Haines Public Facilities Director Brad Ryan is among five short-listed applicants being considered for borough manager in Skagway. Ryan, who is set for a phone interview this week, said he’s attracted to the position for some exciting “big picture” things happening in Skagway. “They are negotiating a dock lease with Princess (cruise lines), they’re looking […]
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Posted inNews
Residents question ethics of borough plowing manager’s private road
On Tuesday, borough manager Debra Schnabel addressed citizens’ complaints on borough road maintenance benefitting her private land. Schnabel is a major shareholder of the 15-acre property housing a mobile home park, St. James Place. The parcel has never been subdivided, and the borough has never accepted the bisecting road, Fourth Avenue. Schnabel inherited the property from her […]
Posted inNews
Aqueous storage stays in committee
On Tuesday, discussion by the Government Affairs and Services (GAS) committee of an ordinance that would ban storage of hazardous liquids within a mile of waterways turned into a squabble on intent. Assembly members Heather Lende and Brenda Josephson held differing opinions, both echoed by a packed audience. “The intent is to regulate the mine,” […]
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Committee reconsiders seasonal sales, alcohol tax
A 3 percent sales tax on Alcohol and Marijuana, a five-cent fuel tax, and a seasonal sales tax were discussed at a special finance committee meeting on Monday. Assembly member Tom Morphet organized the meeting, hoping to present the taxes to Haines voters on the next ballot. Only two of the proposals, the alcohol and […]
Posted inLocal News, Haines Borough
Borough Briefs
Assembly approves plastic bag ban On Tuesday, the Haines Borough joined the ranks of nine other Alaskan communities banning the distribution of single-use non-compostable plastic shopping bags, unanimously supported by the Haines Borough Assembly. The ordinance won’t take effect until January 1, 2020 to give store owners time to use their supplies. Plastic bags used to package bulk […]
Posted inHaines Borough, Local News
Borough Briefs
KHNS to live-stream assembly meetings KHNS will soon offer online, live-streaming of Haines and Skagway borough assembly meetings, general manager Kay Clements told the Haines Borough Assembly on Tuesday. KHNS is working with the borough to set up live-streaming for the assembly’s Dec. 12 regular meeting. The public radio station will live-stream Skagway’s Dec. 7 meeting. A […]
Posted inNews, Search and Rescue
HVFD to resurrect search and rescue team
The Haines Volunteer Fire Department is adding a search and rescue unit to its ranks, with bylaws set for adoption at their June 10 meeting. “We’re forming because we see that there’s an absolute need for it,” fire chief Al Giddings said last week. There have been several search and rescue formation attempts in Haines […]
Posted inNews
New York architects present PC trail plans
Two represenetatives from a New York-based landscape architecture firm visited Haines from May 18 to May 23 to meet with residents, present plans for the Portage Cove Waterfront trail and, as they told the group at their Monday-night presentation, answer the question “Who are you and why are you here?” The trail will connect Picture […]
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Committee rejects seasonal sales tax
As borough officials, staff and residents prepare for less state revenue, assembly members rejected a seasonal sales tax proposal, an idea at least two Haines residents brought to borough staff recently and in the past. Based on 2017 sales tax revenues, the borough would generate an additional $185,000 if it charged a 4 percent sales […]
Posted inLocal News, Haines Borough
Borough Briefs
Public hearing for $150,000 paint job The Haines Borough Assembly introduced an ordinance on Tuesday that would allocate $150,000 of townsite funds to paint the 1977 public safety building. Earlier this year, the building was denied a state grant for the second year in a row that would have spent more than $500,000 in matched borough funding […]