Engineers have further investigated what type of breakwater the Haines Harbor expansion project should include, but borough officials say a decision on how to proceed won’t be made any time soon. PND Engineers presented on the costs and benefits of three breakwater options – rubble-mound, wave barrier, and floating breakwater – Wednesday at the […]
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Chief of police job draws 4 applicants
Haines Borough Manager Mark Earnest is considering recasting the net after receiving only four applications for the chief of police position. Earnest said he wasn’t necessarily disappointed by the quantity of applicants, but was “a bit surprised” that the position didn’t generate more interest. Earnest is considering extending the deadline for applications and will make a decision […]
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Gov. Parnell to visit
Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell will make a social call to Haines Tuesday for a half-day visit, including stops at the American Bald Eagle Foundation and Haines School. He will visit Ketchikan before stopping in Haines, and then head to Skagway Tuesday afternoon before returning to Juneau. Parnell is seeking re-election in 2014. Parnell’s press secretary, Sharon Leighow, […]
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Sessions reveal workers’ true colors
Haines Borough Fireman Al Badgley is a blue. Harbormaster Phil Benner is a red. Planning and zoning technician Tracy Cui is a green. Manager Mark Earnest, though, is more of a yellow/green. At the request of Earnest, Lenise Henderson Fontenot, owner of the Professional Development Company, is providing communications and customer service training to borough employees. […]
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Borough may get help on manager hire
The Haines Borough Assembly appears to be leaning toward hiring a headhunting firm to find the municipality’s next manager, but assembly members still want some details hammered out first. The assembly met Monday as a committee of the whole to discuss how to move forward with the hiring of a new manager. Manager Mark Earnest said last week he’d […]
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Tighten access to public records?
The Haines Borough Assembly last week introduced an ordinance that would restrict public access to employee evaluations and applications for borough jobs. Borough attorney Brooks Chandler drafted an ordinance at the request of manager Mark Earnest that would make performance evaluations and job applications of many borough employees confidential and inaccessible to the public. The Chilkat Valley News […]
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Earnest says he’s leaving
The Haines Borough Assembly on Wednesday approved 5-1 the resignation of manager Mark Earnest. Member Norm Smith, a longtime Earnest critic, opposed the motion without comment. “I truly want to spend more time with my wife and son. I’ve been missing a good part of his development and maturity and it’s becoming very important to me now,” Earnest said […]
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Resident petitions to pave Blacksmith
Blacksmith Street resident Leo Smith is fed up with the dust from the heavily trafficked roadway outside his house and has organized a petition to get it paved. The street runs perpendicular to Beach Road in Fort Seward, threading between Lutak Lumber and the Fireweed Restaurant. Smith’s is the only residence on the unpaved street. A dry […]
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Haines Highway rebuild plan hits opposition
About 50 residents turned out Monday for a meeting on Haines Highway improvements, many speaking against the state’s enviromental assessment and seeking a more thorough analysis of impacts to fish and wildlife. About 20 people testified, most of them critical of the $100 million Department of Transportation project, which will widen the roadway, straighten curves, […]
Posted inNews, School Board
Two candidates for assembly, four to vie for school board
Despite a recent change in election procedures and exemption from state financial disclosure requirements, only two candidates filed to fill two seats up for grabs on the Haines Borough Assembly this October. Residents George Campbell and Rob Miller are hoping to secure the two three-year seats, and likely will, though voters can still elect write-in candidates. Incumbents Norm […]