Facilities issues dominated Tuesday’s Haines Borough Assembly meeting, where members voted to explore purchase of the Elks property, seek proposals for a temporary metal roof on the Chilkat Center and pay $39,000 for the first phase of the community facility master plan. The goal of the plan is “to develop a specific capital improvement plan for how […]

Haines Borough officials are looking for ways to cut garbage expenses in the face of increased collection fees that have doubled or more in less than a year. The borough paid Community Waste Solutions $4,094 for garbage removal at the boat harbor in May, more than four times the municipality’s bill of $952 in May […]

The Haines Borough Assembly voted 4-1 Tuesday to retain manager Mark Earnest, reactivating a contract that gives him the borough’s top job for another 13 months. Member Norm Smith voted in opposition. Assemblywoman Debra Schnabel, a candidate for the vacant manager’s position, had asked to be excused from the matter that was scheduled on the assembly meeting agenda as “interim borough […]

Residents at a June 6 meeting in Haines said they were afraid the state was repeating mistakes of the past, including boosting fishermen elsewhere at the expense of the valley’s wild sockeye stocks. Concerns included missed escapements at Chilkat Lake in recent years and relatively low numbers at Chilkoot Lake. The meeting, called by Haines Borough officials, included […]

The Haines Borough Assembly last week reconsidered plans to proceed with the sale of lots formerly occupied by the primary school on Main Street. Assembly members will discuss the old school property at their regular meeting on Tuesday, June 26, following a public hearing. “The closeness of the vote, both with the planning commission and with the […]

State Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Haines, said this week a patchwork replacement of sidewalk and curbs downtown can’t be fixed this year, due to funding constraints. “It’s looking semi-tacky now, but it’s a start. If we finish the job next year, it’ll be okay,” Thomas said about a state Department of Transportation paving project that’s replacing only […]

Haines Borough Assembly members and municipal officers are in the process of scoring 18 borough manager applicants on a “decision matrix” aimed at winnowing down the field to an initial shortlist that may be decided as early as Tuesday. However, Mayor Stephanie Scott this week said she’s recommending the group take as long as necessary with its decision […]

The Haines Borough recently launched a Haines Port Development Steering Committee. Three residents have since formed the Haines Port Development Council – described as a private-sector cooperative research group – with a similar aim to encourage Yukon Territory mines to ship through Haines. Mayor Stephanie Scott attended a May 7 meeting of the Haines Port Development Council at the […]