A local developer has applied for a conditional use permit to build a $4-$7 million hydroelectric plant at Walker Lake, about 30 miles northwest of Haines. According to the conditional use permit application submitted by Southern Energy Inc. last month, the hydro project is estimated to produce about 3,600 megwatt-hours annually. That’s about 13 percent […]
Search results
Posted inNews
Carlson: District’s budget not bright
The Haines Borough School District’s finances aren’t as rosy as some might think, interim superintendent Rich Carlson said this week. Carlson, who last month reported the district was holding a $906,000 balance in its general fund, told the school board Tuesday that a preliminary look at next year’s budget suggests a shortfall more than half that amount. “We may […]
Posted inNews
Heliport issue delayed 4 times
Since appearing on the Haines Borough Planning Commission’s agenda in October, the issue of siting a heliport at 35 Mile Old Haines Highway has been postponed four times. Complicating the question is the change in tactics from Mike Wilson, who originally applied for the conditional use permit in October. Wilson, who manages Coastal Helicopters, owns the property with Alaska […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Public should discuss Lookout Park
You reported that Lucy Harrell gave $5,000 to the Haines Borough for “moving Lookout Park.” I asked Lucy Harrell what her intentions were in giving the gift. Her response: “To start a dialogue about how we are going to move Lookout Park.” I interpret the gift as a request for action. On Jan. 12, I asked the […]
Posted inNews
Clerk pay raise idea triggers critique, flap
“Cruel.” “Vicious.” “Unprincipled.” Those are a few of the words Haines Borough Assembly members and one borough employee used to describe assembly member George Campbell’s comments about clerk Julie Cozzi this week. Prompted by assembly member Mike Case’s proposal to raise Cozzi’s salary from $70,000 to $85,000, Campbell recently sent a seven-page email to fellow assembly members […]
Posted inNews
Assembly to decide fate of HARK’s leftover $14K
If Haines Borough Mayor Jan Hill and assembly members Diana Lapham and Mike Case get their way, $14,000 slated for this year’s local nonprofit funding will instead be banked in the borough’s general fund and remain undistributed. The nonprofit funding committee reconvened to decide what to do with about $14,000 that the Haines Animal Rescue Kennel refused to accept. […]
Posted inNews
‘Big issues’ in upcoming union talks
Negotiations between the Local 71 workers’ union and the Haines Borough are about to begin, and local union representative Tom Brice said members have already identified “five or six real big issues” they want to address aside from compensation. Brice wouldn’t say what those issues are, but said some have to do with clarifying language that has […]
Posted inNews
Repeal of auto tax sent to 3 assembly panels
The question of repealing the $22 biennial motor vehicle registration tax is being sent to three committees for consideration. The Haines Borough Assembly on Tuesday sent the issue to the Public Safety Commission, Finance Committee and Government Affairs and Services Committee. Assembly member George Campbell is pushing for repeal of the tax, which was passed in October […]
Posted inNews
Assembly hires out-of-town consultant for planning
Members of the Haines Borough Assembly squabbled Tuesday about whether to hire an out-of-town consultant to lead a strategic planning session or use local talent for the job. The assembly voted 4-2 to hire Juneau-based Dynamic Consulting for up to $4,000, excluding travel and lodging costs, for a one-day strategic planning session. Assembly members Tresham Gregg […]
Posted inNews
Preschool wins lease extension
Advocates for the Chilkat Valley Preschool packed the Haines Borough Assembly chambers Tuesday to demonstrate the extent of community support for its current plan to add on to the Haines Senior Center. Supporters asked the assembly to extend the preschool’s lease, rent-free, for the Human Resources Building until the Senior Center addition comes to fruition and they […]