A Chilkat Indian Village proposal to pursue top-level protections for the Chilkat River received a lukewarm response from the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve Advisory Council this week. Tribal council president Jones Hotch Jr. asked the council to support a resolution requesting the river be designated as an Outstanding National Resource Water, which protects waters of exceptional […]
Search results
Posted inNews, Police
Public outcry prompts minor offenses reboot
After receiving a petition signed by 650 residents, the Haines Borough Assembly voted Tuesday to nullify its Sept. 22 decision to adopt the controversial minor offenses ordinance. The group voted to let the ordinance continue its movement through the public process prior to adoption. The document will come back before the assembly on April 26, 2016. In […]
Posted inNews, Police
Citizens push petition, question minor offenses vote
Although the Haines Borough Assembly approved it two weeks ago, the controversial minor offenses ordinance is still creating a buzz around town, with opponents collecting more than 400 signatures as of Tuesday on a petition asking the assembly to reconsider its vote. Assembly members and residents also are concerned about the administration’s failure to provide important information […]
Posted inNews
Borough officials pitch to cruise companies
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 […]
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 […]