Representatives from the Haines Borough and its tourism industry say they are confident their pitch of reduced docking fees influenced cruise line officials during recent visits with them in Miami and Seattle. Mayor Jan Hill, tourism director Leslie Ross and Alaska Mountain Guides owner Sean Gaffney met with representatives from Holland America Line, Seabourn Cruise Line and Princess […]
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Posted inLetters to the Editor
Encourage assembly to do the right thing
On Sept. 22, the borough assembly voted to pass the minor offenses ordinance. Three assembly members voted “yes” to pass the ordinance. Mayor Jan Hill was not in Haines for the meeting; however, she voted “yes” via teleconference. During the meeting, members of the assembly acknowledged that the ordinance contains substantial flaws. The final vote was promoted by members of […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Reconsider vote and rebuild public trust
On Sept. 22, the Haines Borough Assembly voted to adopt the minor offenses ordinance with an effective date of Jan. 1, subject to certain conditions. I argue the assembly must reconsider and reverse the vote because Haines Borough code was violated. First, the assembly violated local law by allowing the Mayor to vote by teleconference to break the tie. Haines Borough code section […]
Posted inNews, Police
Assembly OKs minor offense law, with delay
At a four-hour Haines Borough Assembly meeting this week that included the deputy Mayor threatening to eject members of the public, an assembly member refusing to vote and a resident calling the group “insane,” Mayor Jan Hill pushed the controversial minor offenses ordinance onto the books. Residents and assembly members commented on the palpable tension at the meeting, which was characterized by […]
Posted inDuly Noted
Duly Noted
Julie Rae and Jan McPhetres recently returned from a challenging tour of the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland. Rae and McPhetres completed eight day hikes in the Alps, which Rae said were filled with blue skies, warm temperatures, wildflowers and the sound of cow bells. They also went to Zurich, where they took part in The Street Parade, the […]
Posted inLocal News, Elections
Assembly candidates describe plans, traits at forum
Three candidates vying for two seats on the Haines Borough Assembly fielded questions at last week’s Haines Chamber of Commerce forum, sharing their opinions on the town’s economy, public involvement and why they want to serve. Jerry Lapp, Tresham Gregg and Margaret Friedenauer offered their outlooks on Haines’ economic future, with Lapp pushing natural resource development, Gregg […]
Posted inNews
Planners sign off on harbor expansion plan
The location of Lookout Park and the size of the parking lot again dominated committee and commission discussions of the Small Boat Harbor expansion project last week. After a back-and-forth conversation between critics, manager David Sosa and PND Engineers vice president Dick Somerville, the Haines Borough Planning Commission made several recommendations to the assembly regarding the project’s […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
No deadline for passage of ordinance
The Haines Borough Assembly is scheduled to vote on the minor offenses ordinance at its Sept. 22 meeting. The borough manager is recommending passage of this ordinance. Assembly members Diana Lapham, Joanne Waterman, Ron Jackson and Mayor Jan Hill have voted to withhold further public hearings on this ordinance. There is no mandate in Supreme Court Order No. 1797. Furthermore, there is no […]
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Is it high time to address marijuana?
Ketchikan has the Marijuana Advisory Committee. Petersburg has a 19-person Local Marijuana Regulation Advisory Committee. Juneau has the CBJ Marijuana Committee. A tour in Skagway offers marijuana samples. In Haines, residents are wondering why the municipality hasn’t started talking about pot. Dean Lari, a longtime champion of marijuana legalization, told the assembly last week he […]
Posted inNews, Police
Minor offenses ordinance trips up assembly
After nearly two hours of discussion, eight votes and considerable flip-flopping, the Haines Borough Assembly this week decided to postpone a vote on adoption of the controversial minor offenses ordinance until its Sept. 22 meeting. Eight members of the public testified against adoption at Tuesday’s meeting, reiterating concerns they have repeatedly brought to the attention of the […]