At a four-hour Haines Borough Assembly meeting this week that included the deputy Mayor threatening to eject members of the public, an assembly member refusing to vote and a resident calling the group “insane,” Mayor Jan Hill pushed the controversial minor offenses ordinance onto the books. Residents and assembly members commented on the palpable tension at the meeting, which was characterized by […]
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Posted inLocal News
Complaints about water taste traced to lake algae
Has your town water tasted funky lately? Haines Borough water and sewer operator Scott Bradford thinks he has discovered the reason. The borough started receiving complaints about the water’s taste in July, Bradford said. At first he thought recent construction on Allen Road might be the culprit; sometimes new pipes make the water taste differently. So his […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
No deadline for passage of ordinance
The Haines Borough Assembly is scheduled to vote on the minor offenses ordinance at its Sept. 22 meeting. The borough manager is recommending passage of this ordinance. Assembly members Diana Lapham, Joanne Waterman, Ron Jackson and Mayor Jan Hill have voted to withhold further public hearings on this ordinance. There is no mandate in Supreme Court Order No. 1797. Furthermore, there is no […]
Posted inNews, Police
Minor offenses ordinance trips up assembly
After nearly two hours of discussion, eight votes and considerable flip-flopping, the Haines Borough Assembly this week decided to postpone a vote on adoption of the controversial minor offenses ordinance until its Sept. 22 meeting. Eight members of the public testified against adoption at Tuesday’s meeting, reiterating concerns they have repeatedly brought to the attention of the […]
Posted inElections, News
Only 2 assembly candidates; filing deadline Thursday
A familiar face and a familiar voice will vie for seats on the Haines Borough Assembly this October, but if no one else files for candidacy soon, it won’t be much of a race. Former Mayor and assembly member Jerry Lapp and former KHNS news director Margaret Friedenauer have filed for office, though with two seats being vacated by assembly members Joanne […]
Posted inNews
Borough to censor police study
The Haines Borough has received a draft of the $22,000 study of its police department, but the document won’t be released to the public until it can be scrubbed of certain details. Manager David Sosa said he and interim police chief Robert Griffiths reviewed the draft, compiled by the Soldotna-based company Russell Consulting LLC. “There were some […]
Posted inNews, Elections
Filing period opens Aug. 1 for local offices
Residents who have clamored at recent Haines Borough Assembly meetings for more public involvement can step up Aug. 1 and declare their candidacy for local office. Candidate filing applications are available on the borough website and at the administration office. The filing period is open Aug. 1 through Aug. 20. In October, voters will elect two assembly […]
Posted inNews
Assembly OKs $12 million budget including lobbyist, tax increase
Although two of its six members were absent Tuesday, the Haines Borough Assembly passed the municipality’s roughly $12 million spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year. Assembly members George Campbell, Diana Lapham, Dave Berry and Mike Case voted in favor of the budget ordinance. Assembly members Joanne Waterman and Ron Jackson were absent. The budget includes $45,000 for a […]
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Assembly committee IDs money for HARK
The Haines Borough Finance Committee this week recommended the assembly fund the Haines Animal Rescue Kennel animal control contract at $45,250 using savings from the townsite service area fund. The recommendation would mean using $29,050 from the townsite service area’s roughly $1.3 million fund balance to bridge the gap between manager David Sosa’s proposed funding level of […]
Posted inNews
Assembly delegates harbor analysis to Ports and Harbors panel
After the Haines Borough Assembly last week charged the Finance Committee with conducting an economic analysis of the Small Boat Harbor expansion project, the committee this week passed the task to the Port and Harbor Advisory Committee. Community and economic development director Bill Mandeville, working with harbormaster Shawn Bell, put together a rough operating budget for the […]