The Haines Borough Assembly on March 8 advanced an ordinance that would make heliports a conditional use in the general use planning and zoning district. The district encompasses the bulk of lands in the borough, minus the townsite and Lutak and Mud Bay land use service areas. Currently, heliports in that area are a use by right, and the […]
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Posted inNews
Roof bid under budget
The winning bid for roof maintenance and replacement at the Haines Senior Center came in nearly $25,000 under budget. The Haines Borough Assembly on March 8 approved a resolution authorizing a contract for an amount not to exceed $64,375 to Stickler Construction for the project. The borough received six other bids, ranging from $79,450 to $176,000. Assembly […]
Posted inNews
Deep freeze takes out hydrants; Problems may continue despite warmer weather
A plummeting frost line has made as many as 20 percent of fire hydrants inoperable, prompting the Haines fire department to consider new response procedures. Meanwhile, municipal water customers are advised to set aside some jugs of water for possible interruptions of service, and the Haines Borough has told some Skyline Estates residents to leave taps running […]
Posted inNews
Borough ups occupancy of chambers
The Haines Borough has increased occupancy of the assembly chambers, meaning 15 additional residents can squeeze in when elected leaders are addressing hot topics. Since late last year the borough has been limiting occupancy in the room to 45 people, a restriction that has left members of the public out standing in the hallway. They’ve questioned why […]
Posted inNews
Assembly OKs 2,600 skier-days
After a fifth public hearing to discuss a revised helicopter skiing ordinance, the Haines Borough Assembly on Tuesday adopted an ordinance that would permit up to three operators to share a 2,600 skier-day limit. The ordinance passed 5-1, with member Greg Goodman opposed. He said the ordinance was “on the right track,” but still flawed. Borough manager Mark […]
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Planners may take up tighter building regs Commercial structures ID’d
The Haines Borough Planning Commission may take up the question of modified trailers, along with commercial building standards, acting commission chair Rob Goldberg said at last week’s commission meeting. The commission also endorsed two changes in planning code aimed at preventing problems that arose when it granted Haines Assisted Living two variances for proximity to an adjoining […]
Posted inNews
New tourism director starts job
Haines Borough tourism director Tanya Carlson arrived in town a week ago, filling a position that’s been open for five months. Carlson worked four seasons aboard Holland America cruise ships as a naturalist and assistant shore executive and most recently for a travel company in Eau Claire, Wis. Her work since arriving has included drafting a […]
Posted inNews
Downtown group mulls district lines
The downtown revitalization committee last week discussed physical boundaries of an improvement district. The group’s next meeting is 5:30 p.m. March 31 at the Rusty Compass coffee shop on Main Street. The district is the area that would get first priority by the committee and the area in which property owners would qualify for tax […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Borough incompetent on heli-skiing
Thanks to the borough assembly and manager for incompetently managing heli-skiing. During 2010, SEABA violated their tour permit. The penalty for these violations was nothing! The borough assembly unanimously renewed SEABA’s permit on Jan. 25, with no penalty. In fact, the penalty appears to be expansion of skier days, and unlimited, un-managed, heli-skiing in expanded terrain. The […]
Posted inNews, Alaska Marine Highway System
Skagway, Haines mull joint projects
Hydropower and transportation were two items on what Mayor Jan Hill called a “limitless” list of potential areas for collaboration between the Haines Borough and Municipality of Skagway. “There’s so many things we could be doing together, but in order to do something well, we need to have a focus,” Hill said. She was in Juneau for a Southeast Conference […]