As an administrator of the Facebook group Haines Chatters, I regularly post notices of public meetings, transcripts, recorded comments, and agenda items to the group. This social media option provides a community service to interested members regarding official information taken directly from the Haines Borough website.

My postings of government information are copied word-for-word from our local government record.

Recently, I posted, to Haines Chatters, the Borough link of the recording of the 10/31 Ports and Harbor meeting with the statement “Lutak Dock conversation begins at 0.27 minutes. Public comment at the end.”

The11/8/24 KHNS story “Former Mayor says he did not authorize $10M steel purchase” interviewed Doug Olerud who responded “I did not direct Turnagain to buy the steel for Lutak Dock, in either written or verbal form.” 

Never was there any accusation that the former mayor “authorized” or “directed” (which are codified terms in the Haines Borough Code) Turnagain to buy steel. The actual statement made by a member of the PHAC is provided at the 34:09:949 mark in the official recording stating “So, when they signed the second phase of that contract and Mayor Doug Olerud told them at the time when they signed that, we’re signing a contract so you can buy the steel before the price goes up.”

I urge community members to listen to actual recordings, or read official documents provided on our Borough website. Gossip and misinformation will continue to divide our community. 

Sheri Loomis