Assembly OKs more
heli ski days

By Ann Petersen

At an emotional meeting punctuated by anger and tears, the Haines Borough Assembly voted 5-1 for an emergency ordinance to grant heli-ski operators 200 additional skier-days to be used by May 3.

Member Norm Smith voted no. Five votes were required for passage.

About 40 residents turned out for the meeting, and about half testified, nearly all in favor of the special allowance. Comments were peppered with vitriol and dismay and included threats to the assembly should the ordinance be denied.

“If people want to come to Haines, it is atrocious to send them away,” said Joe Poor.

Mayor Jan Hill said she had received inappropriate e-mails and phone messages about the issue and called for more respectful dialogue. “I demand respect in these matters.”

The meeting packet included an emergency ordinance authored by borough manager Tom Bolen that would grant heli-skiers 400 additional skier-days. The ordinance came at the request of heli-ski operators who said they were seeing high demand due to cancellations elsewhere.

Assembly members first unanimously voted to reduce the number of additional days to 200. Then came a heated discussion of the legality, timing, and precedents set by the measure.

Smith said that he could not back the measure because the process taken was not appropriate, and set a “dangerous precedent” for how business is done in the borough. Assemblyman Doug Olerud said the ordinance was justified based on borough budget concerns and the interest of local business.

Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures (SEABA) owner said Redoubt’s eruption closed the heliski season around Anchorage, prompting scores of skiers to look to Haines. Trimble said the heli-ski industry is based on return clients, making the influx an important opportunity.

 “This is a rush of possible new business, so we’re excited about the possibility.” Trimble said his company is hoping for at least 50 more ski days to meet new demand.

Alaska Heliskiing owner Sean Brownell said in an interview this week that his company would run out of allowable days before the end of the season May 3 if weather conditions remain sunny.

Vick was brought to the point of tears by his decision. He said he was initially concerned about the legality of the special ordinance but said he was reassured by information from borough clerk Julie Cozzi that other local tour groups can change their tour permits in a single assembly meeting without emergency provisions.

SEABA operators said they were “in no way trying to change their permanent allocation of days,” just trying to take advantage of a natural occurrence that has sent business their way.

Alaska Heliskiing owner Brownell, however, said this week his company does want its permanent allotment raised to 1,000. The company currently is allotted 650 skier-days.

Two new borough hires were also discussed at Tuesday’s meeting. The assembly unanimously decided to hire the law firm of Wohlforth, Johnson, Brecht, Cartledge, & Brooking, of Anchorage. The lead attorney serving Haines would be Michael Gatti.

According to its application, the firm has “extensive experience and a proven ability to work effectively with mayors, city councils, (and) borough assemblies.” Lead attorney Gatti is a former Anchorage assembly counsel and a borough attorney for Matanuska-Susitna Borough.

Gatti was selected because he is part of a good legal team with a lot of resources, and is available to the borough 24 hours a day, said mayor Hill.

  “During the interview process, the assembly could relate to Gatti. We were comfortable with him.” She said. Gatti will take over all borough legal matters effective immediately. 

Gatti this week assisted in writing the emergency heli-ski ordinance.      

The borough assembly also voted unanimously to hire Bolen and Hill’s pick for harbormaster, Christian Racich.

Racich, 38, was top pick for the job because “he is young, energetic, knowledgeable, agreeable to our salary, ready to start immediately, and is a Haines resident who strives to find a way to serve and improve the community” Bolen said.

Racich worked the last three years as first mate aboard freighters in Alaska. His other professional experience includes 10 years crewing on fishing vessels, and two seasons as a captain and manager for Chilkat Cruises.

He’ll make $55,000 plus benefits.