Unalaska, AK – In the last week of August the City of Unalaska hosted a group of state legislators and government representatives. The Legislative Fly-in cost the city just over $20,500. The food for the guests and the community reception cost $5,300. Accommodations cost more than $4,600. The city only spent $10,000 on airfare because some of the 17 participants were flown in by the state as part of the energy hearing.

The Legislative Fly-In was meant to introduce the state players to the community so they understand it better and support the city's projects at the state level.

One of the guests was Randy Ruaro, a deputy chief of staff for Governor Sean Parnell. His focus was on transportation and infrastructure projects in Unalaska. He toured the new powerhouse site, the new boat harbor, the new cold storage, and the landfill.

The tour "helps me get a feel for the specific projects and if there's assistance that's needed I can - you know. I feel like it gives me a better platform, I guess, to describe the projects for our budgeting process at the governor's office," he said.

The governor's office is interested in infrastructure that is used to help the economy expand, he added, and he saw promising projects in this community.

Representative John Coghill from the North Pole District also attended the weekend-long event and said he's always supported the region.

"I've loved what's gone on here in this peninsula [sic] and I've been very aware of the fish industry value to Alaska. So I don't know if that'll be any more supportive, but I know details now that I didn't know before and I'll be able to probably help either Senator Hoffman or Bryce Edgmon with some of the things that are more detail-oriented. And I'm willing to do that," he asserted.

Coghill said in the next legislative session he will be pushing the passage of the natural gas bullet line through central Alaska and a bill that requires parents be notified before a minor can receive an abortion.

Senator Johnny Ellis first visited Unalaska 17 years ago when the health clinic opened. He said the changes to the town are significant and was impressed that unlike other rural areas, Unalaska has still maintained a healthy student population. He said he sees Unalaska as a key community in the state.

"We have a recognition that this is an economic engine for the state. A lot of those fish taxes come back to the state of Alaska. It would be very wise of us to invest those dollars, many of those dollars, back into the community," Ellis said. "Whether it's the schools or the health clinic or the docks and power plants and those kind of infrastructure needs. So that this is a healthy community for the long-term."

His focus for next term is energy and solving the state's energy problems.

Larry Hartig, the commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation, also attended the fly-in. While here, he toured the waste water treatment plant. The plant will need to be replaced sometime soon due to federal regulations that aim to increase the level of water treatment before the water goes into the ocean. Hartig explained that the state's DEC will soon have a role in issuing federal permits.

"So we're hoping that with the state taking over that program, you know that people will have much more accessibility and there will be much more accountability," he said. But the Environmental Protection Agency will still be looking over their shoulders and making sure federal laws are enforced.

The DEC will also be playing a larger role in monitoring ocean conditions in the area by "working with others to try to coordinate better our monitoring of ocean conditions and what's changing, in terms of if its ocean acidification or looking at trans-boundary contaminants that may be coming in," he said. Like "mercury and others into the state and trying to step that up. To get a better handle on the long-term trends, you know, before they start really having impacts."

The City hosts the Fly-In every other year. The city council and others will continue their lobbying efforts by visiting Washington, DC later this month.