For assembly members, sitting around at meetings won’t be getting any easier. Members on Tuesday narrowly struck $2,300 from next year’s borough budget for new chairs around the dais. The assembly split 3-3 on the budget item, with Mayor Stephanie Scott breaking the tie with her vote to nix them. Members Steve Vick, Debra Schnabel and Joanne Waterman voted against the chairs; assembly […]
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Posted inLetters to the Editor
‘Respect’ turnout shows town cares
I would like to thank everyone that participated in the recent “Choose Respect” march. Your presence made a statement that our community does care! I would like to thank our guest speakers, Kevin Worley from Gov. Sean Parnell’s office, Amy Williams, assistant district attorney, former Mayor Jan Hill, and Joe Hotch. Each of you presented powerful messages […]
Posted inNews
Lowe gets $53K in payout, paid leave
Haines Borough Police Chief Gary Lowe will receive three months of paid leave plus a $36,000 payout as part of a “negotiated separation agreement” with the Haines Borough. The agreement, signed April 8 and released Tuesday, was negotiated between manager Mark Earnest, Lowe and attorney Brooks Chandler. It allows Lowe to remain on paid leave until June 17, when […]
Posted inNews
Office java makes the cut
For now, coffee appears to be safe in the Haines Borough budget. In discussion of the public works budget Tuesday, assembly member Joanne Waterman said she would like to see coffee removed from the budgeted list of expenses. “Coffee is a personal item. It’s not a borough expense. Borough money should not be used to pay for employee coffee,” […]
Posted inNews
Library addition stirs discussion
The Haines Borough Public Library Board is pursuing plans to construct a 600-square-foot addition to the library, but whether borough funds will be used to design the project is under debate. Library board chair Anne Marie Palmieri said the group has been talking about the addition for the past two years but recently approached the borough, asking […]
Posted inNews
Assembly reverses bear tour vote
After denying a former Haines bear monitor a permit to conduct small-scale bear-viewing tours along the Chilkoot River, the Haines Borough Assembly reversed its decision and voted unanimously to award the permit at its April 9 meeting. The assembly split 3-3 during its March 26 meeting on whether to issue the permit to the Great Bear Foundation, […]
Posted inNews
Assembly takes aim at fire service board
The Haines Borough Assembly on Tuesday will consider abolishing the board of fire service area #1, on the recommendation of member Jerry Lapp, who says the group has been inactive for years and that the role it serves is redundant. Leadership of the Haines Volunteer Fire Department supports the change, but the move divided the service area board. […]
Posted inNews
AP&T seeks ‘alternative’ licensing for Connelly
Alaska Power and Telephone is pursuing the alternative licensing process (ALP) for the Connelly Lake project despite the Haines Borough expressing support for a more rigorous licensing process. The choice of process must be approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The Haines Borough Assembly voted last summer to endorse the integrated licensing process (ILP), which has stricter deadlines and […]
Posted inHaines Borough, News
Assembly approves deal for Lowe’s exit
Following 40 minutes of closed-door discussion, the Haines Borough Assembly voted unanimously Tuesday to accept a “negotiated separation agreement” with police chief Gary Lowe. Borough leaders – including assembly members, Mayor Stephanie Scott and manager Mark Earnest – this week refused to comment on the specifics of the agreement, saying those would be revealed Tuesday. Joanne Waterman called for an executive session to discuss […]
Posted inNews
Valuation issues linked to botched contract
Appeals to 2013 property assessments are pouring into the Haines Borough, and many concerned property owners are still seeking explanations for why their land values have soared by as much as 800 percent. State assessor Steve Van Sant fielded questions from Haines residents on April 3 during a public meeting on “mass appraisal modeling,” but could […]