The Haines Borough Finance Committee brought plans for a public sauna at the pool to a halt at a recent meeting, recommending the assembly not fund the $6,500 project put forth by borough staff. The committee considered a budget amendment which would have used $6,500 from funds budgeted for trail development, but ultimately decided to remove the […]
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Posted inNews
Borough looks to change appointment process
The Haines Borough Assembly is looking to change the way residents are appointed to boards, committees and commissions. The change is sought to increase transparency and information available to the public, proponents say. The assembly voted 4-1 at its Jan. 14 meeting to introduce an ordinance that increases the amount of information committees are required to provide […]
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Highway residents push school ideas
About 20 upper valley residents and others made an enthusiastic appeal for keeping Mosquito Lake School open Tuesday, saying the Haines Borough School District’s goal of enrolling 10 students there might be met by expanding the K-4 school’s class range, improving “marketing” or transforming it into an alternative school. Those options may involve busing students from town […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Others are deserving of pool passes
Very interesting article about Haines Borough employees having free admission to the swimming pool and how that was arranged. I am very much opposed to that. Borough employees certainly are not underpaid. That can’t be said for the many volunteers who help to staff and maintain borough facilities, such as the museum and the library. And let’s […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Workers should pay their way at pool
Haines is fortunate to have a swimming pool, despite being a small community. As is periodically noted, the pool is an expensive facility, but it contributes to the health and well-being of residents and visitors and adds to the attractiveness of Haines as a hometown. However, there is no reason its benefits should be free […]
Posted inNews
Borough in line for switch to pellet heat
The Haines Borough has cleared a major hurdle toward realizing its goal of converting its public facilities from oil-fueled boilers to wood pellet burners. The Alaska Energy Authority recently recommended the borough’s biomass project, which will convert 10 public buildings from oil boilers to ones burning pellets, be funded with $1.2 million in grant money from its […]
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State OKs 6 percent electric hike
The Regulatory Commission of Alaska on Monday granted local utility Alaska Power Company’s request for a short-term 6 percent power rate increase pending an investigation into whether the company’s request for a permanent, 18 percent increase is warranted. The 6 percent increase came into effect Tuesday and raises residential and small commercial rates from 13.06 […]
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Borough workers to get free pool use?
Should Haines Borough employees receive free passes for unlimited use of the pool? Interim manager Julie Cozzi and executive assistant to the manager Darsie Culbeck thought so, and recently implemented a policy granting free use of the pool to all 70-80 borough employees. The Haines Borough Assembly, however, is postponing the decision to take a closer look. In […]
Posted inNews
Borough to alter its budget process
Budget season is around the corner, and the Haines Borough is already preparing for how it will decide to carve up the financial pie in 2015. Interim manager Julie Cozzi and chief fiscal officer Jila Stuart are working with department directors and preparing them for a potentially dismal fiscal situation. This year, Cozzi asked department managers to […]
Posted inNews
Townsite ski hill discussed
Fourteen residents turned out Wednesday for a discussion of developing a ski and sled hill on Haines Borough or State of Alaska property adjacent to Mount Riley Road. Topics included insurance and Haines Borough participation. The discussion was led by executive assistant to the manager Darsie Culbeck, and included suggestions for developing a 700-800-foot ski hill. The project might […]