15 years ago:
Borough officials lobby in D.C.
The Haines Borough recently spent $7,500 sending three leaders on a lobbying trip to Washington, D.C. The money was well spent, according to assemblyman Jerry Lapp and facilities manager Brad Maynard, who made the four-day trip.
The group met with U.S. senators Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich and staff of U.S. Rep. Don Young. Other meetings included U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials, National Association of Counties representatives, and officials with the Alaska governor’s office based in Washington.
The most significant news of the trip was learning that harbor expansion funding may be forthcoming.
“We got very positive feedback that barring a similar situation as last year when there was a stop to the new-start money, we’re eligible for funding. The boat harbor is a top priority for all of our Congressional delegation,” Mayor Jan Hill said.
30 years ago:
Assembly to appeal decision on heli-tours
Nearly 100 residents turned out Thursday to tell the Haines Borough Assembly in a near-unanimous voice they don’t want scheduled helicopter tours in the Chilkat Valley.
Citing arguments ranging from an unexpected decline in the local quality of life, habitat and wildlife impacts, and trauma for Vietnam veterans, about 45 testified against federal agencies’ plans to issue permits for helicopter glacier tours by Temsco and L.A.B. Flying Service.
Following 90 minutes’ testimony from the standing-room-only crowd, the assembly voted 4-1 to oppose the tours that would touch down on Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management icefields along Lynn Canal.
52 years ago:
Sewer lagoon ‘inadequate’; city plans change
The City of Haines was thrown a curveball last week when it was informed that the lagoon for the new sewage system is now considered inadequate by the federal Environmental Protection Agency.
Although city officials had been informed only recently at a meeting of state, local and engineering officials that the last roadblocks to issuing bids for the sewer system and treatment plant had been hurdled, the city clerk had been informed last week by telephone that the lagoon was not adequate.
Last week the city council passed a resolution to set the wheels in motion to go ahead with bids on the water system part of the sewer and water package. The council also took action to contact Alaska’s congressional delegation to speed up the process concerning the sewer treatment plant, plans for which have been in the works for two and a half years.