Efforts to beautify downtown Haines are coming together to give Main Street a facelift before the beginning of tourist season. In addition to art installations in seven Howsers windows, displays commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Alaska Marine Highway will be mounted in windows of the Coliseum Theater building and at the ferry terminal in the […]
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Panel seeks price tag on new muniplex
An ad-hoc committee charged with prioritizing the fate of public facilities in the Haines Borough is investigating how much it would cost to design and build a new structure containing the fire hall, jail, dispatch center, assembly chambers, government offices and possibly the visitor’s center. The building would go in the area of the existing public safety […]
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Assembly scratches $2,300 for new chairs
For assembly members, sitting around at meetings won’t be getting any easier. Members on Tuesday narrowly struck $2,300 from next year’s borough budget for new chairs around the dais. The assembly split 3-3 on the budget item, with Mayor Stephanie Scott breaking the tie with her vote to nix them. Members Steve Vick, Debra Schnabel and Joanne Waterman voted against the chairs; assembly […]
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Clarke resigns museum post
Sheldon Museum Director Jerrie Clarke resigned from the job this week, citing budget cuts and another job opportunity as reasons for her decision. Haines Borough Manager Mark Earnest cut the museum’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year to save $17,500. He also recommended the museum close for three months during the winter. Earnest allocated almost $25,000 less than […]
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Replacing police chief on Tuesday agenda
The Haines Borough Personnel Committee will meet 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to discuss how to deal with police department staff organization in the wake of former Police Chief Gary Lowe’s recent resignation from his position. Manager Mark Earnest said the committee will likely discuss several points, including whether and how to move forward with a job announcement for the position. […]
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Lowe gets $53K in payout, paid leave
Haines Borough Police Chief Gary Lowe will receive three months of paid leave plus a $36,000 payout as part of a “negotiated separation agreement” with the Haines Borough. The agreement, signed April 8 and released Tuesday, was negotiated between manager Mark Earnest, Lowe and attorney Brooks Chandler. It allows Lowe to remain on paid leave until June 17, when […]
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Assembly hears budget concerns
The Haines Borough Assembly Tuesday discussed potential ways to keep the pool open, including possibly raising fees or implementing a membership system. The assembly discussed the matter during its second public budget workshop. Manager Mark Earnest is recommending the pool be closed for three months in the summer to save about $35,000 in the budget. During the Tuesday meeting, […]
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Office java makes the cut
For now, coffee appears to be safe in the Haines Borough budget. In discussion of the public works budget Tuesday, assembly member Joanne Waterman said she would like to see coffee removed from the budgeted list of expenses. “Coffee is a personal item. It’s not a borough expense. Borough money should not be used to pay for employee coffee,” […]
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Library addition stirs discussion
The Haines Borough Public Library Board is pursuing plans to construct a 600-square-foot addition to the library, but whether borough funds will be used to design the project is under debate. Library board chair Anne Marie Palmieri said the group has been talking about the addition for the past two years but recently approached the borough, asking […]
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Assembly approves deal for Lowe’s exit
Following 40 minutes of closed-door discussion, the Haines Borough Assembly voted unanimously Tuesday to accept a “negotiated separation agreement” with police chief Gary Lowe. Borough leaders – including assembly members, Mayor Stephanie Scott and manager Mark Earnest – this week refused to comment on the specifics of the agreement, saying those would be revealed Tuesday. Joanne Waterman called for an executive session to discuss […]