How are your rubber boots holding up? Complaints about poorly made Xtratuf boots, published in coastal Alaska newspapers in recent months, also extend to Haines. The familiar brown and yellow knee boots with a grippy sole are favored by commercial fishermen, river guides and woods dwellers. “I quit wearing them,” said John Winge, a Haines […]

The operator of the valley’s only taxi service is looking to get out of the business, citing a drop in ridership as well as competition from borough-funded free shuttles during major events. Ms. Lucy Taxi and Courier Service is for sale, and starting Saturday it will offer only tours and shuttle service between town and […]

Haines Borough Assembly is set to introduce the municipality’s revised comprehensive plan at its regular meeting starting 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. The 300-page plan is a summary of local economic and demographic information that taps sources including a scientific opinion survey of residents conducted a year ago. It also lays out community goals. It was written […]

At the urging of Mayor Stephanie Scott, the Haines Borough Assembly on Tuesday introduced an ordinance to spend $15,000 to restore the senior lunch program to four days a week. The borough contribution would provide four-day service for 10 months. The assembly also: · Approved $37,000 in funding and a revised scope for the first phase of a borough […]

The Haines Borough budget shows $137,000 in cruise ship head tax income for the coming year, but the municipality has plans to spend only a little more than half of it. The budget shows the borough will spend $74,425 in the coming year, and put aside an unspent $62,575. Expenditures will include $40,075 for flowers, a shuttle […]

Apparently bucking the recommendations of a draft report by an energy consultant it hired, the Haines Borough is pursuing a wood-pellet-fired boiler for its public safety building. Mayor Stephanie Scott, an advocate of wood heat, said last week the borough would pursue purchase of such a boiler, following meetings with Nathan Soboleff, natural resource planner for Sealaska regional […]

The Haines Borough Assembly on a 4-2 vote Tuesday endorsed an integrated licensing process for the proposed Connelly Lake hydroelectric project. The assembly also rejected a proposal to charge harbor slip renters an additional $45 per year garbage surcharge to offset increased costs, and sent to committee an ordinance to raise water and sewer rates. Connelly Lake project developer […]

The Haines Borough expects to receive about $359,000 in secure schools funding, following passage this week of the federal transportation bill. The legislation, signed by President Barack Obama, approves $346 million to 700 rural communities in 41 states. The money is a one-year extension of a program intended as compensation for communities that previously received a share […]

Haines Borough officials are looking for ways to cut garbage expenses in the face of increased collection fees that have doubled or more in less than a year. The borough paid Community Waste Solutions $4,094 for garbage removal at the boat harbor in May, more than four times the municipality’s bill of $952 in May […]