The future of the Lutak Dock, the borough’s role in solid waste management and changes to tax code dominated discussion at a Sept. 15 debate among the six candidates for Haines Borough Assembly.
Candidates largely agreed on a number of points, including the need to do more to address a housing shortage, to consider exempting groceries from sales tax and to expand the local tax base. But they were split on how to proceed with the Lutak Dock renovation project and to what extent the borough should be involved in solid waste management.
The candidates—Ben Aultman-Moore, Eric Holle, Margarette Jones, Bill Jurewitz, Jerry Lapp, Gabe Thomas—gathered in front of an audience of about 20 people at the Chilkat Center for the debate, hosted by KHNS and the CVN. Up for election on Tuesday, Oct. 4, are three assembly seats, vacated by Paul Rogers, Caitie Rothbart and Thomas, who is running for re-election.
The issue that generated the most disagreement at the debate was the Lutak Dock — a point of contention for the community in recent months as the borough works to agree on a contract and design for a new facility that some residents worry could be used to export ore concentrates from Yukon Territory mines. Three candidates—Aultman-Moore, Holle and Jurewitz—said they oppose shipping ore across the dock and called on the borough to put a pause on the renovation project until there has been more public input.
Jones, Lapp and Thomas voiced support for moving forward with the project, stressing that the current dock, which closed in 2020 due to concerns about its structural integrity, is a safety hazard that’s hamstringing Haines’ capacity and economic potential. Lapp emphasized that it’s a “multi-use facility,” and Jones said it would be a “mistake” not to rebuild the dock, which provides an opportunity to contribute to the regional economy, out of fear that ore one day might be transported across it.
Both Jones and Lapp said it’s too early to talk about exporting ore at Lutak. Thomas said he could “go both directions” on the issue but warned against putting the “cart before the horse.”
“We have to be mindful that this dock does not only support Haines,” Thomas said. “We got funding because we proved to the feds we are part of the system, we are contributing to the whole area.”
The borough administration secured a $20 million federal grant last fall to rebuild the dock, touting it in its grant application as a focal point for regional transportation and logistics. Haines currently receives goods over a roll-on/roll-off ramp operated by Alaska Marine Lines. Fuel still comes across the dock face.
But the candidates discussed more than the dock at the Sept. 15 debate, which started with a question about a grocery sales tax exemption.
All six candidates agreed that the borough should consider exempting groceries from sales tax, an issue that has appeared and reappeared in front of the assembly in recent years but hasn’t been acted on.
“I would like to see the grocery tax certainly be removed if possible,” Jurewitz said, adding that he would consider raising the bed tax and the marijuana/cigarette tax to make up for lost revenue.
Thomas and Holle said they’d like to exempt groceries as well as heating fuel in the winter to reduce the tax burden on low-income residents.
Jones agreed with the intention behind a tax exemption but she didn’t commit to supporting one. “While I think that we should certainly do what we can to help those who are struggling to pay for groceries and low-income members of our community, I think it’s important to look at all the options and what other programs might exist that we could help connect those people to.”
Lapp said he’d consider exempting groceries from sales tax in winter but maintained that the borough needs to find new year-round revenue sources. Still, he said he’s “not a real big fan of taxes” and quoted an old adage, “You can’t tax your way into prosperity.”
The candidates also largely agreed on housing issues, each stating a desire for the borough to work on incentives for local developers to build more homes and apartments.
An area they diverged on though was the question of what role the borough should play in solid waste management. A private company, Community Waste Solutions (CWS), currently operates the landfill, and the candidates were split on how much the government should be involved.
Lapp and Jurewitz said they oppose mandating garbage collection but would like to see the borough set up a transfer station. Thomas said he “partially” agrees with mandatory garbage collection, although he opposes the idea of the government intervening with a private business. He said he thinks “the day is coming, because the garbage is not stopping, the prices are not dropping and people are still illegally dumping. So we’re going to have to do something.”
Thomas also noted that the borough already has weighed creating a transfer station and determined it would place a financial burden on the public.
Holle said he opposed mandatory pick-up due to a concern about creating more bear attractants by putting trash out on the curb. He said he thinks CWS “is doing a pretty good job” but suggested working with the company to help low-income residents cover disposal costs.
Jones said “there are other options to consider” before a collection mandate, citing bear issues, the challenge of getting trash bins to the road in the winter and the issue of public interference with private enterprise. Jones said the current system emphasizes personal responsibility, and she suggested partnering with CWS to educate residents on waste disposal.
Beyond specific policies, the candidates highlighted different borough needs and aspects of the local economy.
Aultman-Moore said the three “drivers” of Haines’ economy are fishing, tourism and remote workers and that the government should spend in ways that protect those industries, such as by supporting quality-of-life services like the pool, Chilkat Center and museum. Holle and Jurewitz similarly said the borough needs to work to protect and grow those three economic sectors.
Thomas said he doesn’t “agree or disagree” with attracting location-neutral workers, but he said he thinks they contribute to the housing crunch by pricing out locally-employed residents. Thomas and Lapp both emphasized creating more local jobs and keeping business open in the winter. “Let’s find revenue. Let’s find some jobs here. Year-round revenue. Not just the part-time that we have now, but the year-round,” Lapp said.
The Chamber of Commerce held a forum Wednesday evening, after publication time.
Early voting for the election is ongoing by mail or in-person at the borough administration building, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
*Correction: This article originally stated “Haines currently receives goods and fuel over a roll-on/roll-off ramp operated by Alaska Marine Lines.” In fact, fuel comes across the face of the Lutak Dock.