The Haines Borough recently installed its new $5,000 “Welcome to Haines” sign at the Port Chilkoot Dock, but visitors might have some trouble getting the message. The sign, designed and constructed by Haines artist Megan Morehouse, features the salutation “Welcome to Haines” spelled out in blue mussel shells and inlaid in sticks of gray driftwood. The problem […]
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AP&T customers: Don’t penalize us for conserving
Dozens of Alaska Power Company customers testified at a recent Regulatory Commission of Alaska hearing in Haines, railing against the company’s request for an 18 percent power rate increase. As part of the RCA’s investigation into whether an 18 percent rate increase is warranted, the commission heard from customers including residents from Haines, Skagway, Tok, […]
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Thanks for making Earth Day a success
A huge thank you goes out to everyone involved in this year’s celebration of Earth Day on Saturday, May 10. Informative displays and various helpful discussions on many topics from alternative energy, curing wood to poultry raising and talking with your Mayor were enjoyed by all. Thank you to the wonderful businesses in town who helped make […]
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Assembly endorses new office in trailer
The Haines Borough is looking to buy a 450-square-foot trailer to use as extra office space despite having an empty desk at the administration building and empty offices in the public safety building. The $12,500 “mobile office” would be located behind the administration building on Third Avenue. Manager David Sosa said the trailer would be used as […]
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Kreiss-Tomkins calls rookie term ‘gratifying’
With only a few months remaining in his first term, rookie House Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, D-Sitka, said he has no intentions of stopping. During a Monday interview, Kreiss-Tomkins said he will be running again this October, but he will no longer represent Haines due to redistricting. “It’s a way to try to help make Alaska […]
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Planners want consideration
Several members of the Haines Borough Planning Commission asked for more support from the assembly during a joint meeting of the two bodies last week, citing overturned decisions and unheeded recommendations that caused discontent. Commission chair Rob Goldberg said he would like the assembly to “take the planning commission seriously,” and give the group’s decisions “the weight […]
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Strong leadership key to revitalization efforts
In 2007, the downtown of Greenville, Kentucky, population 4,200, looked a lot like Haines’ Main Street does today. According to Brett Schwartz, a National Association of Developments Organization research fellow who studied Greenville, the southern town was decaying. “On a Saturday night, you would have likely walked on deteriorated sidewalks, peered into vacant storefronts […]
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Tap fund balance to improve roads?
Haines Borough staff is looking into improving roads within the townsite following a request by Mayor Stephanie Scott to spend more of the borough’s fund balance. The townsite general fund is currently carrying a $1.5 million balance, which essentially acts as a “savings account” for the borough. Last year, the borough took more than $500,000 out of the […]
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Chamber drops sauna support
The Haines Chamber of Commerce board has rescinded its offer to help raise money for a sauna at the Haines pool. After months of roadblocks and resistance, the Haines Borough Assembly last week agreed to fund maintenance of a sauna to be installed at the pool and purchased through private donations. It’s estimated to cost $6,500. The […]
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Assembly starts digging into next year’s budget
At its first budget discussion Tuesday, Haines Borough Assembly members and officials made suggestions including revisiting the possibility of building an $8 million “muniplex” and slashing the nonprofit “community chest” from $32,500 to $2,500. No official action was taken at the meeting that reviewed the budget submitted by former interim borough manager Julie Cozzi. The perennial question of […]