You always hear this: Shop locally.
On June 22, the Haines Borough Assembly voted to give the Southeast Alaska State Fair $175,000 for the renovation of Harriett Hall. Les Hostetler, representing the fair board as a non-paid consultant, assured the borough the fair board intended on using local contractors.
All aspects of construction relating to the Harriett Hall improvement project were put out to public bid, except the plumbing and heating portion. This work, a major portion of the project, was given to an out-of-town, non-local company currently working for Dawson Construction here in Haines. I contacted a fair board member regarding the situation who told me that he felt that this matter was not handled properly.
On Nov. 17, I was asked to attend an emergency meeting of the fair board. At this meeting, I expressed my intention to bid on the mechanical work and my surprise that it was already given away. The next day I received a phone call from Les Hostetler informing me the board had decided to use the out-of-town, non-local company to do all the mechanical work with no bid.
The fair board handled this situation very poorly. The plumbing and heating portion of the work should have been put out for public bid as the rest of the project was.
I’m writing this letter on behalf of all the local Haines contractors who have encouraged me to do so. This money will not stay in Haines. Shame on you, fair board.
Keith Houlberg