Haines Borough Police Chief Heath Scott said resistance to borough-wide police expansion is due to “misinformation that’s being circulated.” “I think one misconception is how much skin does (Alaska State Troopers) still have in the game,” Scott told the Haines Public Safety Commission last week. “If there is truly something dramatic that happens out the […]
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Posted inNews, Courts
Single judge could serve Skagway and Haines
Haines District Court may have a resident magistrate again, according to Alaska Court System representatives. Clayton Jones, rural court assistant who provides administrative support for the First Judicial District, said Tuesday that the court system’s longtime goal is to have a magistrate judge stationed in Haines who will also serve Skagway and Yakutat by phone. […]
Posted inLocal News, Elections
Mayor, assembly candidates want to repair wounds
October’s municipal race heated up this week after a handful of residents declared their candidacy for Mayor and assembly just before Monday’s 5 p.m. deadline. Artist and Skipping Stone Studios owner Joanie Wagner is challenging incumbent Jan Hill for a three-year term as Mayor. As of last week only two candidates had filed for the three open assembly seats. But […]
Posted inNews
Users beware, E. coli found in Mud Bay water
An unregulated water source for many Mud Bay and Haines Borough residents has tested positive for E. coli and a state drinking water specialist has advised residents to stop drinking the water unless they boil it. KHNS reporter Abbey Collins investigated the water source after the public radio station sponsored a listener question program. KHNS solicited questions […]
Posted inNews, Elections
Haines votes ‘No’ to recall three assembly members
Assembly members Heather Lende, Tresham Gregg and Tom Morphet retained their seats on the assembly, according to unofficial results from Tuesday’s special recall election. More than 1,050 people, 47 percent of registered voters, cast their ballots in the special election, signaling the end of a recall effort that started in April. Don Turner Jr. initiated […]
Posted inNews
Haines to host legislative talks
The Alaska Municipal League Summer Legislative Conference will bring about 100 people to Haines next week to discuss the state’s recent legislative session and how to prepare for the next year. AML is a statewide nonprofit organization that advocates and provides trainings for local governments and builds partnerships between municipalities. At the annual conference, AML […]
Posted inNews
Expanded police service goes back to committee
The question of extending police service borough-wide won’t go before voters this October after the Haines Borough Assembly referred the issue back to committee. Borough staff recommended sending it back to the Government Affairs and Services Committee after several public meetings about the proposed ordinance to create a “community safety service area.” The issue began after the […]
Posted inNews
Expanded police service still murky
A complex, borough-wide police service area draft ordinance might come before voters this October, but some residents and assembly members say it needs to be simplified and restructured. Since the Alaska State Troopers eliminated its trooper position from the borough last winter, the community has been discussing what presence the police should have outside city […]
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Public’s turn to weigh in on sin taxes
The Haines Borough Assembly last week advanced a new tax on tobacco and marijuana products. The 4-2 vote levies a $2 excise tax on each pack of cigarettes brought or transported into the Haines Borough after Dec. 31, 2017. The ordinance also levies 45 percent of the wholesale price on other tobacco products. The excise tax ordinance levies $5 […]
Posted inNews
Hill seeks to keep mayor job
Haines Borough Mayor Jan Hill filed a letter of intent in May that she will seek re-election, according to the Alaska Public Offices Commission. With her letter submitted to the state, Hill can begin accepting campaign contributions for October’s municipal election. “There’s a lot going on here right now and I want to be a part of it,” […]