Mayor Stephanie Scott on Tuesday twice broke tie votes of the Haines Borough Assembly regarding global positioning system data for helicopter skiing, advancing amendments that would lead to spot checks for compliance that would be public information. The assembly delayed a vote on adopting the amended ordinance until Tuesday, Feb. 28. “What we’re really trying to do here, I […]

The Haines Borough Assembly this week directed manager Mark Earnest to provide a report outlining options for maintenance and ownership of the Chilkat Center. “This is a facility that is in need of a solution and has been asking for that solution for a long time,” said assemblyman Steve Vick. “This information is what we’d need in order to come […]

The Haines Borough Assembly approved an 18-month contract extension and 2 percent pay raise for borough manager Mark Earnest following an evaluation last week. “I’m very appreciative of the opportunity to continue serving the community and the borough, and I look forward to pushing the projects that we’ve got moving in the next year and a half,” Earnest said. […]

The Haines Borough Assembly in a 4-2 vote Tuesday introduced an ordinance that would make global positioning system data for helicopter skiing confidential. “The only thing about this ordinance is you have to be satisfied that the GPS data is indeed a trade secret, and the people who bear the burden of that proof are the operators […]

A committee of the Haines Borough Assembly took a baby step toward funding a Chilkat Center roof repair at a Dec. 27 workshop. The borough recently received a $650,000 estimate to rebuild the center’s roof, including structural work and replacement of cedar shakes with metal roofing. Adding insulation is expected to stem a problem that starts when […]

State transportation officials laid out plans for improvements to roads and sidewalks along main corridors used by cruise ship passengers at a meeting with Haines Borough officials Monday. Pat Carroll and Keith Karpstein of the state Department of Transportation updated residents on planned Beach Road and Front Street improvements and Old Haines Highway sidewalk construction. Carroll said […]

The Haines Borough Assembly Tuesday voted 4-2 to request the federal government require developers of a potential hydro-electric project above Chilkoot Lake to conduct additional studies, including examination of insuring against potential losses to fisheries and other values there. About 35 residents turned out for the special meeting and all but eight of the 25 who testified were cricital […]

The Haines Borough would spend up to $15,000 on a Lynn Canal Gillnetters Association study aimed at improving sockeye escapement to Chilkat and Chilkoot lakes, according to an ordinance the assembly advanced last week. J.R. Churchill of the gillnetters’ group submitted the funding request “to review Alaska Department of Fish and Game data and management policies for the past […]

Haines Borough meetings will get a new look – including increased opportunity for public comment and more assembly research in advance of meetings – under plans laid out by new Mayor Stephanie Scott at a work session with assembly members Nov. 3. A list of “housekeeping” issues addressed during the session ranged from reviewing the purpose and status of […]