This year, tour companies will need a COVID-19 mitigation plan approved by the Haines Borough manager before they can conduct tours. On Tuesday, the Haines Borough Assembly approved 4-2 a proposal put forward by tourism director Steven Auch to require a COVID-19 mitigation plan in order to receive tour permit approval in 2021. “I understand that people are going […]
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2020: Pandemic, natural disaster and upheaval
As I sat down to write the 2020 Year in Review, I thought: “I don’t want to relive this year, nor should anyone else.” But tradition dictates an annual recap, which if left unwritten, would end my positive relationship with CVN bookkeeper Jane Pascoe. Plus, the newspaper is a weekly black hole of white space […]
Posted inLocal News, Haines Borough
Assembly Briefs
Manager hiring process to begin Dec. 21 The Haines Borough Assembly has agreed to engage the services of consultant Lenise Henderson-Fontenot, who assisted with the school district’s search for a new superintendent, to help the borough find a new manager. Henderson-Fontenot is offering her services on a pro bono basis in the wake of the recent landslide. […]
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Personnel Committee asks assembly to finalize borough manager hiring plan
The Haines Borough could begin accepting applications for a new, permanent manager as soon as this month if the assembly acts on a Personnel Committee recommendation made in late November. The committee is requesting that the assembly finalize a manager hiring plan at the regular assembly meeting on Dec. 8. At the November Personnel Committee meeting, members […]
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Borough sales tax down, but not as much as anticipated
Sales tax in the Haines Borough this year is down 31% through August, according to a recent report. The borough had collected $1.7 million in sales tax by the end of August this year, compared to $2.4 million by the same time in 2019. According to the report, sales tax revenue for January, February and March of […]
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Architecture firm will begin work on public safety building design
Bettisworth North Architects, Inc. has been awarded a contract not to exceed $338,167 to plan and design a new Haines Borough Public Safety Building as part of the assembly’s ongoing quest to bring the project to a “shovel-ready” stage. The assembly unanimously adopted a resolution Tuesday approving the contract. “Shovel-ready” means the design, permitting and preparation for […]
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Assembly standing committee appointments finalized
New Mayor Douglas Olerud finalized appointments to the Haines Borough Assembly’s standing committees. The assembly adopted these appointments at a meeting Tuesday. The assembly has four standing committees that meet on a monthly basis—the Personnel Committee, the Commerce Committee, the Finance Committee and the Government Affairs and Services (GAS) Committee. Each consists of a chair and two additional members. […]
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Voters decide to draw $450,000 from permanent fund, assembly surprised
On Oct. 6, Haines Borough voters surprised many assembly members by approving a one-time, $450,000 draw from the borough’s permanent fund principal to reimburse savings accounts for unanticipated costs associated with school bond debt payments. The proposition passed 634-561. Assembly members must now decide what to do with the money. “I was surprised. I was disappointed,” newly […]
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Tuynman wins fourth assembly seat 11 votes ahead of Josephson
The results of this year’s nail-biter assembly race are in. Cheryl Stickler and Caitie Kirby, the top vote-getters, will serve three-year terms while Carol Tuynman and incumbent Jerry Lapp will each serve a one-year term. At Tuesday’s canvas, Tuynman eked out a victory over incumbent Brenda Josephson. Going into Tuesday, Tuynman had a two-vote lead, 595-593. The […]
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Stickler, Lapp, Kirby secure assembly seats
This year’s Haines Borough election was marked by high voter turnout, increased early and absentee voting, an above-average number of write-in votes, and a fourth seat that’s too close to call. At present, incumbent Brenda Josephson leads with 576 votes. Carol Tuynman received 566 votes and Helen Alten, 543. The Tuesday night results are still preliminary, with […]