The Haines Chamber of Commerce has rescinded its request that the Haines Borough waive June’s water and sewer fees for local businesses affected by the state’s June 24-26 boil order.
Chamber executive director Debra Schnabel said she and chamber president Kyle Gray decided to withdraw the request after the borough administration gave it a lukewarm response.
“The chamber really wants to have a good relationship with the administration and I don’t want to start creating conflict or divisiveness. The fact that the administration couldn’t support it out of the chute made me think, ‘Oh well, I don’t want to sit there and have to suffer through a debate.’”
The request, sent by Gray to the assembly on July 7, outlined the financial impacts suffered by businesses forced to shut down or provide limited services due to the Department of Environmental Conservation’s boil order. The order came after a routine water sample tested positive for E. coli.
“It is suggested that the Haines Borough, as the provider of potable water to Haines businesses, react as a good business partner would react in this situation: forego the usual charge for providing the quality service expected,” Gray said.
Gray said he and Schnabel decided to rescind the request because they felt “there may be better alternatives,” though he didn’t say what those alternatives were.