In Tuesday’s primary election, Chilkat Valley voters overwhelmingly supported repealing the state’s oil tax structure, diverging from voters statewide who prevailed by supporting the status quo. In Haines, 67.3 percent of voters backed repeal of the tax structure approved by the Alaska Legislature last year. Highway voters also supported the repeal (72.7 percent), as did Klukwan voters […]
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Posted inNews
Watershed council won’t review mine
The Takshanuk Watershed Council apparently won’t facilitate stakeholder meetings and community forums on the potential development of a mine near 40 Mile. The council, Haines Borough and Chilkoot Indian Association decided to remove Takshanuk from consideration following a negative public response to its involvement. CIA tribal administrator Dave Berry said perceptions of bias could have spoiled the […]
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Assembly flip-flops on tour moratorium
A moratorium on Chilkoot River corridor tour permits ended Tuesday after the Haines Borough Assembly reversed its July 29 decision and issued a canoe tour permit to Alaska Mountain Guides. The assembly voted 4-2 to reconsider the motion passed at the July 29 meeting, which postponed action on the AMG permit and placed a moratorium on Chilkoot […]
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Assembly ranks grant requests by non-profits
Members of a Haines Borough Assembly ad hoc committee will decide on 11 applications from local nonprofits requesting more than $127,000 in borough funds. During budgeting, the assembly set aside $78,760 to distribute to nonprofits: $32,500 in the “community chest” or general fund, $28,760 in the medical service area fund and $17,500 in the tourism and economic […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Writer apologizes for use of word
I would like to apologize to Mayor Stephanie Scott for using the word “appalled” in my letter to the editor. Though alarmed at Scott’s suggestion that Mosquito Lake School could be disposed of and sold, I regret that I may have caused Scott to feel discouraged or attacked. I do hope she will forgive me. I agree that […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Highlights of Haines trip
Last week, my daughters and I had a brief trip to Haines. We had all visited before but never did we have such a grand tour as we received from Bill Kurz and Janet Kurz. We met many local officials including Mayor Stephanie Scott and Borough Manager, David Sosa as well as other business owners and residents. We […]
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Litter, snow removal concerns for downtown group
Getting a handle on litter and snow shoveling downtown dominated discussion at Monday’s meeting of the Haines Borough Downtown Revitalization Committee. Committee chair Lenise Henderson Fontenot said making sure Main Street was clean was a “foundational” issue that needed to be addressed ahead of other projects. “Anything we do will be ruined by trash.” She cited cigarette […]
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Pot or not: Borough takes up dope vote
Should the Haines Borough weigh in on a statewide initiative that, if passed, would legalize the recreational use and commercial sale of marijuana in Alaska? Assembly member Dave Berry Tuesday proposed a resolution opposing Proposition 2, the ballot measure Alaska residents will vote on during the general election Nov. 4. The assembly voted 4-1 to schedule a […]
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Seniors’ tax break costing borough $300K
Discount days at local businesses aren’t the only perks older residents enjoy. More and more property owners age 65 and older are applying for senior property tax exemptions, and that’s costing the Haines Borough. The borough estimates the state-mandated exemption will cost the municipality $310,000 in lost property taxes in fiscal year 2015, up from $270,000 […]
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Voters may cast ballots on school improvements
The Haines Borough Assembly is deliberating whether to put to voters more than $4.7 million in bonds for school capital improvements. Projects that may be included on the Oct. 7 ballot include high school roof replacement ($1.8 million), vocational education building mechanical upgrades ($1.7 million), high school air handling unit replacement ($412,000), high school locker room renovations […]