If you want an interesting story about local stuff, you should have a reporter look into what is happening, or should I say, not happening in Fort Seward there on the main loop. The barracks has sat for at least the twenty years I have been in Haines without utilities or use. It’s a big building and a big thing. The hospital/Alaska Indian Arts building just down the street has become dysfunctional and possibly condemnable. The upstairs is covered in black mold. The water lines froze two winters ago and were just left that way. The rain goes through the roof into the basement. There are six junk cars surrounding it and an old refrigerator in the backyard, which is cut-and-dried against the city code in Title 8. There is also a third building, in Fort Seward lingo, the headquarters building, two houses up from the hospital building that appears to be abandoned. And the guy in charge of these buildings is on the Planning Commission making rules for everyone else. What is going to happen? Do the people of the city have to watch these buildings deteriorate for the next 30 years? Is that the plan? It sure appears that way. Is the borough or planning commission going to do anything? These are just some possible questions for your reporter to ask. I think your readers would be interested.
And thank you editor for putting out a paper every week. Your efforts, and those of your staff, are much appreciated by this citizen.
Joe Parnell