After tabling it for nearly 10 months, the Haines Borough Assembly passed an ordinance establishing a motor vehicle registration tax Oct. 8. The ordinance, which creates a $22 flat tax vehicle owners must pay every two years, came back before the assembly at the recommendation of outgoing manager Mark Earnest. The assembly voted 4-2 to approve the […]
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Posted inNews
Highway work may be delayed
A proposed amendment to the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) would delay funding for several portions of the Haines Highway Improvements project, effectively postponing reconstruction of Mile 3.5 to 12.2 and the replacement of the Klehini River Bridge. The nine-mile stretch of road and replacement of the bridge, known locally as the Steel Bridge, are […]
Posted inNews, Public Safety
Prohibit ATVs on popular beach?
The Haines Borough Planning Commission is recommending the assembly vote to prohibit motorized recreation – including ATVs and snowmachines – along roughly 9,000 feet of Chilkat River beaches. The stretch of beach is along Mud Bay Road, stretching from River Road to Carr’s Cove. The assembly will take up the commission’s recommended ordinance at its Tuesday meeting. Commission chair […]
Posted inNews
Museum, library cut seasonal hours
The Sheldon Museum and Cultural Center is currently shut down on weekends, and the Haines Borough Public Library will cut back its hours for the winter months starting Dec. 1. The museum is closing its doors on weekends for October, and staff will reevaluate in November to see if the facility can reopen on Saturdays, said museum […]
Posted inNews
Borough expects $190K payment
The Haines Borough is expecting to receive about $190,000 in Secure Rural Schools funding, according to borough manager Mark Earnest. Funding for the program – a carryover of a program intended to buoy communities in the wake of the downturn in the Northwest timber economy – is contained in legislation reauthorizing the federal helium reserve program, according to […]
Posted inNews
Car break-in case awaits lab results
The Haines Borough Police Department is waiting on results from the state crime lab to see if fingerprints on items stolen during a vehicle break-in spree over the summer match those of suspects. More than 30 unlocked cars were raided during the June 17 break-ins. Items stolen included car stereos, cameras, cash, prescription medication, and miscellaneous electronics. […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Letter referring to Cui crossed line
Fred Einspruch’s criticism of outgoing borough manager Mark Earnest totally crossed the lines of human decency by dragging Tracy Cui into the fray. As near as I can tell, most folks, in dealing with Tracy, have found her to be personable, helpful, highly skilled in her field, responsive, impartial, and fair. Tracy has restored a degree of […]
Posted inNews, Housing
Vets’ home draws tenants, concerns
Recent agreements with local nonprofits mean the ground floor of the Soboleff-McRae Veterans Village and Wellness Center will be fully occupied when it’s completed about a year from now, said Haines Assisted Living president Jim Studley, who’s leading the project. Tenants will include the physical therapy office of Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC), Southeast […]
Posted inNews
Twenty apply to be next borough manager
The Haines Borough has received 20 applications for the manager position, which will be vacated by Mark Earnest Tuesday. Some applicants list their current addresses from as far away as Cochabamba, Bolivia, and Unanderra, Australia. Three list Alaska addresses: Seldovia, Unalaska, and Anchorage. A handful of the applicants have master’s degrees in public administration, and some have considerable municipal […]
Posted inNews
After 35 years, Nelson exits borough
Friends, co-workers and taxpayers turned out Sept. 25 to recognize retiring Haines Borough staffer Sue Nelson. Nelson worked most recently as property tax clerk but also handled sales taxes in her first years, and has served as interim borough clerk and assistant to the assessor. She was a “bright spot of color” in the government office, said […]