The Haines Borough will be adding a new, full-time employee to be split between the borough’s water and sewer departments at a cost of $53,540, including benefits.
At a budget committee meeting May 3, Haines Borough Assembly member Greg Goodman asked why additional staff was necessary.
“We’re barely able to get the proper testing and requirements just to stay from being in violation,” said Scott Bradford, water and sewer operator.
Last year, the borough budgeted a combined 350 hours of overtime for Bradford and assistant Dennis Durr. With the new employee added to the upcoming budget, total overtime hours are cut to 40.
The borough’s recent purchase of the Crystal Cathedrals Water and Sewer System, provider of water and sewer services for about 50 customers on the west side of town, was cited as one reason for more staff.
“There’s a lot more meters now to check and stuff, and so I think it’s a good deal to have at least some part-time help to keep up on all that,” said member Jerry Lapp.
Also at the meeting, the assembly formed a work group to make recommendations for this year’s nonprofit funding requests.
Mayor Jan Hill, borough manager Mark Earnest, and assembly members Lapp and Daymond Hoffman met Tuesday at the borough office and will meet again next week to discuss requests.
Hill said the work group would make its funding recommendations at the assembly meeting on Tuesday, May 24.
Earnest last month suggested a work group model used in Unalaska for municipal funding of community nonprofits.
Assemblyman Steve Vick said he was concerned about forming a work group “in the middle of the process.” Lapp responded that he thought the change “could actually speed up the process.”
Thirteen local nonprofits made requests totaling $114,696: Big Brothers Big Sisters ($10,000), Chilkat Snowburners ($2,500), Chilkat Valley Community Foundation ($5,000), Chilkat Valley Preschool ($19,000), Haines Chamber of Commerce ($4,000), Haines Dolphins swim team ($5,000), Haines Friends of Recycling ($7,621), Haines Sportsmen’s Association ($2,000), KHNS ($2,975), Lynn Canal Counseling Services ($30,000), Southeast Alaska Independent Living ($5,000), Southeast Alaska State Fair ($15,000), and Southeast Senior Services ($6,600).
Takshanuk Watershed Council also asked for $63,366 from a different pool of federal forest funds limited to select uses.