Threats of a government shutdown stemming from the Alaska Legislature’s failure to pass a state budget have provoked anxiety in Haines, where 49 people could be laid off. According to Scot Arehart, the state’s Division of Finance director, 49 state employees in Haines received layoff notices that went out June 1. At Gov. Bill Walker’s […]
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Posted inLetters to the Editor
Borough shouldn’t sell Haines short
Focusing on a cruise ship waiver when marketing Haines sends the message that the only reason a ship would want to bring people here is for the dock waiver, which is a false premise. Cruise ships are big industries that like to stop in ports where they receive big cuts off highly promoted tours, like […]
Posted inNews
Assembly members deride testimony
Members of a Haines Borough Assembly subcommittee tasked with hearing a citizen’s concerns about the formulation of meeting agendas called the man’s arguments and presentation “bullshit” and a waste of time Monday. Mayor Jan Hill charged the assembly’s Government Affairs and Services committee with considering concerns voiced by Mike Denker that borough code conflicts with borough policy when it […]
Posted inNews
Citizens scrutinize meeting procedures
Citizens are questioning Haines Borough policy and procedures, including how information to the assembly is screened at the borough office and whether the Mayor should be routing issues straight to committee without assembly direction. The issue of what makes it on to the agenda arose in recent weeks when Haines Animal Rescue Kennel director Tracy Mikowski was told by […]
Posted inNews
Harbor expansion plan falls 2 months behind
The harbor expansion project’s timeline has been delayed by two months. Haines Borough harbormaster Shawn Bell told the Port and Harbor Advisory Committee Tuesday the borough wouldn’t receive the 95-percent design by June, as had been planned. The borough will likely receive the design in mid-August, according to the new timeline. Bell said the delay […]
Posted inNews
Borough helps eagle foundation project
The American Bald Eagle Foundation has big plans, and the Haines Borough’s community and economic development director is trying to help the nonprofit realize them. Development director Bill Mandeville said he has been working with foundation founder Dave Olerud on a development project that would expand the eagle foundation’s facility to include more display space, an IMAX […]
Posted inNews
Deadlock on sign ordinance continues
A standoff continues between the Haines Borough Assembly and the Planning Commission regarding a controversial sign law. The commission voted last week to re-send the same ordinance it sent the assembly in 2011, though the assembly rejected it four years ago. The ordinance would require business owners to obtain a conditional use permit for off-premises signs. Commission […]
Posted inNews
Want to speak to Assembly? Sign-up required
Members of the public wishing to testify during a public hearing at a Haines Borough Assembly meeting will now have to sign up ahead of time. Mayor Jan Hill recently renewed the practice, which requires members of the public seeking to testify at a public hearing to use a sign-in sheet placed on a table outside the assembly chambers. […]
Posted inNews
Bridge would eat up funds for outdoors class
A popular after-school program may be a casualty of the Haines Borough’s budget this year, as funding for the environmental education class is being shifted to replace a bridge in Excursion Inlet. Takshanuk Watershed Council has received funds for the Chilkat Forest Investigators since 2009 from the borough’s Title III forest receipts. Until 2009, the […]
Posted inNews
Harbor petition denied, but analysis planned
The Haines Borough Assembly on Tuesday told concerned residents it would not slow plans for expansion of the Small Boat Harbor, but agreed to discuss an economic analysis of the project at a Finance Committee meeting next week. Tresham Gregg submitted an informal petition to the assembly with 100 signatures asking the borough to suspend engineering work […]