The borough’s commerce committee is discussing several changes to the sales tax code for the assembly to consider. Committee members Debra Schnabel, Ben Aultman-Moore, and Jerry Lapp discussed ideas to generate revenue for the upcoming budget. One possibility is charging for ambulance services, an amenity that has always been free. Residents without insurance could waive the fee or […]
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A brief guide to surviving Haines Borough politics
From the practical to the philosophical, current and former elected officials weighed in on how assembly members can survive and thrive in their roles, and how the public can help, too. The following story is the continuation of a series exploring the reasons why six assembly members have resigned in the last six years, and […]
Posted inNews, Southeast News, Local News, Elections
Why are so many assembly members resigning?
Last week Tyler Huling resigned from the Haines Borough Assembly. She’s the sixth assembly member in six years to do so. This week, the CVN spoke with current and former public officials to ask: why are so many people resigning? Huling told the CVN there wasn’t a single reason she quit, but rather described a “slow […]
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Huling resigns from assembly
Assembly member Tyler Huling resigned from her seat on Monday citing chronic stress and toxic public discourse as reasons for resigning. Huling, elected in October 2021, served just less than half of her three-year term. She said no single incident prompted her resignation and described a “slow build” of corrosive public discourse. “I don’t feel […]
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Assembly reverses heliport decision
The Haines Borough Assembly Tuesday night reversed the planning commission’s decision to grant a conditional use permit (CUP) for a Chilkat River Adventures heliport at 24 Mile Haines Highway. The assembly voted 5-1 with Debra Schnabel, Ben Aultman-Moore, Cheryl Stickler, Gabe Thomas, and Tyler Huling in favor and Jerry Lapp in opposition to reversing the decision. The assembly reconsidered the approval of Chilkat River Adventures co-owner […]
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Assembly to consider residency requirement to on empowered boards
The borough’s GASC committee recommended the assembly require one year of residency before serving on empowered government boards, such as the planning commission. The motion, created by Debra Schnabel and seconded by Gabe Thomas, will be reviewed by the assembly next Tuesday. Schnabel suggested the one year rule work in tandem with additional efforts to familiarize commissioners […]
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Assembly to reconsider 24-Mile heliport CUP
Following consideration of five appeals, the Haines Borough Assembly stepped back from a planning commission decision last week to authorize a new heliport at 24 Mile Haines Highway. The assembly voted 4-2 to rehear River Adventures’ conditional use permit (CUP) application for the heliport, which had been approved for one year’s heliski season. Ben Aultman-Moore, Gabe Thomas, Debra Schnabel and Tyler Huling supported the […]
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Officials to weigh outsourcing tourism department
Borough staff and elected officials are considering contracting out the borough tourism department’s work. Haines Chamber of Commerce director Andrew Letchworth presented the idea to the Haines Borough Commerce Committee on Tuesday. The committee didn’t take action at the meeting, and details of a formal proposal have yet to be worked out. Borough manager Annette Kreitzer said […]
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Planning commission decisions sparks calls for election of members
A controversial Dec. 8 planning commission meeting motivated a citizen and borough assembly member to seek turning the commission into an elected body rather than an appointed one. The call for change, which could occur through a ballot initiative or by assembly decision, came a few days after the seven-member commission, operating with only five […]
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Manager to renegotiate MOU with Mosquito Lake center
The Haines Borough Assembly voted unanimously to renegotiate an agreement with the Mosquito Lake Community Center following a request from the volunteer group that runs programs at the borough-owned facility. In a 3-3 tie vote broken by Mayor Douglas Olerud, the Haines Borough Assembly rejected a request from the Friends of Mosquito Lake School and Community Center (FMLSCC) for the borough […]