Abandoned Vehicles, Trash Spur Cleanup
Piles of trash and what appeared to be an abandoned RV were noted in the Trapper Creek community group’s Facebook page over the weekend. A few community members cleaned up the parking area on Monday. By that time, the RV had been moved to a new spot. Later that day it was no longer there. Facebook posts continued to note the location as it moved.
The RV and trash were dumped at the swimming hole just south of the Petersville Road intersection at Parks Highway on Sunday. Several community members then noted the RV had been moved to a pull-off on Susitna River Road on Monday. By Monday evening, the RV had been towed from the location, though it is unclear who towed it and where it went.
Alaska Department of Public Safety Communications Director Austin McDaniel says they received a report of the RV, but were attempting to determine whose property it was located on as of Monday afternoon. The RV did not have plates, but community members took pictures of a debit card belonging to one individual and paperwork for another found inside the vehicle. Both are linked to the property of the fatal cabin fire earlier this summer on Dog Sled Road in Talkeetna.
McDaniel did not confirm the owner of the RV and it was unclear if it was on the State’s list of stolen vehicles. He did confirm that Troopers were trying to determine if they could take legal action. Both the swimming hole and the pull-off where the RV were initially parked are State-owned land.
State Representative Kevin McCabe responded to the initial Facebook post. In a phone interview, he says he would work on getting in touch with Commissioner Cockrell’s office to get a response. He notes that a Village Public Safety Officer would be helpful for these kinds of issues in the remote communities.
Mat-Su Borough Development Services Manager Jason Ortiz says these are issues that can be reported using the Borough’s Problem Reporter. He says even if the issue is not on Borough land, his team will get it to the appropriate group for a response. Safety issues, like vehicles blocking rights-of-way, are priority. He also notes that the junk car removal program still has funding available. Residents may request removal of up to three vehicles per parcel for free.
The Trapper Creek community cleaned the site and reported the vehicle within a day of the initial Facebook post. This is the second time in under a month that community members have banded together quickly to respond to incidents in the community. Earlier this month, they were instrumental in leading to the capture of a burglary suspect.