The Haines Borough Assembly voted Tuesday to keep lobbyist Bill Thomas on the job until June, to advertise for a permanent borough manager in Alaska only and to award a $71,000 marine mammal monitoring contract to proHNS, a local engineering firm. Thomas, 69, is a commercial fisherman and former state legislator who worked last year as borough lobbyist for […]
Search results
Posted inNews
Policing beyond townsite at issue
Should the Haines Borough raise taxes in outlying areas to pay its police officers for responding to emergencies outside the townsite? That’s an idea by Jim Stanford, chair of the borough’s Public Safety Commission. He said last week it’s time to find a way to pay for police response in areas outside the townsite, the jurisdictional limits […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Town pitched in to put on swim meet
The Haines Dolphin Swim Team would like to thank the many volunteers and businesses that made this year’s home swim meet a success. One hundred swimmers participated in 116 events! AP&T provided wireless internet for the event. The Men of Note sang the national anthems. Al Giddings and the Haines Borough School District provided transportation to and […]
Posted inNews
Committee proposes alternatives to heli-ski map group
The Haines Borough Assembly’s commerce committee weighed options for the future of the heliski Map Committee – including eliminating it all together – at its Jan. 19 meeting, and will bring those ideas to the full assembly. Assemblyman and Chilkat Valley News publisher Tom Morphet submitted a draft ordinance in November to eliminate the map committee and shift its […]
Posted inNews
Workers’ survey results mixed
A recent survey of Haines Borough employees found workers like their jobs and coworkers but are dissatisfied with overall compensation and critical of management. The 54-question, online survey was filled out by 100 full-time and part-time employees, elected officials and volunteers. It included questions about job satisfaction, benefits, retirement, workplace flexibility and opportunities for professional growth. Last […]
Posted inNews
Harbor trail outlined
Landscape architects for Corvus Design made their first recommendation for a Portage Cove trail and park Wednesday, based on five designs drawn up by citizens the previous three days. The proposed one-and-a-half-mile mix of sidewalks, trails and paths would extend from Portage Cove Campground to Picture Point. Landscape architect Chris Mertl said the route would […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Manager vote violated borough charter
At the Jan. 10 meeting, the Mayor broke a 3 to 3 assembly tie to select an interim manager from two available applicants. This decision violated the Haines Borough Charter and the equal protection clause. First, the decision violated Section 5.03(A) of the charter that states, “The manager is selected solely on the basis of professional qualifications.” Merriam Webster […]
Posted inNews
Work to start on waterfront park, trail
A Juneau design firm that has built interpretive trails throughout the region will come to Haines early next week for two community meetings about the Haines Borough’s Portage Cove coastal trail and uplands project. An “open studio” event to be held between the public gatherings will allow residents to provide comments as architects rough out […]
Posted inNews
Senior Facility seeks loan
The Haines Borough Assembly last week referred to its Finance Committee a request from the Haines Senior Village for a $350,000, low-interest loan from the municipality to cover a second mortgage on the senior apartments on First Avenue South. Bob Adkins, treasurer of Haines Senior Village, made a presentation at last week’s assembly meeting. He said a […]
Posted inNews
Appointment of Lapham rejected
The Haines Borough Assembly last week rejected appointment of former assembly member Diana Lapham to the borough’s Ports and Harbor Advisory Committee on a 4-2 vote. The appointment was one of several Mayor Jan Hill recommended to the borough’s various advisory boards and councils. Assembly member Heather Lende asked for Lapham’s name to be removed from a list, along with […]