The Haines Borough’s attorney has concluded that the assembly committed a procedural error during its Jan. 22 closed-door meeting, but that no remedial action is necessary. Attorney Brooks Chandler wrote in a Feb. 5 memo to Mayor Stephanie Scott that the assembly failed to make a motion to enter into executive session to discuss manager Mark Earnest’s performance […]
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Population grows to 2,620, but may level
The Haines Borough has grown by nearly 4.5 percent in the past two years, but state demographers are saying the current population of 2,620 has likely flat-lined and will not grow substantially beyond that for the next several decades. The borough expanded from 2,508 people to 2,620 between 2010 to 2012, according to recently released population estimates […]
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Borough OKs permit for Alaska Heliskiing
Alaska Heliskiing broke state law, Haines Borough code and its own safety plan during a season that included the deaths of a client and guide, but its violations “do not rise to a level of ‘substantial noncompliance’” for revoking the company’s tour permit, clerk Julie Cozzi ruled this week. “I do not view commercial tour permits as […]
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Firehall building structurally OK
The Haines Borough public safety building’s physical structure is in fair to good shape, according to a draft report recently released by PND Engineers, Inc. The building as a whole, including its electrical and mechanical systems, was rated as “poor” by Anchorage-based architectural firm McCool Carlson Green last fall. Manager Mark Earnest said the borough decided to conduct an […]
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Borough, union to negotiate new contract
The Haines Borough has put together its bargaining team for upcoming negotiations with the Local 71 Union regarding a new collective bargaining agreement for borough workers. The current, three-year agreement expires June 30, 2013. The borough’s team consists of Mayor Stephanie Scott, personnel committee chair Joanne Waterman, borough manager Mark Earnest, chief fiscal officer Jila Stuart and police chief Gary Lowe. Earnest […]
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Contract includes 48 days of leave
In June 2012, Haines Borough Assembly member Debra Schnabel asked Mayor Stephanie Scott for a report on manager Mark Earnest’s accrued and used leave. Schnabel was concerned about Earnest’s frequent absences. Schnabel learned Earnest hadn’t come close to depleting the paid time off his contract allows. According to his $108,000 annual contract, Earnest may take 48 paid days off per year, not […]
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Earnest scores a ‘satisfactory’
The Haines Borough Assembly gave manager Mark Earnest a “satisfactory” evaluation Tuesday, a decision that came during an executive session at a committee of the whole meeting. Mayor Stephanie Scott announced the decision during the regular assembly meeting that followed the closed-door session, but did not elaborate. Based on interviews after the meetings, it appears the satisfactory determination relied heavily on […]
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Borough evicts man at harbor
A local man has been banned from Haines Borough ports and harbors indefinitely after allegedly threatening the harbormaster. Harbormaster Phil Benner said he called police Jan. 17 after Corey Tatham, a Haines fisherman, threatened to “kick his ass” after Benner informed Tatham that living on his boat during winter was prohibited. The Haines Borough Assembly passed an ordinance last […]
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Crash knocks out electric
A Haines Borough grader struck a power pole on Deishu Drive Monday morning, knocking out electricity areawide for about 10 minutes. Carlos Jimenez, the borough’s director of public facilities, said public works superintendent Bruce Smith backed the grader into the pole while plowing. The collision sheared the pole off at the ground, broke it in one other […]
Posted inNews, Mining
Mining trip: Necessary or junket?
Some Haines Borough officials are questioning whether the borough is spending its time and money wisely by sending three public officials to a Canadian mineral exploration conference. Borough Manager Mark Earnest, executive assistant to the manager Darsie Culbeck and assembly member Steve Vick are scheduled to travel to Vancouver, B.C., Jan. 28-31 for the Mineral Exploration Roundup conference. Assembly member Debra […]