The Haines Borough Assembly met Tuesday for the first time with newly elected members Gabe Thomas, Paul Rogers and Zephyr Sincerny. The assembly discussed residents’ concerns regarding increased bear activity in town, the requested relocation of a sauna that’s been five years in the making and assembly member Sean Maidy’s effort to launch a special election. Haines […]
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Posted inLetters to the Editor
End the tourism fund restrictions
With each retail dollar spent in Haines, a penny goes into a special Haines Borough fund for “tourism promotion and economic development” (TPED). As commerce grows and prices rise, year to year, the revenue generated by the TPED 1 percent sales tax also increases. In recent years, this means over $600,000 gets deposited into this borough fund […]
Posted inNews, Public Safety
Haines Avalanche Center to hold free regular classes
Temperatures have begun to dip below freezing, stirring winter recreators and, with them, the Haines Avalanche Center’s announcement for regular avalanche awareness classes. Beginning Nov. 14, free courses will be offered every other Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the public library. “In past years, we’ve done them sporadically throughout the winter, but this […]
Posted inNews, Elections
Election seats Thomas, Rogers and Sincerny
Voters Tuesday elected Gabe Thomas and Paul Rogers to serve on the Haines Borough Assembly, according to unofficial results. The third highest in-person vote getter, Zephyr Sincerny, may fill a third vacant seat for a one-year term. On Oct. 8, the seated assembly will tally 72 additional absentee, unverified and special ballot votes to verify counts, […]
Posted inNews
New assembly chambers put on hold
he Haines Borough Assembly unanimously voted last month to postpone a decision on whether or not to include assembly chambers in the library expansion project until a full assembly is seated. Earlier this year, the assembly voted to spend $30,000 to find out how much such an expansion would cost. At its regular meeting on Sept. 24, […]
Posted inNews
TAB members frustrated by vacant tourism director job
The Haines Borough Assembly directed borough manager Debra Schnabel to advertise for a new tourism director after the position had been vacant for several weeks. The move comes after the Tourism Advisory Board (TAB) last week requested the assembly hire a new director, and expressed dissatisfaction regarding the lack of communication with Schnabel regarding the position. Rainbow Glaciers Adventures […]
Posted inNews
Staff to research ‘green’ harbor parking lot
On Sept. 10, the Haines Borough Assembly unanimously directed the manager to explore the possibility of making the Portage Cove boat-launch parking lot ecofriendly. “At the Friday meeting of the James Corner (Field Operations) presentation it became known to me there exists such a thing as a green parking lot,” assembly member Tom Morphet said. “That every […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Sally McGuire is a team player
I have known Sally McGuire for nearly two decades. Over the years we have shared countless cups of tea while exploring issues important to the Chilkat Valley. Sally is smart, thoughtful, and competent. She is a terrific listener and collaborative problem-solver, and she has a fundamental understanding of the history of the place. She strongly […]
Posted inNews
Candidates outline positions during first of three forums
Five assembly candidates twice responded to questions on their ideas of the Haines Borough’s most pressing problems, ways to generate revenue, thoughts on resource extraction and policing, and how they would maintain balance if elected to the Haines Borough Assembly. On Sept. 11, 25 people gathered at the first candidate forum hosted at the Mosquito Lake […]
Posted inLocal News, Elections
Meet the borough assembly candidates
Six candidates are vying for two seats on the Haines Borough Assembly in the Oct. 1 municipal election. The third highest vote getter will be appointed to a third vacancy, created by the resignation of assembly member Will Prisciandaro last month. Residents may only vote for two assembly candidates on the ballot. Voting for a third will […]