In a recent borough memo, public facilities director Ed Coffland said the Haines biomass boiler project isn’t economical, that the cost of purchasing wood chips is more than buying fuel oil. Coffland recommended to the borough manager that the government should not proceed with the project. In response, the borough assembly at its Jan. 28 […]
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Posted inNews, Alaska Marine Highway System
Borough-subsidized ferry untenable, assembly says
The Haines Borough Assembly voted to send a letter requesting the legislature allocate funds to cover service gaps after the breakdown of the Matanuska, the last state ferry serving many Southeast communities. The decision emerged from a discussion about the possibility of borough-subsidized ferry service at the Feb. 11 assembly meeting. Borough manager Debra Schnabel said she added the […]
Posted inNews
Funding for port repairs remains elusive
“We got too many pigs for the tits,” Port and Harbor Advisory Committee chair Terry Pardee said, summarizing the dilemma facing committee members at a joint meeting with the Tourism Advisory Board on Feb. 6. The two groups had gathered to discuss Port Chilkoot Dock renovations in the broader context of renovations needed at other […]
Posted inNews
Capital budget requests deemed futile
There was a palpable lack of enthusiasm at the Haines Borough Assembly’s meeting to discuss project priorities for the state’s capital budget. Every year, the legislature asks the borough to submit a list of projects it would like the state’s help financing through the capital budget, borough manager Debra Schnabel said at the start of the meeting. This process […]
Posted inNews, Alaska Marine Highway System
Foul weather highlights need for ferries
After ferry mechanical issues and record-breaking snowfall over the weekend, stranded residents had to come up with a creative solution to get home. On Sunday, Jan. 26, there was no way in or out of Haines. Flights had been canceled throughout the week as a storm system dumped more than 50 inches of snow downtown. […]
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Assembly appoints Lapp to fill vacancy
Haines Borough Assembly members appointed Jerry Lapp to fill the assembly’s vacant seat by a vote of 3-2 at a meeting Tuesday night. The seat had been vacant since Dec. 10 when Sean Maidy resigned. Earlier this month, the assembly solicited letters of intent from interested candidates with a deadline of Friday, Jan. 24 at 4 p.m. […]
Posted inNews
Public safety commission to develop charter amendment
Assembly member Paul Rogers has created a draft Haines Borough Charter amendment that adds emergency police response outside of the townsite to the borough’s charter. Rogers summarized the amendment to the public safety commission last week, the body that will grapple with an issue that’s been simmering since 2017. The emergency police power is effective “only in […]
Posted inNews
Cruise ship company considers Haines
Haines tourism director Steven Auch will travel to Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL) headquarters on Feb. 25 to pitch Haines as part of efforts to increase cruise-ship revenue after the loss of nearly three-quarters of Holland America’s business. Last year, Holland America announced that it was cutting sailings to Haines, causing concern in the local […]
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Online sales net more than $70,000 in 2019
In Haines, it will soon be impossible to escape sales tax, even online. On Tuesday, Jan. 28, the Haines Borough Assembly introduced an ordinance that would adopt the Alaska remote sellers sales tax code. The code, created by the Alaska Remote Sellers Tax commission, applies Haines sales tax rates to online sellers (like Amazon and Netflix) who […]
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Code revisions target hunting, fishing guides
Proposed changes to Haines tourism code would require all hunting and fishing charters to apply for commercial tour permits with the borough. At present, businesses that serve six or fewer customers per hunting or fishing trip are exempt from applying for tour permits. The proposal came from borough staff as part of a larger effort […]