Update, Thursday, July 21 4 p.m .: Haines Borough clerk Julie Cozzi on Thursday afternoon rejected the application for the recall of assemblyman Steve Vick, on the recommendation of borough attorney Brooks Chandler. Chandler in a memo wrote the only “required duty” in the portion of borough code cited in the rejected application was for the assembly […]
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Posted inNews, Elections
Candidates begin filing for election
Three candidates have filed to run for Mayor of the Haines Borough as of Wednesday morning. John Brower and Stephanie Scott will challenge incumbent Mayor Jan Hill in October’s election. The candidate filing period opened July 11 and runs through Friday, July 29. Borough clerk Julie Cozzi said she has certified all three mayoral candidates. “They will be on the ballot, unless they withdraw […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Say no to recall effort
What a waste of time and energy. We’ve been there, done that, appealed all the way to the Alaska Supreme Court, divided the community, cost taxpayers thousands of dollars and all for nothing. For me, Karen Hess and her committee are showing their true colors by constantly litigating any time she doesn’t get her way, […]
Posted inNews, Elections
Local citizens group files applications for recall
By Margaret Friedenauer and Krista Kielsmeier A local citizens group on Friday filed applications for recall of Haines Borough Assembly members Daymond Hoffman, Steve Vick and Joanne Waterman. The Haines Recall Committee officially filed the paperwork with the Alaska Public Offices Commission and the borough to initiate the recall effort. Resident Jim Shook is named as chairman. Assembly members Jerry Lapp and […]
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Assembly takes steps to put tour tax on ballot
The Haines Borough Assembly on Tuesday showed support for placing the borough’s 1 percent municipal sales tax dedicated for tourism promotion and economic development back on the ballot, possibly as early as the October municipal election. Mayor Jan Hill put the tax on the agenda as a discussion item following a request from resident Sally McGuire, who has considered […]
Posted inNews
Expert: Assembly violated code
According to a government specialist with the Alaska Division of Community and Regional Affairs, the Haines Borough Assembly “should have appointed somebody” to fill a vacated seat earlier this month, but “there’s no real code police” to enforce any penalty. Glen Hamburg, who advises and assists local governments, said the borough code is “quite clear” about a […]
Posted inNews
ATV ordinance takes shape
By Krista Kielsmeier The Haines Borough Assembly on June 14 introduced an ordinance that would permit the operation of all-terrain vehicles on borough streets and roads. The ordinance sets a speed limit of 25 miles per hour for ATVs and is scheduled for a first public hearing Tuesday in the assembly chambers. Under the ordinance, each borough-permitted […]
Posted inElections, News
Open seat to be decided in vote; Assembly can’t agree; one member suggests pulling name out of hat
After a two-hour stalemate and failed compromise Monday, the five remaining members of the Haines Borough Assembly ditched the appointment process to fill a vacated seat and instead will leave the decision to the voters, while acknowledging the delay may violate borough code. Mayor Jan Hill said she was upset by the assembly’s refusal to compromise to reach the […]
Posted inNews
Borough tax rate to hold steady
An increased allocation of state money for community jails allowed the Haines Borough Assembly on Tuesday to adopt a budget that holds the tax rate steady in the townsite service area. Borough manager Mark Earnest previously proposed a .29 mill increase in the townsite, from 11.26 to 11.55, for the upcoming fiscal year that starts July 1. A mill […]
Posted inNews
Borough facilities director resigns
Departing Haines Borough facilities director Brad Maynard cited a “lack of teamwork and support” from the borough administration as his reason for leaving in a letter of resignation dated June 6. “I believe that what is needed to function effectively and efficiently will not materialize under the current organization,” Maynard wrote. “I thrive on productivity, professionalism and […]