Three weeks ago, the Haines Borough Assembly, in a vote momentous enough to draw applause from the audience in the room, chose a new design for the Lutak Dock project. But now, one borough advisor is contradicting key information that informed the design selection — information that came from another borough contractor — leading some […]
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Assembly briefs: A new direction on the budget, a Lutak Inlet tour and a cop on call
Next year’s budget Assembly members held a public hearing on next year’s budget and, while they did vote to add $1,000 to support volunteer recruitment and retention by the Haines Volunteer Fire Department, the majority of the discussion was centered on a proposal to potentially cut staff. Assembly member Eben Sargent kicked off the discussion […]
Assembly to hear budget, the Haines Economic Development Corporation, new Lutak tour permit
The Haines Borough Assembly meeting on May 12 will include the first reading of the FY27 budget. The Chilkat Valley News’ Will Steinfeld and KHNS’ Melinda Munson sat down to talk about the budget process. Melinda Munson: The budget process has started, and it will make its first appearance at the assembly meeting. Can you […]
Borough to pursue encapsulation for Lutak Dock
The assembly has thrown its support behind encapsulation for the Lutak Dock, the design concept most similar to that of previous dock contractor Turnagain Marine. The concept calls for building a steel retaining wall to stabilize some of the existing dock face, with the rest of the existing dock demolished. Winning out over two other […]
Listen: Assembly to take up Lutak Dock, severance tax proposals during this week’s meeting
Will Steinfeld with the Chilkat Valley News is back in the studio with KHNS’ Melinda Munson to get Haines ready for Tuesday’s borough Assembly meeting. The Assembly will be presented with Lutak Dock options, severance tax, plastic bag legislation, and more. Melinda Munson: Will, the assembly is being presented with the current options for the […]
Contractor presents Lutak Dock concepts
Representatives from Moffatt & Nichol, the borough’s advisors on the Lutak Dock rebuild, presented elected officials last week with three potential dock design concepts. The concepts represent a mostly new starting point after the borough cut ties with former dock contractor Turnagain Marine. The borough assembly is scheduled to make its top pick of the […]
Lutak Dock concepts to be considered during joint meeting tonight
Borough elected officials will meet Wednesday evening to begin selection of a Lutak Dock concept. Moffatt & Nichol, the borough’s contracted advisors on the dock project, will present three potential design concepts at the joint meeting of the borough assembly, planning commission and Ports and Harbors advisory committee. One of the design concepts is essentially […]
Assembly briefs: Heliport rehearing, Tanani Bay sewer outfall, Lutak Dock settlement
Heliport rehearing Controversy surrounding a 26 Mile heliport, and likely litigation too, will continue after the assembly on Tuesday denied appeals from both the borough manager and heliport owners George and Lynette Campbell. The requests for appeal followed a Haines Borough Planning Commission meeting last month in which the commission voted to deny the Campbells […]
Some thoughts on the new direction for the Lutak Dock
I appreciate the efforts of the borough and design oversight firm Moffat and Nichols in reaching out to the public as we once again renew our efforts to pursue Lutak Dock repairs and rebuild. Attending Thursday night’s meeting and listening to the comments of all helped me to clarify my own input on this issue, […]
Lutak Dock town hall covers familiar ground
A town hall referred to as “the front end of the process” by the borough’s Lutak Dock advisors gave residents a forum to voice opinions, but provided few answers. The seventy-some residents who attended the town hall came bearing plenty of comments on the high-profile project Thursday. Borough officials had been advertising the meeting as […]

