As I do every morning, I’m outside drinking my coffee in the quiet that surrounds my home when I realize that my life will be forever changed because the planning commission decided what’s best for me, leaving me to wonder if democracy even exists in the Haines Borough anymore. The planning commission showed us democracy at its […]
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Posted inNews, Elections
Planning commission decisions sparks calls for election of members
A controversial Dec. 8 planning commission meeting motivated a citizen and borough assembly member to seek turning the commission into an elected body rather than an appointed one. The call for change, which could occur through a ballot initiative or by assembly decision, came a few days after the seven-member commission, operating with only five […]
Posted inNews
Planning commission okays dock plan
The Haines Borough Planning Commission last week gave Turnagain Marine Construction the go-ahead for the first design phase of the Lutak Dock renovation project, which the company hopes to complete by fall 2024. A Turnagain engineer and project manager presented a 35% design plan to the commission on Dec. 8, which the commission approved 5-0. The design will utilize […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Dock is designed to meet seismic standards
In last week’s CVN, a Lynn Canal Conservation representative implied in a LTE that the Turnagain Marine Lutak Dock is designed to allow for large ships to transport ore. Docks are given design classifications based on their importance – Lutak Dock is essential to the region’s economy and is therefore considered critical infrastructure. This requires designing the dock to meet American […]
Posted inNews
Dock scope change nears fed approval
The new Lutak Dock conceptual design is nearing final approval from the federal government, a step that’s needed before the project can advance toward formal design and construction, Haines Borough manager Annette Kreitzer said. U.S. Maritime Administration engineers have recommended approving the concept to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, who ultimately makes the decision, Kreitzer said. Public facilities director […]
Posted inNews, Public Safety
Man arrested after altercation with Mud Bay neighbor
A man was arrested last week at 7 Mile Mud Bay Road after a months-long dispute over property ownership escalated into a violent altercation Nov. 29, according to Haines Borough police and court documents. The victim allegedly lost consciousness, showed symptoms of a heart attack and had to be medevacked to Anchorage, police said. The suspect was […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Dock is designed to meet seismic standards
In last week’s CVN, a Lynn Canal Conservation representative implied in a LTE that the Turnagain Marine Lutak Dock is designed to allow for large ships to transport ore. Docks are given design classifications based on their importance – Lutak Dock is essential to the region’s economy and is therefore considered critical infrastructure. This requires designing the dock to meet American […]
Posted inNews
Plans stall for new Lily Lake motorized trail
Plans to build a two-mile motorized loop trail near Lily Lake Road have stalled after the state didn’t select Haines’ application for a recreational trails grant. Haines Borough planner Dave Long said the borough administration doesn’t plan to recommend submitting an application for the same grant program this year. Last year the state accepted only applications […]
Posted inNews
Former AMG employee charged with $58K theft
While Haines Police investigated a theft of tens of thousands of dollars from Alaska Mountain Guides, the alleged thief and his wife were gallivanting across the U.S., stopping in Las Vegas for a concert, seeing a Broadway show in New York and planning a cruise to the Caribbean, according to charging documents. Former Alaska Mountain Guides (AMG) […]
Posted inNews
DOT road transfer plan rooted in state policy
A proposal to improve Lutak Road in exchange for transferring three roads to the Haines Borough has shed light on a state program that favors projects that shift costs onto municipalities. The state selects community transportation projects through a competitive application process with a bias for proposals that involve transferring state-owned facilities to local governments. The Alaska Department of […]