The Haines Borough Assembly passed an ordinance on Tuesday that requires land use permits for site development in the townsite, Mud Bay, and Lutak zones, exempting the majority of the land in the borough, which falls in the general use zone. The ordinance exempted the general use zone after residents petitioned the past two weeks against the permitting system […]
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Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Assembly approves budget, slight hike to property taxes
The Haines Borough Assembly set its 2020 operating budget on Tuesday, adopting a significantly lower property tax mill rate than the manager’s proposed budget based on a gamble the state will fully fund debt services owed to the borough. The school debt reimbursement program that provides the borough about $1 million a year to pay back school […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
It’s past time to pass a responsible budget
*The following letter written by Brenda Josephson was printed last week without her name due to an error during layout. We’re reprinting it this week. For almost a decade we have known that the State of Alaska’s revenues have been in decline. Former Governor Bill Walker referred to the current financial crisis as “the gravest fiscal […]
Posted inNews
Aqueous storage stays in committee
On Tuesday, discussion by the Government Affairs and Services (GAS) committee of an ordinance that would ban storage of hazardous liquids within a mile of waterways turned into a squabble on intent. Assembly members Heather Lende and Brenda Josephson held differing opinions, both echoed by a packed audience. “The intent is to regulate the mine,” […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
It’s past time to pass a responsible budget
For almost a decade we have known that the State of Alaska’s revenues have been in decline. Former Governor Bill Walker referred to the current financial crisis as “the gravest fiscal crisis in history”. Over the last five years our community has felt the loss of State support with reduction in State employees in Forestry, Public […]
Posted inLocal News, Haines Borough
Borough Briefs
Assembly approves plastic bag ban On Tuesday, the Haines Borough joined the ranks of nine other Alaskan communities banning the distribution of single-use non-compostable plastic shopping bags, unanimously supported by the Haines Borough Assembly. The ordinance won’t take effect until January 1, 2020 to give store owners time to use their supplies. Plastic bags used to package bulk […]
Posted inNews
Bradford retires after 30 some years
Candi Bradford is uniquely familiar with the water and sewer plant in Haines since her first date with her now-husband, Scott Bradford, 27 years ago. On a summer evening, Scott won her over with dinner, then a tour of the sewage plant where he’ll retire from on June 3. “I knew I needed to marry […]
Posted inDuly Noted
Duly Noted
Corbin Eames Brooks was born Nov. 7 to Elissa and Chris Brooks. Corbin weighed 8 lbs., 3 ozs. and measured 21 inches. Corbin joins brothers Ohlin and Winston. Chris’ mother Arlene Brooks was in Juneau for Corbin’s arrival and was a great help to the busy family. Elissa’s parents, Laurie and Ron Alsup, are happy to have everyone back home in Haines. Irene Brothers Norm Smith and Carlton Smith caught up in Fairbanks at the Alaska Municipal League conference […]
Posted inHaines Borough, Local News
Borough Briefs
KHNS to live-stream assembly meetings KHNS will soon offer online, live-streaming of Haines and Skagway borough assembly meetings, general manager Kay Clements told the Haines Borough Assembly on Tuesday. KHNS is working with the borough to set up live-streaming for the assembly’s Dec. 12 regular meeting. The public radio station will live-stream Skagway’s Dec. 7 meeting. A […]
Posted inLocal News, Haines Borough
Borough Briefs
Employee housing rejected In a 3-2 vote last week, the Haines Borough Assembly rejected an ordinance that aimed to define approval criteria and allowable zones for employee housing in a 3-2 vote. Under current code, “living quarters necessary for caretakers, guards, and overnight employee accommodations” is allowable without restriction under the definition of “accessory use,” language borough […]