Former Haines Borough manager Mark Earnest is performing consulting services for the borough on an as-needed basis, said interim manager Julie Cozzi. Cozzi said she is engaged in an “oral agreement” with Earnest to do some work for the borough on a couple of issues, including a personnel code ordinance and composition of the borough’s state and federal legislative […]
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Police chief decision postponed
It’s back to square one in the Haines Borough’s search for a new police chief. Interim manager Julie Cozzi is “taking a second look” at some of the applications for police chief previously discarded by former manager Mark Earnest. Out of 16 applications received after a second round of advertising, Earnest chose four finalists, including interim […]
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New fee considered to pay for better 911
Haines Borough staffers are considering a monthly service charge on local cell phones and land lines to help pay for the nearly $500,000 Enhanced-911 and dispatch services project. According to Alaska statute, municipalities can tack on up to $2 to each local monthly phone bill to pay for the system. Revenue collected from the surcharge […]
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Police chief finalists down to 2
The number of finalists for Haines Borough Police Chief has dropped to two after applicant Scott Happ recently withdrew his name from consideration, leaving interim police chief Simon Ford and Christopher Canaski of Des Allemands, La., to vie for the job. Also, interim borough manager Julie Cozzi said she won’t abide by a recommendation by the […]
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Assembly OKs tax on vehicles
After tabling it for nearly 10 months, the Haines Borough Assembly passed an ordinance establishing a motor vehicle registration tax Oct. 8. The ordinance, which creates a $22 flat tax vehicle owners must pay every two years, came back before the assembly at the recommendation of outgoing manager Mark Earnest. The assembly voted 4-2 to approve the […]
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Highway work may be delayed
A proposed amendment to the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) would delay funding for several portions of the Haines Highway Improvements project, effectively postponing reconstruction of Mile 3.5 to 12.2 and the replacement of the Klehini River Bridge. The nine-mile stretch of road and replacement of the bridge, known locally as the Steel Bridge, are […]
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Borough expects $190K payment
The Haines Borough is expecting to receive about $190,000 in Secure Rural Schools funding, according to borough manager Mark Earnest. Funding for the program – a carryover of a program intended to buoy communities in the wake of the downturn in the Northwest timber economy – is contained in legislation reauthorizing the federal helium reserve program, according to […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Letter referring to Cui crossed line
Fred Einspruch’s criticism of outgoing borough manager Mark Earnest totally crossed the lines of human decency by dragging Tracy Cui into the fray. As near as I can tell, most folks, in dealing with Tracy, have found her to be personable, helpful, highly skilled in her field, responsive, impartial, and fair. Tracy has restored a degree of […]
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Twenty apply to be next borough manager
The Haines Borough has received 20 applications for the manager position, which will be vacated by Mark Earnest Tuesday. Some applicants list their current addresses from as far away as Cochabamba, Bolivia, and Unanderra, Australia. Three list Alaska addresses: Seldovia, Unalaska, and Anchorage. A handful of the applicants have master’s degrees in public administration, and some have considerable municipal […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Earnest’s tenure disastrous
Borough manager Mark Earnest’s employment in Haines is ending. Thank God. Earnest’s departure marks the end of another disastrous manager’s employment. Two people that Earnest was responsible for were both disastrous. Earnest managed Gary Lowe. Lowe was allowed to resign without any record of wrongdoing. According to the record, Lowe is perfectly fit to be a […]