Members of the Haines Borough Assembly acting as the Board of Equalization (BOE) May 21 slogged through the second round of appeals for nearly four hours, tackling 14 cases of Haines residents unsatisfied with their 2013 property assessments. The board struggled to come to consensus several times, as only four board members were present, the minimum number […]
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Posted inNews, Elections
Election change hits assembly opposition
Haines Borough Assembly members on Tuesday pulled from the agenda an ordinance aimed at changing assembly and school board election procedures. The ordinance, which was spearheaded by assembly member Debra Schnabel and scheduled for introduction Tuesday, would eliminate the current system in which candidates run against one another for designated, individual seats. Under the change, all candidate names would […]
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Smith revives assembly chair effort
Haines Borough Assembly member Norm Smith on Tuesday leveraged his vote needed for several capital improvements to get $2,300 of new chairs for the assembly members added to this year’s budget. Smith declined to vote for an amendment that would appropriate $150,000 for a new fire truck and other equipment unless other assembly members agreed to put […]
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Lynn Canal towns divided on road plan
Although energy, tourism and harbor issues were all topics slated for discussion during the April 26 Northern Lynn Canal Neighbors Summit in Skagway, concerns and opinions about the ferry system and Juneau access road largely dominated the three-hour meeting. Elected officials from Haines, Skagway, Juneau and Whitehorse attended the summit to trade notes on regional issues. Mayor Stephanie Scott, […]
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BOE upholds 24 assessments
Members of the Haines Borough Assembly acting as the Board of Equalization (BOE) Monday upheld 24 property assessments recommended by contract assessor Jim Canary. Canary said he and assistant assessor Dean Olsen have worked their way through about 100 appeals so far. The 24 cases heard at Monday’s hearing were largely the result of appellants not responding […]
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Assembly scratches $2,300 for new chairs
For assembly members, sitting around at meetings won’t be getting any easier. Members on Tuesday narrowly struck $2,300 from next year’s borough budget for new chairs around the dais. The assembly split 3-3 on the budget item, with Mayor Stephanie Scott breaking the tie with her vote to nix them. Members Steve Vick, Debra Schnabel and Joanne Waterman voted against the chairs; assembly […]
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Library addition stirs discussion
The Haines Borough Public Library Board is pursuing plans to construct a 600-square-foot addition to the library, but whether borough funds will be used to design the project is under debate. Library board chair Anne Marie Palmieri said the group has been talking about the addition for the past two years but recently approached the borough, asking […]
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Assembly takes aim at fire service board
The Haines Borough Assembly on Tuesday will consider abolishing the board of fire service area #1, on the recommendation of member Jerry Lapp, who says the group has been inactive for years and that the role it serves is redundant. Leadership of the Haines Volunteer Fire Department supports the change, but the move divided the service area board. […]
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Assembly approves deal for Lowe’s exit
Following 40 minutes of closed-door discussion, the Haines Borough Assembly voted unanimously Tuesday to accept a “negotiated separation agreement” with police chief Gary Lowe. Borough leaders – including assembly members, Mayor Stephanie Scott and manager Mark Earnest – this week refused to comment on the specifics of the agreement, saying those would be revealed Tuesday. Joanne Waterman called for an executive session to discuss […]
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Assembly plans overnight trip to Skagway
Haines Borough staff and assembly members are planning an overnight trip to Skagway April 26-27 to meet with regional leaders to discuss mutual economic and transportation issues. The Skagway Borough Assembly, Juneau Borough Assembly, and Whitehorse City Council also are expected to attend the event, which was initiated by Juneau Mayor Merrill Sanford, clerk Julie Cozzi said […]