Discussion of Haines Borough employee salaries and whether the municipality offers wages competitive enough to attract qualified, successful workers usually crops up in the aftermath of failure. “You get what you pay for” and “If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys” are phrases used when someone new flunks out of a job or an entire department gets […]
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Posted inNews, Public Safety
Driver hits car, leads police on high-speed chase
A man sideswiped by an alleged drunk driver near 1 Mile Haines Highway last week said he thought he was going to be “squashed” in his car when he saw a giant red pick-up truck barreling toward him in his own lane. Ian Merklin, 39, said the truck, traveling at about 40-50 mph, would have […]
Posted inNews
Chamber, borough discuss development job
The Haines Borough Assembly and Haines Chamber of Commerce are putting their heads together to discuss the municipality’s community and economic development director position. Manager David Sosa met with the chamber board last week to discuss options including hiring a new borough employee to fill the job, contracting the position out or developing a public-private partnership. Chamber […]
Posted inNews
Firms: Increase margin for local preference
Local contractors are petitioning the Haines Borough Assembly to give resident businesses a better opportunity at securing contracts for borough projects. A petition signed by 14 business owners and submitted by Southeast Road Builders president Roger Schnabel asks the assembly to increase the “local preference” margin from 3 percent to 5 percent. That would mean if a […]
Posted inThank You Letters
Phillips family grateful for support
I want to thank all the people who helped volunteer their time in helping the family of Kathy Phillips lay her to rest. A special thanks to Jenn Walsh, Vinny Simkin, Haines Police and fire department, Diane Ahrens, Harriet Brouillette, Chilkoot Indian Association, Haines Borough, Krista Kielsmeier, and most of all the Hinkle family, because they’re the best. […]
Posted inSchool Board, News, Education
School board has “hefty expectations” for superintendent hire, Carlson says
The Haines Borough school board began discussion Tuesday on its hiring process for a new permanent superintendent. Former superintendent Tony Habra resigned in June after a contentious evaluation process. The past two permanent superintendents were only in the position for one year, with interim superintendent Rich Carlson filling in between them. Board president Anne Marie Palmieri said the […]
Posted inPolice, News
Minor offense ordinance on Tuesday’s agenda
Members of a citizens group opposing a minor offense ordinance have developed a battery of arguments against its passage, including that it would violate the preamble of the Haines Borough charter which establishes a right to live here “without unnecessarily restrictive or arbitrary laws.” The 35-page ordinance establishes about 250 minor offenses and accompanying fines. The assembly […]
Posted inLocal News, Elections
Assembly candidates describe plans, traits at forum
Three candidates vying for two seats on the Haines Borough Assembly fielded questions at last week’s Haines Chamber of Commerce forum, sharing their opinions on the town’s economy, public involvement and why they want to serve. Jerry Lapp, Tresham Gregg and Margaret Friedenauer offered their outlooks on Haines’ economic future, with Lapp pushing natural resource development, Gregg […]
Posted inLocal News
Complaints about water taste traced to lake algae
Has your town water tasted funky lately? Haines Borough water and sewer operator Scott Bradford thinks he has discovered the reason. The borough started receiving complaints about the water’s taste in July, Bradford said. At first he thought recent construction on Allen Road might be the culprit; sometimes new pipes make the water taste differently. So his […]
Posted inNews
Planners sign off on harbor expansion plan
The location of Lookout Park and the size of the parking lot again dominated committee and commission discussions of the Small Boat Harbor expansion project last week. After a back-and-forth conversation between critics, manager David Sosa and PND Engineers vice president Dick Somerville, the Haines Borough Planning Commission made several recommendations to the assembly regarding the project’s […]