Of 70 streets in the borough, only 15 of them comply with code. The Haines Borough Planning Commission and staff are beginning to tackle how to prioritize upgrades and maintenance for the remaining 55 streets. A special workshop to discuss prioritization strategy was scheduled earlier this month in a planning commission meeting, when staff requested approval of […]
Search results
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Borough approves task force to address bears
A new ad hoc committee Haines Borough manager Debra Schnabel created has one goal in mind: to reduce bear and human interactions. Last week, the Haines Borough Assembly approved the Bear Task Force. The group’s stated objective is to “reduce Haines Police and State Trooper time dealing with bear issues by reducing bear-garbage encounters,” by March 31. Based on the group’s recommendations, Schnabel […]
Posted inNews
Scott, Maidy push to fund safe home
Last month, the Haines Borough Assembly unanimously voted to grant Becky’s Place—a local safe house for victims of abuse—$8,000 for rent. Becky’s Place serves about 35 victims a year with piecemeal funding from a combination of an annual fundraiser, private donations, Chilkat Valley Community Foundation grants, and now borough funding. “I can confidently say that our doors […]
Posted inNews
Borough contractor impasse stalls swimming pool opening
The opening of the swimming pool is stalled indefinitely because the Haines Borough and the Indiana contractor working on the renovation project are at odds over the project’s completion. The borough began issuing penalties to the contractor, RenoSys, of $1,500 per day since Oct. 25, the contracted completion day. As it stands, those fines amounted to $16,500 […]
Posted inNews
Commission to decide on considering heliport permit
The Haines Borough Planning Commission will need to decide whether or not they should consider a conditional use permit (CUP) application for a heliport near 26 Mile Haines Highway at its Nov. 14 meeting based on a legal doctrine cited by opponents of the proposed heliport. Scott Sundberg, owner of Big Salmon Ventures, has four times in the last 10 […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Haines residents made the sauna possible
The Haines pool sauna project is nearing completion! A plan for extending a deck above the sauna will accommodate the Haines Dolphins’ timing station used during swim meets. Borough manager Debra Schnabel has committed to completing the project by year’s end. Thanks so much to the Dolphins and the Haines Borough for making room for this small facility that […]
Posted inNews
Townsite bear activity prompts state visit
A team of Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologists and wildlife trooper came to town in response to public outcry over increased bear activity including damage to property. “Last night I saw dumpsters getting hit everywhere,” biologist Carl Koch said Wednesday morning, his last day in town. “We saw five bears; all of them […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Arts Outlook
First Friday puts wood first June’s First Friday celebration is all about wood as local businesses open their doors to showcase the best of woodworking in Haines. The Haines Sheldon Museum, in collaboration with Alaska Arts Confluence, is opening its next Six Week Spotlight on June 1, called “From Forest to Finish: A Story of […]
Posted inNews
New assembly weighs sauna location, bears
The Haines Borough Assembly met Tuesday for the first time with newly elected members Gabe Thomas, Paul Rogers and Zephyr Sincerny. The assembly discussed residents’ concerns regarding increased bear activity in town, the requested relocation of a sauna that’s been five years in the making and assembly member Sean Maidy’s effort to launch a special election. Haines […]
Posted inNews
Excursion Inlet part of Hoonah’s borough bid
The City of Hoonah is attempting to form its own borough, and hopes to include Excursion Inlet, currently a part of the Haines Borough and a significant source of tax income. “The rationale is the people of Hoonah have been in the Glacier Bay area for thousands of years,” Hoonah city administrator Dennis Gray Junior said. “The Haines […]