The Haines Borough Assembly approved a resolution joining the Alaska Municipal League (AML) in expressing concern over the impact of a state Constitutional Convention.
Alaska voters will vote on whether to convene a constitutional convention during the Nov. 2 general election. Earlier this month, assembly member Gabe Thomas requested the assembly take a formal stand in joining with AML after Mayor Doug Olerud described AML’s concerns.
“There have been numerous proposals advanced over the years to shift public funding for education from the state to local governments, to alter public retirement programs, modify the selection of judges, alter the taxing power of government and other similar proposals that could fundamentally harm Alaska’s local governments,” the resolution reads.
Alaskan voters, asked once per decade whether they want a constitutional convention, have rejected such a call every year for ten years since 1972.
If the convention is approved, delegates would then be elected and they “would have plenary power to change any and all aspects of the constitution for submission to the voters.”
In other assembly news, the Young Road reconstruction project has had a few hiccups due to the lack of accurate mapping of old sewer and water lines. On Sept. 6, four households in the area were issued boil water notices following a break in an unmarked sewer line, made worse by a water line breach.
“As Haines has grown, it appears that the water/sewer lines added from time to time are not mapped or are mapped incorrectly,” Kreitzer told the assembly in her manager’s report. “On the Young Road project, these lines will now be mapped correctly, and as each road project is accomplished, we’ll have better mapping of these lines to avoid this kind of problem in the future.”
At the recommendation of the assembly’s Government Affairs and Services Committee, the assembly also unanimously voted to fully fund nonprofit grant applications from the Haines Friends of Recycling ($7,190), KHNS ($5,000), Southeast Alaska Independent Living ($8,000) and Southeast Senior Services ($15,000).
Kreitzer also informed the assembly of the strings attached to federal FEMA funding tied to the Beach Road landslide.
“FEMA requires the Borough to either burn or send to a landfill the wood in the landslide. We’ve had inquiries about using the wood, however, due to FEMA requirements and the agency’s ability to require the borough to repay FEMA funds if we don’t follow its guidelines, we cannot allow harvesting of the wood,” she wrote.
Kreitzer and tourism director Steve Auch visited the Chilkoot Corridor on Aug. 30 after hearingYOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN: