with little comment.

According to Duffy: "“We are very disappointed that the proposal solicitation had to be cancelled. It is a serious matter when it appears that there are violations of our purchasing procedures. We are using public funds and the integrity of the process must be upheld. We will work in earnest to get the high school built as quickly as possible.”

The borough statement points no fingers, but says no borough or school district people were at fault, nor were any design consultants.

Here's the complete text, and look for more later from Rindi:

"The Matanuska-Susitna Borough has cancelled the construction proposal solicitation for the Susitna Valley High School. The cancellation was made in accordance with Section 2.12 of the Instruction to Proposers titled Rejection of Proposals.

"The Borough cancelled the construction proposal solicitation because information was provided to the Borough that indicates that activities that were in violation of the Request-for-Proposals rules took place during the evaluation timeframe by individual(s) who were NOT associated with the evaluation of proposals. There is no indication that the solicitation was tainted by MSB, MSBSD, or design consultant individuals. The activities that took place potentially undermine the validity of the solicitation and may present an appearance of impropriety.

“We are very disappointed that the proposal solicitation had to be cancelled. It is a serious matter when it appears that there are violations of our purchasing procedures. We are using public funds and the integrity of the process must be upheld. We will work in earnest to get the high school built as quickly as possible” said Borough Manager John Duffy

The Borough will take immediate steps to reissue the construction solicitation and will seek to award the project to allow for construction work to begin this year with project completion in late 2009."