The city of Homer and Ken Castner last Friday agreed to a stay of a judge’s order enforcing a decision in Castner’s favor regarding the Homer Natural Gas Special Assessment District. On April 3, Kenai Superior Court Judge Charles Huguelet ordered the city to cease its method for assessing condominium owners for natural gas service, calling that method “disproportionate” and “arbitrary and unreasonable.”

The city assessed 113 condo units by parcel and not by lot, but in Castner’s case, split the assessment three ways for the three office condos in the Kachemak Bay Title Company Building in which he and two others own condos.

Following Huguelet’s order, the Homer City Council at an emergency meeting on April 7 met in executive session to consider its legal response to the order. The council directed City Attorney Thomas Klinkner to petition the Alaska Supreme Court for a judicial review of Huguelet’s order. On Friday, April 17, Castner and the city agreed to terms for a stay of the order pending disposition of the city’s petition.

The agreement also suspends the time other condominium owners have to file an administrative appeal with the Superior Court. That deadline has been extended to 30 days after the date of disposition of the city’s petition. “Disposition” means if the Alaska Supreme Court denies the petition, the court makes a final decision on the merits of the petition or the city voluntarily dismisses its petition.

The city also agreed not to deliver payment statements to the 113 condominium units — not counting the units in Castner’s Kachemak Bay Title Company Building — charged the full assessment of $3,262.77. Upon disposition, the city also agreed not to deliver statements to the condo owners without Superior Court approval unless the Supreme Court finds in the city’s favor.

The 113 condo units are on 17 lots, according to City Manager Katie Koester.