Public referenda, goal-setting sessions, office hours and reinvigorated committees – those are a handful of proposals a new slate of assembly members have tossed out as they take office. New assembly members Craig Loomis, Natalie Dawson and Kevin Forster – plus new Mayor Tom Morphet – say their election represents Haines’ desire for more transparency and accountability […]
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Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Assembly Briefs: Olerud honored, new members take office
Public, officials honor outgoing assembly, Mayor The borough assembly on Tuesday certified the election of newly elected members Natalie Dawson, Craig Loomis and Kevin Forster and Mayor Tom Morphet. Assembly members Debra Schnabel and Ben Aultman-Moore honored outgoing Mayor Douglas Olerud. “I’ve seen you facilitate civil conversation long after everyone else has seemingly lost their patience and stamina. At the beginning of […]
Posted inHaines Borough, News
Oct. 10 Assembly Briefs
Election results certified Official election results were announced at Tuesday’s assembly meeting after 19 absentee, question and special needs ballots were counted. Of the total 2,431 registered voters, 1,176 ballots were cast, a 48% voter turnout. About 60% of voters cast ballots on election day while 32% voted early. The final tally of votes saw […]
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
September 12 assembly briefs
Four recommendations from the Government Affairs and Services Committee to reform public advisory commissions were advanced for public hearing at the assembly’s regular meeting on Tuesday. Most controversially, a proposal that would give the borough more responsibility over the operations of the Library Advisory Board was advanced for a public hearing on Sept. 26, the […]
Posted inNews
Assembly boosts pay for itself and mayor
The Haines Borough Assembly voted overwhelmingly to boost pay for itself and for the Mayor at an assembly meeting on Aug. 22, despite reservations about the timing and optics of the increase. Under the new pay scale, members will get paid $175 per regular or special assembly meeting, not including committee meetings. The mayor’s pay will be boosted from […]
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Assembly Briefs 8-22
Police chief regrets Several assembly members expressed concern about the announced resignation of police chief Heath Scott. Scott announced earlier this month he would leave the position he held for seven years in late September after failing to come to an agreement on a substantial salary increase. At the assembly meeting, Gabe Thomas called Scott […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Tax appeal instructions are faulty
Why does the Haines Borough instruct property owners to invest time and money into obtaining an appraisal if the Board of Equalization (BOE) is not considering it as the evidence of fair and true market value? Page four of the Haines Borough Real Property Assessment Appeal Form states under a heading called “Helpful Hints” that appellants should “include a […]
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Assembly Briefs
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 […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Borough needs to listen to appraisers for property taxes
Todd Winkel was spot on when he stated in a July 27 Letter to the Editor, “After watching the Board of Equalization (BOE) meeting July 20, it was apparent there is no way to successfully appeal your property assessment.” The board listened to the evidence and spoke of the appellant meeting the threshold of a […]
Posted inNews
DNR commissioner gets earful from Haines about state of parks
Alaska Department of Natural Resources Commissioner John Boyle got an earful about the state of Haines’ five park facilities from four residents who came to an open house on Friday evening. Residents excoriated Boyle for the state’s meager funding to area parks, the lack of a permanent park ranger in Haines, and what they saw […]