Haines residents may see a drop in electrical rates and/or a rebate if a recommendation from the state attorney general’s office is adopted. The Regulatory Commission of Alaska held a hearing with Alaska Power & Telephone company in Juneau in June to evaluate whether lower rates are warranted based on benefits they received from corporate […]

The Haines Borough Assembly narrowly advanced a ballot measure during its first public hearing Tuesday that would give voters the option to approve a 1 percent areawide sales tax increase to pay for a municipally managed solid waste program. The ordinance would provide for “regulation, operation and management of a municipal solid waste program that pays for […]

Presenting a range of alternative plans, being more objective and formulating processes for vetting ordinances and a feeling of mistrust between borough staff and the assembly were among the topics discussed during the assembly’s annual evaluation of borough manager Debra Schnabel. Four assembly members and Mayor Jan Hill met Wednesday to evaluate Schnabel’s performance. On the whole, assembly members […]

A Nevada pastor celebrating his wedding anniversary with a cruise to Alaska died at Glacier Point Monday after a canoe capsized during a trip with Skagway-based Alaska Excursions—a tour company that faced public scrutiny this spring when former employees alleged poor maintenance habits and unsafe tour practices. Steven Todd Willis, 50, was one of 10 […]

Porcupine Road is at risk of closing this winter if a short-term fix to block flooding from the Klehini River fails. Haines Borough manager Debra Schnabel and public facilities director Brad Ryan met with stakeholders July 13 to discuss the future of the road, which Schnabel said is “under attack” by the river. Porcupine Road provides access for […]

The Haines Borough Assembly narrowly approved introducing two ordinances for public hearings that, if advanced, would allow voters to decide whether or not they want to expand police services beyond the townsite. But which one voters will decide is drumming up debate reminiscent of consolidation. One ordinance would allow voters who live outside the townsite service area […]

The borough will consider a building code addressing residential oil tanks and fuel lines. The assembly voted 4-2 Tuesday to instruct staff to draft the new code. The move came in reaction to an oil spill this past winter. The assembly raised the issue of oil tank locations and fuel lines while discussing closing the […]