By Jessica Edwards
The Haines Borough Assembly Feb. 12 voted to hold a third public
hearing on an ordinance that would schedule sale of the primary school building. The
hearing is set for the Feb. 26 assembly meeting. The assembly also unanimously approved a
permit for an ATV tour on Old Porcupine Road submitted by Adam Patterson of Northland
Excursions.
During discussion of the primary school and property, member Deborah
Vogt reiterated reasons she felt the borough should retain ownership. "I feel fairly
strongly that we should not sell this property at this time," Vogt said. "My
first reason is that the planning commission unanimously recommended that we not sell it.
Second is that a number of people in this community, starting with Brian Lemke, have
suggested that that whole area between and around the schools be considered kind of a
campus and have an overall plan to it."
Vogt said she thought the planning commission plan should include the
primary and former elementary school properties, and said the land could be designated for
educational purposes.
Assembly member Doug Olerud said the vacant primary school building was
in danger of deteriorating beyond use if decision-making and planning delayed occupancy.
"I don’t have a problem holding on to the property, but someone needs to come up
with what we’re going to do, how we’re going to maintain the building in the
meantime. I would rather see that money coming in to the borough rather than us spending a
couple hundred thousand to take care of a problem there."
Member Steve Vick urged deference to the planning commission, but urged
an aggressive timeline "if we plan on selling a building and not a lot." Vick
said ‘value’ could be described as community value, not just revenue from the
sale and taxes.
Assembly member Jerry Lapp said property should be put out to bid, as
the borough could evaluate proposals after they were received. "We can use discretion
on what we sell it for," he said. Pete Lapham said residents were concerned about
borough’s purchase of property for the new school, and said sale of the primary
school could help defray the expense.
Lapham and Olerud agreed that a condition of sale should be that the
property would generate sales and property tax. Olerud said he was opposed to limiting use
of the property for education, saying that would limit its sale value.
Kathleen Menke spoke in favor of holding onto the property during
public comment, and said the matter deserved thought, caution, and further planning. Paul
Nelson stood to remind the assembly that the borough might need land on which to build a
wood shed if it pursued wood heat for the Haines School and swimming pool.
Mayor Shields proposed holding the ordinance over for a third public
hearing Feb. 26, and the assembly unanimously approved. The planning commission discussed
the issue of planning the school properties at its meeting two days later.
The assembly voted unanimously to approve Patterson’s tour permit.
Patterson proposes a guided ATV tour on a 12-14 mile loop of Old Porcupine Road, with
sightseeing and a stop for gold panning at a mine owned by John Schnabel. Patterson
expects to guide 160 people weekly. Discussion on the permit included passenger safety
precautions including requiring helmets and having a bear safety plan. Vogt said she would
like to see the noise reduction gear, mentioned in Patterson’s application, as
mandatory for the tour, and also asked what would happen if the area experienced
residential growth.
Patterson said he was purchasing quiet and clean 2008 machines, and
would purchase after-market silencers to further reduce noise impact. He said customers
would wear helmets, and guides might carry bear mace.
Lapham said the tour proposed to operate on established roads that had
a level of maintenance. Olerud said the area was already fairly heavily trafficked by ATVs
and snowmachines.
Nicholas Szatkowski submitted a letter to the assembly questioning the
impacts of the tour on nearby residents. Tour operator Karen Hess spoke in support of
Patterson’s character and said she looked forward to seeing another quality tour
offered in Haines.
In other business, the assembly voted 4-1 to grant taxexempt status to
the Alaska Community Foundation, with Lapham opposed. Dan Henry presented a letter on
behalf of the Chilkat Center Advisory Board urging the borough have the building
professionally assessed for renovations, rather than continuing to band-aid problems. The
borough will look into a professional building survey, and into possible funding sources
for renovations.
During assembly comments Olerud said police needed to enforce
handicapped parking, especially at community events. He also said the borough needed to
meet with public works to develop a formal snow removal and storage plan.
