Borough to test ‘spring’
The Haines Borough Assembly unanimously voted to test the water at the Mud Bay spring after a sample tested positive for the presence of E. coli last month.
KHNS reporter Abbey Collins investigated the water source after the public radio station sponsored a listener question program.
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation drinking water program manager Cindy Christian said E. coli, a type of coliform bacteria, are what’s known as “indicator bacteria.” Its presence signals there could be other pathogens or disease-causing organisms present.
Assembly member Tom Morphet made a motion to send a water sample from the Mud Bay source to the same lab that tests borough water.
The KHNS test did not test for specific strains. The Haines Borough’s water is also tested for E. coli., but not for specific strains.
When the test results were revealed in August, Christian said she wasn’t surprised the water tested positive for E. coli.
“In cases such as this, where it appears it’s just a pipe or two sticking in the side of a hill, it’s most likely to be positive because it’s just draining surface water. Surface water is likely to be contaminated with coliform. I would advise (residents) to find another source of water for drinking and if they can’t do that, then boiling the water for two minutes before drinking it.”
The assembly passed Morphet’s motion without discussion because they were running out of time before the meeting was scheduled to end.
Assembly divided over safety building future
A decision to award a $34,000 contract for an exterior upgrade design for the Haines Public Safety Building divided the borough assembly Tuesday evening and required the Mayor to cast a tie-breaking vote.
Borough manager Debra Schnabel said a previous idea to paint the building was shot down by staff because it would be too expensive and wouldn’t last more than two years.
Staff recommended sheathing the building to protect it from weather and extend its life another 15 to 20 years. The job would also include installation of a bathroom that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act standards.
“You can call it putting lipstick on a pig I suppose, but it’s to improve not only the efficiency a small amount and the look of the building, (but) to hold it together.”
That lipstick is estimated to cost between $350,000 and $500,000, a price several assembly members had a problem with.
Morphet said what started out as a $50,000 paint job all of a sudden turned into a $500,000 project.
“I think we need to stop and take a breath and review the previous work and educate ourselves and educate the voters if, in fact, we want to spend half a million dollars on this project,” Morphet said.
The assembly also debated whether to have a construction firm partner with an architect to come up with a plan together, or pay an architect to design plans and put the project out to bid.
Public Facilities Director Brad Ryan, who was called in from home to clarify the issue, said he’d rather pay an architect to come up with plans because it makes his job easier.
“If you’re asking me what I want, give me the design because I get a cost estimate,” Ryan said. “We pay a cost estimating company out of Anchorage to give us those cost estimates. And now I also have a bid schedule.”
Assembly members Heather Lende, Stephanie Scott and Ron Jackson voted to spend $34,000 to contract with MRV Architects.
Assembly members Sean Maidy, Tresham Gregg and Morphet were opposed.
Mayor Jan Hill broke the tie in favor of contracting with MRV.
Assembly gives final green light to economic development group
The assembly voted 5-1 to approve and sign a memorandum of understanding with the Haines Economic Development Corporation. The borough has allocated $95,000 for the corporation to hire an economic development director.
“Haines Borough will maintain a partnership with HEDC; will protect the relationship with openness and inclusivity in communicating information relevant to achievement of economic goals,” the memorandum says. “HEDC is not a component unit of Haines Borough, as it maintains independence in governance.”
The memorandum also requires the corporation to publish a “data-driven description of the local economy to provide the base line for measuring the effectiveness of programs undertaken in the course of the partnership.”
It also requires the organization to provide quarterly reports to the assembly and to publish one and five-year action plans based on research by Aug. 31, 2018.
Maidy was the only member to vote against the MOU.
“It seems to me like a really expensive business plan that’s going to take a year to find out exactly what they plan on doing,” Maidy said.
Schnabel said the community identified a need for someone to get up every day and think about economic development in the community.
“We don’t have anyone right now that gets up every day and that’s their job,” Schnabel said. “And I know in my experience in life when somebody doesn’t get up every day and do their job, that job doesn’t get done.”