Meadow Lakes Community Council

In 2023 MLCC planted apple, cherry, and apricot trees, as well as cherry and saskatoon (serviceberry) bushes in the community orchard located behind the basketball courts. 

Article in the Frontiersman By Katie Stavick, Meadow Lakes brings orchard idea to ‘fruition’

Visit Meadow Lakes Seniors Facebook page

Birch Creek Villas - Senior Housing
After MLCC purchased a 40 acres parcel in Meadow Lakes, a Comprehensive Plan was developed. Senior Housing was an element of that Master Plan.  Funding and sustainability came more quickly for building senior housing than funding for the playground or Community Center. We were able to build using the HOME program offered by AHFC.  A project manager was hired, a survey was conducted to determine what our housing should look like – such as number of bedrooms, ratio of affordable and market rate rents etc. and the long process began. 

Funding was obtained for $1.9 million and $300,000 in loans taken out.  Under the guidance of council members such as Mike Wolf, Bev Marple, Toni Kleewein, Liz Hawkins, and Dave Schacht working with AHFC, we found financing from the State of Alaska, Denali Corporation, Rasmuson Fund, Mat-Su Health Foundation, and others.
The activity of the Senior Housing began to consume the MLCC meetings.  At this time Meadow Lake Seniors, Inc. was established as a nonprofit 501©3 to manage senior housing and 8 acres of the original 40 acres was allotted for the project. A unique part of our senior housing is the MLCC using space for an office and the commons room for public meetings.

We have 4 units of affordable housing and 4 units of market rate housing. The affordable tenants qualify using the guidelines of the HOME program. A wait list is maintained, and the tenant selection process follows HOME and Fair Housing rules. A tenant must be 62 or older.  Only one small pet (dog, cat, bird) allowed with shot certification from a veterinary. The one bedroom market rents for $724.00, the two bedroom market rents for $950.00, and the two bedroom affordable rents for $754.00.  Everything is included in the rent except for telephone, TV, and personal electricity (what they plug in the outlets).

The project is totally managed by volunteers and active Board members.  Work such as landscaping and maintenance is contracted out to licensed and bonded companies.

This housing has been highly successful and at present (2025) we are going on seven years without a vacancy.

Meadow Lake Senior's Book Club meets every month at the Senior Complex in Meadow Lakes. We meet the 1st Thursday of each month at 5:30. Please consider joining us. For more information call 357-3999.

Here is a photo of our Strong Seniors class which meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 am for an hour of stretching and light exercise. Please come and join us. We have a lot of fun.

Here is the Rain Garden at Meadow Lake Senior Complex. ML Bloomers Garden Club put in the garden about 3 years ago with the help of Catherine Inman, the Borough and others. It is really beautiful this year.

A community council serves as a nonprofit, voluntary, self-governing association of residents of an area. 

Board: Current board members and contact information can be found on the Mat-Su Borough's website.

Bylaws, adopted 3/13/2024

Meadow Lakes Comprehensive Plan, adopted 2005

Meadow Lakes Community Council boundary map

Current Meadow Lakes Community Council Board

• Officers

  • President: Steve Edwards

  • Vice President: Al Leonard 

  • Secretary: Camden Yehle

  • Treasurer: Trish Jacob

  • Council Coordinator: Tim Swezey

• Committee Chairs

  • Safety: Chad Scott

  • Education: Tishe Link

  • Gaming: Ariel Cannon

  • Bylaws: Terry Boyle

  • Parks, Recreation, & Trails: Lori Benner-Hanson

  • Membership: Holly Grant

  • Capital Improvement Projects: Dannie Kerfeld

Meadow Lakes Community Council, Inc. was incorporated in 1985 as a 501(c)(4) and followed Borough guidelines in setting up the community council. As a community council we advocate for the residents of our community and initiate programs to benefit our local residents.

As the MLCC grew, the Borough approached and recommended we developed a Comprehensive Plan. A committee was established with the total process taking several years.  The committee sent out questionnaires, did a driving survey to see what type of uses existed in Meadow Lakes.  Held a series of meetings on various categories, some of which were attended by hundreds.  Guided by a consultant, this committee brought a plan to the council that showed a “wish” list for the future of Meadow Lakes.  That Comprehensive Plan has supported the seeking of funding and completion of several projects.  This Plan is extensive and covers items from refuse sites to the Parks Highway.

Burt Johnson (Chad Scott’s grandfather) left the MLCC two pieces of property in his will, five acres on Vine Extension and a lot in Settlers Bay.  The MLCC bylaws were changed so the council could accept this donation and then sell it. Through the leadership of people like Bill Browne and Rod Ewing sales of the donated property were negotiated and plans were put in place to plan for the use of the profits. MLCC was able to take the profits from Gaming and the sale of the donated property and purchased 40 acres of property from the Mat Su Borough through a program where non-profits could do so and pay $.10 on the dollar.

We acquired 40 acres of raw land, built roads and brought in utilities. To start the projects, clearing some of the property and the senior housing being the first.  MLCC spent $50,000.00 to bring natural gas to the property.  This allowed those living long Karen, Kathy, Barbi, and Kim to bring natural gas to their properties.

Our first project was building Birch Creek Villas Senior Housing, an 8-unit facility with a Commons Area for community functions, such as meetings of the Community Council, Garden Club, Book Club, and Exercise Class. It is available for social events. We spun off Meadow Lakes Seniors Inc. and donated 8 acres for the project.

Developing of the Meadow Lakes Sports Field has been our most ambitious project. The Sports Field consists of Olympic size soccer fields, basketball courts, two softball fields, tennis and pickleball courts, walking trail, playground, and picnic facilities complete with a vault toilet and paved parking.

