In his letter to the Haines Borough Planning Commission regarding their approval of three heli-pads at 10 Mile that appeared in the Sept. 25, 2014 edition of the Chilkat Valley News, Drew Degen spoke clearly, forcefully and logically. The seemingly casual way in which the commission gave approval for this construction, i.e., without the builder’s disclosure of the plans and need for three heli-pads, is worrisome. Southeast Roadbuilders has been conducting a heavy-duty, industrial trucking operation for the past three months – with borough permission – in a lot at First Avenue and Mission Street, directly adjacent to the Tlingit Park playground, which is used mainly by preschool children. And now assembly member George Campbell wants us to consider creating a motorized recreation area within the townsite? What is happening here? Maybe all of these activities are legitimate businesses, or activities, but they should not be in the townsite, in residential areas or near children’s playgrounds. We have a functioning airport at 4 Mile, which, in a plane or helicopter, isn’t far. Southeast Roadbuilders should limit its trucking to its 5 Mile facility and there are many venues outside of the townsite for three-wheelers, snowmachines, motorbikes and other noisy adult toys.

Joan M. Snyder