Community Waste Solutions is advocating that the Haines Borough Assembly reconsider a Feb. 28 recommendation that the state regulatory commission set local garbage rates, following a three-week extension of a comment deadline.
CWS representative Sally Garton told the borough’s Solid Waste Working Group March 2 that the Regulatory Commission of Alaska granted the borough a deadline extension following a CWS request.
Interim Borough Manager Brad Ryan said the borough had already sent a letter to the RCA recommending that the state commission regulate rates in Haines. (The borough had the option of recommending state regulation, borough regulation or a combination of both.)
The borough assembly split, 3-3, on whether to recommend that the state set garbage rates, with some members saying they didn’t have information enough to recommend either way. Mayor Jan Hill broke the tie in favor of state regulation.
Garton said CWS has hired a firm to calculate potential rates as regulated by the RCA versus as regulated by the borough.
Borough deputy clerk Alekka Fullerton said the issue may be raised again at Tuesday’s assembly meeting as it is within the manager’s report.