On the 32 acres that we own, we have hosted a series of classes that promote outdoor activity, safety and life saving skills. Starting at the age of 4 through 8 we introduce the children of Meadow Lakes at the Little Explorers Camp to outdoor activities. From age 8 through teenagers we have the Summer Survival Camp and winter Wilderness First Aid class. We have also hosted Cold Water Safety classes at the Wasilla Pool, Snowmobile Safety and Moose Awareness in the local schools. We have provided local youth with free Hunter Safety booklets so that they will participate in the ADF&G program and get their Hunter Safety Card. In both our outdoor classes and the Babysitting Child & Infant Care class the participants receive First Aid and CPR certifications. Students who attend the Wilderness First Aid class are SOLO certified. For our local schools we put on a bike rodeo, so that our kids can ride safe on the roads of Meadow Lakes.

The above is a small sample of what we have accomplished since 1985, reflecting our stability and ability to plan for the future. Our long term goal is building continued support of education, charity, and outreach.

The purpose of the MLCC shall be to improve communications between the citizens of the community and all entities that may affect it and to encourage community involvement of all citizens.

• Sports Field - The Sports Field consists of Olympic size soccer fields, basketball courts, two softball fields, tennis and pickleball courts, walking trail, fenced playground, and picnic facilities complete with a vault toilet and paved parking. To reserve the sports field or pavilian, click here.

• Playground - two large structures, one for younger and another for older children. The playground has smaller play structures, benches for parents and is surrounded with security fencing.

• Trails - development and maintenance (woodland trail, perimeter trail, Bench Lake trail, Visnaw Lake trail)

• Senior Housing - eight units with commons area for 62 and older seniors. The grounds features flower gardens and a vegetable garden for tenants.

• Education Classes - MLCC supports education through class offerings for youth, teen and adults. We also provide grants to our local schools.

• Community Orchard - In 2023 MLCC planted apple, cherry, and apricot trees, as well as cherry and saskatoon (serviceberry) bushes in the community orchard.

• Christmas baskets to needy families

• Cleanup week - Clean Ups started in the late '70 with the Bumper Drag and were originally only one day followed by hot dogs and no prizes.  Leading this project start were people like Mary Kvalhiem, Dave and Toni Schacht, Rod Ewing, Strick Strickland, and Bill Browne. Now during Cleanup Week neighbors pick up tens of thousands pounds of roadside trash culminating in a community picnic complete with field games, bounce castle, fire truck display.

• Community Block Parties since 1997 - these originally held in the BJ parking lot (now the Rainbow) and not connected to clean up, but more of a community party with live music and refreshments.  Later the community parties were combined and expanded to include cleanup week prizes and a family potluck picnic.

• Pittman Road - The council did road use studies of the traffic on Pittman Road in efforts to get it upgraded and paved.  The dust was so bad that it was blamed for traffic deaths, especially before the railroad crossing had lights. The council sent representative to Juneau to lobby for the paving.

• Parks Highway - The council held several informational meetings, taking comments from all, on the design of the upgraded Parks Highway in 2019-2020.  These were in coordination with DOT and the DOT consultants.  The design was also addressed in the Comprehensive Plan.

• Capital Improvement Projects - MLCC has always complied with the Borough requirements for their planning and submitted our Capital Improvement Projects.  This seemed tedious but does bring our projects to their attention.

• Road Service Area(RSA) - MLCC works to keep community members on this committee.  The Road Service Area reports to the council and receives suggestions from the members as to what roads need attention.  The Council also recommends the winter and summer maintenance.

• Landscaping at fire stations and senior center

• Bike Rodeo with donations of bikes and bike helmets. Training on bike safety by Wasilla Police and West Lake Fire Department.

• Gaming License to distributed proceeds to such things as swimming lessons, Coats for Kids, Stone Soup Group, Science Scholarships, Wounded Warriors, Kids Don’t Float, life jackets, Skeetawk Ski Area and KidsKuboard. The Council has used our gaming permit to operate its own Bingo in the BJ Center and sell pull tabs in the Rainbow Lounge and Silver Fox.  The Meadow Lakes Community Council earned over $80,000.00 which was used to purchase property, bring natural gas to the property, commission a master plan, and fund a building fund, while donating 30% to charities, education, and community. 

• Bumper Drag - In the late 70's or early 80's a Bumper Drag was organized.  Partnering with National Guard the council removed junk vehicles from all areas of Meadow Lakes both public and private.  Years of abandoned vehicles disappeared, and the annual cleanup was established.

• Easter egg hunt, hosted by Meadow Lakes Seniors.

• Fire Stations - GPS equipment for local ambulance & fire vehicles; signage and landscaping for the Fire Station

• Health fair, hosted by Meadow Lake Seniors.

• Cleanup Mile 48, Alaska State Adopt a Highway Program, since 2014

• Land holdings 80 acres - 8 acres for senior housing and 72 acres for the MLCC Park & Acre Woods

• Legislative and borough advocacy

• Information on issues of local importance

• Participation in government activities to promote safety

• Provide information to borough legislative representatives on issues of importance to Community

• Donations to:

Mat-Su Imagination Library
Meadow Lakes Elementary School
American Charter Academy
Midnight Sun Family Learning Center
Skeetawk Ski Area
KidsKuborad
Battle Dawgs
Coats for Kids
Fire Station Landscaping
Just Us Girls Cancer Survivors
The music department at Meadow Lakes Elementary
The science program at Midnight Sun Family Learning Center
Soldiers Angels
Wounded Warriors
Sign for Fire Station
Kids Don’t Float
Library at American Charter Academy
Scholarships at Meadow Lakes Elementary

Please contact us regarding donations. 

Send us an email at president@mlccak.org or call Camden Yehle at 907-346-0506.

Send us an email at president@mlccak.org or call Camden Yehle at 907-346-0506.