Preliminary budget discussions between the Haines Borough Assembly and department heads Feb. 10 yielded several suggestions for the fiscal year 2015 budget, including expanding the administration building, installing security cameras at several borough facilities and restructuring the tourism director position. The four-hour meeting was informal, with each department head giving a brief rundown of budget needs and […]
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Planners reject townsite ATV park
The Haines Borough Planning Commission decided last week Haines can’t accommodate a motorized ATV park in the townsite, with several commission members calling the idea “crazy.” The assembly voted unanimously at its Jan. 14 meeting to direct the commission to identify areas near or within the townsite suitable for a motorized park. Assembly member George Campbell spearheaded […]
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Assembly retracts mining letter
The Haines Borough Assembly last week voted to send a retraction letter to a state agency after discovering a previous letter had been sent without assembly approval. The initial letter was sent to the Alaska Mental Health Trust Land Office regarding the potential leasing of nearly 100,000 acres of land near Haines to mineral exploration and production. […]
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ATVs on roads? Ordinance back
Haines Borough Assembly member Jerry Lapp is resuming the push for relaxation of snowmachine and all-terrain vehicle laws in the borough. An ordinance proposed by Lapp and introduced by the assembly Tuesday would allow ATV use on streets and highways within the borough. It also would allow snowmachine use on highway shoulders in the borough. A similar […]
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Assembly nixes buried utilities on Third Avenue
The Haines Borough Assembly last week revisited the question of burying utility lines downtown, in regards to the upcoming rebuilding of Third Avenue. The assembly had a similar discussion last summer after Alaska Power and Telephone relocated several large power poles during reconstruction of Front Street, leading some residents and assembly members to complain about view obstruction. […]
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Assembly, committee reject buying sauna
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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Sled racers to converge for 45th Alcan 200
Amy Tonsgard has raced junker cars on a dirt oval as well as dirt bikes. On Saturday, the 40-year-old Haines bank teller will stick duct tape on her face and join the field of racers competing in the 45th Alcan 200, billed as the last great snowmachine road race in North America. “I’m just going […]
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SEABA agrees to pay $21K to BLM
A Haines helicopter skiing company has agreed to pay more than $21,000 in fines and fees for flying on federal lands closed to the activity 54 times during 78 days of operation during the past two years. Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures signed a plea agreement containing the allegations, which was filed recently in federal district […]
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Downtown lights will be improved
New holiday lights strung downtown will be getting a little more pizazz, following concerns that single strands of blue rope lights on light poles weren’t very festive-looking. “Haines looks like the town that Christmas forgot,” said assembly member Jerry Lapp. “Now when you drive down Main Street you see this blue glow. There’s no pattern to […]
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Assembly designates beach non-motorized
The one-mile stretch of Chilkat River beach running from River Road to Carr’s Cove is officially closed to motorized use, including ATVs and snow machines. The Haines Borough Assembly voted 4-2 Tuesday to zone the beach as non-motorized after hearing dozens of comments from the public supporting the designation. Assembly members George Campbell and Jerry Lapp were opposed. Nearly 20 residents […]