Borough planning commissioners Thursday delayed voting on a tour operator’s eight-year push for a permit to construct a commercial heliport near 26 Mile Haines Highway, opting to first consult with the borough attorney. The application, brought forward by Big Salmon Ventures co-owner Scott Sundberg, has been repeatedly denied by both the planning commission and borough assembly since […]
Search results
Posted inCorrections
Correction
Last week’s CVN reported Debra Schnabel donated $5,000 for a new mural at the Haines School. The money came from the Schnabel family’s Lynn Canal Corporation.
Posted inNews
Alaska-hire unconstitutional
Alaska Attorney General Kevin Clarkson declared the state’s Alaska-hire laws unconstitutional last Thursday. The Department of Law said the decision was prompted by a lawsuit filed in July by Coalaska, the parent company of Secon, contractor for the Haines Highway project. Alaska-hire statutes require private companies contracting with the state to hire a fixed percent […]
Posted inNews
TAB members frustrated by vacant tourism director job
The Haines Borough Assembly directed borough manager Debra Schnabel to advertise for a new tourism director after the position had been vacant for several weeks. The move comes after the Tourism Advisory Board (TAB) last week requested the assembly hire a new director, and expressed dissatisfaction regarding the lack of communication with Schnabel regarding the position. Rainbow Glaciers Adventures […]
Posted inNews
New borough planner to start October 14
Haines Borough manager Debra Schnabel hired Tim O’Melia as the new borough planner for his skills in policy and community engagement, she said. The job involves the administration and enforcement of Haines Borough planning and zoning laws and policies and GIS mapping systems, in addition to other responsibilities. During the selection process O’Melia visited the community in early September […]
Posted inNews
Haines stands to lose half its cruise traffic
Holland America will not be porting at least two large vessels in Haines in 2020, borough manager Debra Schnabel said after a conversation with company spokesperson Ralph Samuels on Sept. 13. The company has not confirmed the information and did not return calls for comment. “He explained the company’s decision as a ‘domino effect,’” Schnabel said. “Apparently, Norwegian […]
Posted inMining
Resident group commissions report on socioeconomic impact of mining
By Kyle Clayton A group of citizens concerned about mining impacts in the Chilkat Valley, the Friends of the Chilkat and Klehini Rivers, commissioned a report from a Montana-based consulting company, Power Consulting, on the social costs of mining on rural communities. The report, which cites about 24 studies related to extractive industries and small […]
Posted inLocal News, Haines Borough
Borough briefs
By Jenna Kunze FY20 Budget Amendments On Tuesday, the Haines Borough Assembly unanimously voted to amend its 2020 operating budget reflective of finalized state funding, dipping into its reserve fund by $289,163. When the Haines Borough operating budget was adopted in June, state funding to the borough was unknown. Major line items in flux for the borough were the school bond […]
Posted inLocal News, Haines Borough
Borough Briefs
Borough to hire new clerk The Haines Borough Assembly unanimously directed borough manager Debra Schnabel to negotiate a contract with deputy clerk Alekka Fullerton for the position of Haines Borough Clerk. Borough Clerk Julie Cozzi announced her retirement this year and will retire at the end of March. Fullerton was hired as deputy clerk Sept. 26, 2016. Fullerton will start in […]
Posted inNews
Assembly postpones facilities director hire, mayor silences Morphet
The Haines Borough Assembly on Tuesday unanimously delayed approving new public facilities director, Ed Coffland, until December 10 when a new assembly is seated. He will continue to work unconfirmed until that time. Borough manager Debra Schnabel hired Coffland last week to replace former public facilities director Brad Ryan, who accepted a borough manager position in Skagway. Coffland is […]