The Haines Borough budget proposed by manager Mark Earnest calls for cuts to facilities and some personnel, but also includes maintaining savings of $3.93 million in two main accounts. The borough currently holds about $2.3 million in its areawide general fund balance, and a fund balance of $2.1 million in the townsite service area. The latter can be spent […]
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SEABA fined for landing at fatal accident site
The Haines Borough fined Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures (SEABA) $500 last week for operating on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) property without a permit during the March 3 heli-skiing accident that killed a guide and injured two others. Manager Mark Earnest, who can fine heli-skiing companies up to $1,000 per violation, said he decided on $500 because the company […]
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AP&T makes push for Connelly Lake
Alaska Power and Telephone officials are pressuring the Haines Borough to formally support the proposed Connelly Lake hydroelectric project, but Mayor Stephanie Scott isn’t budging until she gets more information. AP&T president Bob Grimm, project manager Glen Martin and Skagway AP&T manager Darren Belisle have stated the borough’s failure to formally support the Connelly Lake project is hindering the company’s ability to acquire grant […]
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Picture Point buy finalized
The Haines Borough sealed the deal April 26 on the purchase of about 5 acres of property at Picture Point. The borough intends to construct a small park-like area at the point, complete with rest rooms, interpretive signage, picnic tables, bear-proof trash cans, grilling pits, and other amenities, manager Mark Earnest said this week. The project has received more […]
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Lynn Canal towns divided on road plan
Although energy, tourism and harbor issues were all topics slated for discussion during the April 26 Northern Lynn Canal Neighbors Summit in Skagway, concerns and opinions about the ferry system and Juneau access road largely dominated the three-hour meeting. Elected officials from Haines, Skagway, Juneau and Whitehorse attended the summit to trade notes on regional issues. Mayor Stephanie Scott, […]
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Recruiting firm may assist next chief hire
Haines Borough Manager Mark Earnest is looking into several headhunting firms to see if they might be up to the job of finding Haines a new police chief. Earnest said during a Tuesday personnel committee meeting he would contact Minnesota-based Brimeyer Fursman LLC, the Washington-based Prothman Company, and Soldotna-based Russell Consulting LLC to explore the process and […]
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Borough: 6 heli-ski violations in season
The Haines Borough recently leveled a combined $1,200 in fines against two heli-skiing companies for six permit violations in March and April. The borough fined Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures (SEABA) $400 for two out-of-bounds landings on March 19. It also fined Alaska Heliskiing $800 for three out-of-bounds landings and one incident of deviating from a flight […]
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Culbeck to moonlight for mine firm
Executive assistant to the Haines Borough manager Darsie Culbeck will work as a camp manager for Constantine Metal Resources this summer while the company performs exploratory drilling for a potential mine about 40 miles north of Haines. Culbeck and other borough officials – including manager Mark Earnest and Mayor Stephanie Scott – said this week they didn’t see a conflict in […]
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Mystery ship found on sea floor at Lutak
The origin of an apparent sunken ship recently discovered just offshore of Lutak Dock puzzled Haines Borough officials and local history buffs this week. Hydrographer Ben Hocker, who last week took sonar images of the sea floor near the dock, said preliminary data shows what appears to be a 180-foot long, 30-foot wide barge overturned and partially buried in the […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Courtesy to Lowe is insult to taxpayers
I understand now why the agreement between police chief Gary Lowe and the borough was kept under wraps until it was a done deal. Had we known what was being negotiated, there would have been an outcry. Why should we have to pay Lowe to leave his position after he verbally abused, bullied and intimidated his staff? […]