Valley Frontiersman

MVFCA Votes To Put Units Up For Sale

Members of the Matanuska Valley Farmers Cooperative Association Wednesday night voted by substantial majorities to support the program to sell a number of Co-op properties advanced in a seven-point board of directors' plan recently.

The board was given the authority to sell, when and as such sale appears feasible, these units: The water and sewer systems, the Lodge, six staff houses, the hatchery, the Chicken Coop apartments, the Rec hall, the sewage disposal building, the Extension service building, the postoffice, the hospital building, the garage and the gymnasium.

Details of the sale, how units are to be offered, and determination of property limits for each unit listed also were to be settled by verdict of the Co-op board of directors.

Each unit's sale was voted upon separately by the membership. Approval of the sale was voiced by four to one votes in some instances, and even contested items, as the water and sewer system, were voted to go on the block by two to one majorities.

Co-op members hailed the plan as the first step toward putting the MVFCA on a sound business basis. One member stated, "The Co-op is going to get out of the business of running a municipality. We can't afford it and we're not going to try to do it any longer."

The opinion was advanced that the move also will speed up Palmer's development, and probably will hasten incorporation. The sale will put on the market homes to attract permanent residents and will bring many new businesses into Palmer.

Action on other points in the board of director's plan was tabled until a later date. It was announced that the annual membership meeting of the MVFCA will be held on Feb. 25, when further business will be considered. This annual meeting is an all-day session.

The plan of operation advanced by the directors was adopted in order to make available funds for payment of the money due the Dairymen's Association, which recently won a court judgment for money due on milk shipments.