The Haines Borough Assembly narrowly approved introducing two ordinances for public hearings that, if advanced, would allow voters to decide whether or not they want to expand police services beyond the townsite. But which one voters will decide is drumming up debate reminiscent of consolidation.

One ordinance would allow voters who live outside the townsite service area to choose whether or not they want “on-call” police service. Some assembly members have proposed further refining that vote to allow residents living out the Haines Highway, Mud Bay and Lutak to create separate service areas in their corresponding geographical regions.

If giving residents who live in separate areas the choice of whether or not they want such services is the aim of the first ordinance, the purpose is moot should the second ordinance, a proposal to change borough charter, be advanced. The charter change would allow all borough voters to decide whether or not they want to expand police powers boroughwide.

Borough cost estimates for on-call police service is about $70,000 annually. The latter ordinance would levy .73 mills of property tax to provide for services described as “crimes in progress, public health and safety risks, property crimes and liability-related issues,” the draft ordinance says. “Services may include traffic control and enforcement or patrols based on events, citizen complaints or a perceived need.”

Cost estimates calculated by police chief Heath Scott last summer for areawide policing, which borough manager Debra Schnabel said at the time would require hiring a sixth police officer, would cost taxpayers about $120,000 in additional funding. Those costs rise over time to about $140,000 in fiscal year 2021, according to Scott’s estimates last year.

Assembly member Stephanie Scott proposed the charter change at a special meeting this month. “It seemed to me that way back when, when we created the Haines Borough, we overlooked the problem of police services and we narrowed it down to what we called the townsite,” Scott said at Tuesday’s regular meeting. “Now we’re trying to solve the problem and I think the best thing to do would be to change the charter to allow police powers areawide…we would be sharing the cost of the police with the people in the City of Haines, the townsite, who are bearing the burden, but not necessarily in a fair way.”

Assembly member Brenda Josephson is adamantly opposed to a charter change. Approving a ballot measure that would allow a vote by those in the townsite, the bulk of the voting bloc, that affects the smaller population of residents outside that service area is breaking promises made during consolidation, Josephson said.

“I’m concerned with fear and false narratives, because I live in the townsite and I have absolutely no faith that my taxes are going to go down if this gets on there…I have no doubt that that’s going to be the propaganda that’s used in order to help support getting the population mass, that lives in the townsite, to vote in support of this,” Josephson said.

Schnabel, a proponent of expanding police protection, also brought up consolidation. “I was present at every single debate,” Schnabel said. “It was true that policing was a huge issue at the time. It was probably the most contentious issue, as it is now. I think that things change. When the world changes around you it’s important to stop and examine and say, ‘Are we doing what’s best for us in the new situation?’”

The estimated $70,000 annual cost of on-call police service is worth one response to a report of child abuse, Chuck Mitman said.

Margaret Friedenauer said protecting people’s safety goes beyond imaginary borders. “I can’t fully define what this whole consolidation thing was and why there’s an imaginary boundary at Mile 4 and out Lutak,” Friedenauer said. “If I care for my fellow citizens inside the townsite, I care for them just as much outside the townsite.”

Paul Nelson and Carol Tuynman spoke in opposition to police expansion.

“More police should not be something that comes from the government,” Nelson said. “I would ask you to please not force this issue on the people. Let the people ask you for more police.”

The debate surrounding the expansion of police powers boroughwide began when the Alaska State Troopers moved its local position to western Alaska in early 2017. Officials with the state troopers have repeatedly told the borough that the responsibility of police protection falls on the Haines Borough Police Department.

The vote to introduce the charter change ballot measure passed 3-3 with assembly members Tom Morphet, Tresham Gregg and Josephson in opposition. Mayor Jan Hill broke the tie, saying people should be given the opportunity to vote.

Assembly members will further discuss the police ordinances at a government affairs and services committee meeting July 31 at 6:30 p.m. in the assembly chambers.