Consultant Darsie Culbeck this week said he would accept Haines Borough’s manager Mark Earnest’s offer to serve as his executive assistant.
Terms of the hire were not final at press time Wednesday, but Earnest said Culbeck would work on an hourly basis. The job was advertised at $25 per hour, plus full benefits.
According to borough staffers, the full-time, manager’s assistant position is exempt from union membership, but unlike borough officers like manager, clerk, police chief and chief financial officer who work under contracts, Culbeck’s hire would occur under a “hire letter.”
Work conditions not included in the hire letter would default to stipulations in borough code, they said.
Culbeck has worked as a $45-an-hour consultant to the borough since last September, earning $39,320 through June.
“Darsie brings an analytical mind and a broad range of experience to many borough projects,” Earnest said. “He is able to grasp the big picture while paying attention to the details. He is an excellent project manager and is well respected in many circles, allowing him to bring people to the table.”
According to Earnest, Culbeck has authored three grants for the borough and assisted with numerous projects including solid waste planning, junk vehicle removal, and harbor expansion. He also has represented the borough in meetings and discussions with outside agencies.
Culbeck was previously part-owner of Alaska Mountain Guides. He also worked for Constantine Metal Resources at its Palmer prospect. He declined comment this week.
Earnest said Culbeck’s consultant pay from the borough was equivalent to pay of $27 per hour with full benefits.
There were six candidates for the job including Klukwan tribal administrator John Brower and Haines consultant Cecily Stern.