Mayor Douglas Olerud will compose a letter pending assembly approval that will be sent to Gov. Michael Dunleavy with questions about the state’s plan to potentially build a ferry terminal at Cascade Point. The Alaska Department of Transportation issued a memorandum of understanding with Goldbelt in March for the Alaska Native corporation to evaluate feasibility […]
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Assembly approves $57K brush clearing project
The Haines Borough Assembly voted 4-2 to spend $57,000 to clear brush about town in an effort to reduce “bear hiding areas.” The project will remove and dispose of underbrush and trees less than 10 inches in diameter and limb larger trees to a height of 12 feet off the ground on five different areas around the […]
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Assembly Briefs
The next phase of the Lutak Dock progressive design-build replacement project was approved unanimously by the Haines Borough Assembly on Tuesday. Several residents expressed concern about the cost of the project and urged the assembly to not move forward with the decision. The borough’s boat harbor enterprise fund will source $2.4 million of the project. A federal grant from […]
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Committee discusses ambulance fee
The borough’s commerce committee is discussing several changes to the sales tax code for the assembly to consider. Committee members Debra Schnabel, Ben Aultman-Moore, and Jerry Lapp discussed ideas to generate revenue for the upcoming budget. One possibility is charging for ambulance services, an amenity that has always been free. Residents without insurance could waive the fee or […]
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A brief guide to surviving Haines Borough politics
From the practical to the philosophical, current and former elected officials weighed in on how assembly members can survive and thrive in their roles, and how the public can help, too. The following story is the continuation of a series exploring the reasons why six assembly members have resigned in the last six years, and […]
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Assembly Briefs
Jones to fill assembly vacancy The Haines Borough Assembly voted unanimously for Margaret Jones to serve on the assembly until the next election in October. The seat was declared vacant following the resignation of former assembly member Tyler Huling. The motion, created by assembly member Jerry Lapp, was carried unanimously. “I know in years before we have done […]
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Assembly reverses heliport decision
The Haines Borough Assembly Tuesday night reversed the planning commission’s decision to grant a conditional use permit (CUP) for a Chilkat River Adventures heliport at 24 Mile Haines Highway. The assembly voted 5-1 with Debra Schnabel, Ben Aultman-Moore, Cheryl Stickler, Gabe Thomas, and Tyler Huling in favor and Jerry Lapp in opposition to reversing the decision. The assembly reconsidered the approval of Chilkat River Adventures co-owner […]
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Assembly to reconsider 24-Mile heliport CUP
Following consideration of five appeals, the Haines Borough Assembly stepped back from a planning commission decision last week to authorize a new heliport at 24 Mile Haines Highway. The assembly voted 4-2 to rehear River Adventures’ conditional use permit (CUP) application for the heliport, which had been approved for one year’s heliski season. Ben Aultman-Moore, Gabe Thomas, Debra Schnabel and Tyler Huling supported the […]
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Assembly Briefs
The three winners of the Oct. 4 Haines Borough Assembly election — Gabe Thomas, Ben Aultman-Moore and Jerry Lapp — were sworn in Tuesday. Thomas and Aultman-Moore, who placed first and second, were elected to three-year terms. Lapp, who came in third by just five votes, will serve a one-year term. In other news, the assembly unanimously approved amending […]
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Assembly Briefs
Haines welcomes Royal Caribbean On Tuesday, the Haines Borough Assembly adopted a resolution supporting increased port calls from Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. in future years. The resolution had been recommended by the tourism director, manager and Mayor, as well as the Tourism Advisory Board (TAB). Thirty-three letters were received in support, mostly from seasonal and year-round business owners. […]