The Haines Borough Planning Commission is trying to put setback limits on development in general use zones, but some assembly members are skeptical about the ramifications of such a change. The commission is proposing any industrial development on general use land require a 50-foot setback from residential lots. The ordinance, if passed, would also require residences in […]
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Yurts, wall tents, RVs get assembly’s OK
People staying in yurts and wall tents can live there as long as they want, even though the Haines Borough Planning Commission would have it otherwise. The Haines Borough Assembly Aug. 27 struck down the planning commission’s recommendation to add yurts, recreational vehicles and wall tents to the borough code’s definition of “temporary use dwellings,” a change that would […]
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No headhunting for manager job
The Haines Borough Assembly will not hire a headhunting firm to find the municipality’s next manager, but will instead conduct the hiring process itself. The assembly voted 5-0 Tuesday to move ahead with advertising the position without the assistance of an outside firm. Assembly member Debra Schnabel recused herself from voting as she intends to submit an application for […]
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Governor discusses oil taxes, economy
Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell this week voiced optimism that a billion-dollar oil industry tax break he pushed through last year would bring returns to Haines equivalent to the funding that is building projects like the McRae-Soboleff Veterans Village. Parnell said his trip to Haines Tuesday was “to better understand the concerns of the community and […]
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School improvements won’t make fall ballot
Haines Borough voters won’t be deciding a $5 million bond for districtwide school improvements in the Oct. 1 election after all. At its Aug. 13 meeting, the assembly voted unanimously to indefinitely postpone an ordinance for the ballot measure. The postponement came at the request of borough manager Mark Earnest, who told assembly members the borough […]
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Motorized use at beach resurfaces
The Haines Borough Assembly will look into putting teeth into a state directive against use of motorized vehicles on Chilkat River beaches. Confusion among area residents, borough staff and law enforcement officials over the legality of riding ATVs on the beaches led Mayor Stephanie Scott to investigate the issue. Scott concluded that while commercial motorized use is prohibited, personal use of ATVs […]
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Why so few assembly candidates?
With only two names appearing on the fall municipal ballot for two seats open on the Haines Borough Assembly, interest in serving on the town’s main decision-making body has reached the lowest point since at least 2002, when the former City of Haines and Haines Borough merged into a single government. The paucity of assembly candidates is particularly […]
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Gov. Parnell to visit
Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell will make a social call to Haines Tuesday for a half-day visit, including stops at the American Bald Eagle Foundation and Haines School. He will visit Ketchikan before stopping in Haines, and then head to Skagway Tuesday afternoon before returning to Juneau. Parnell is seeking re-election in 2014. Parnell’s press secretary, Sharon Leighow, […]
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Borough may get help on manager hire
The Haines Borough Assembly appears to be leaning toward hiring a headhunting firm to find the municipality’s next manager, but assembly members still want some details hammered out first. The assembly met Monday as a committee of the whole to discuss how to move forward with the hiring of a new manager. Manager Mark Earnest said last week he’d […]
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Tighten access to public records?
The Haines Borough Assembly last week introduced an ordinance that would restrict public access to employee evaluations and applications for borough jobs. Borough attorney Brooks Chandler drafted an ordinance at the request of manager Mark Earnest that would make performance evaluations and job applications of many borough employees confidential and inaccessible to the public. The Chilkat Valley News […]