The Haines Borough school board on Tuesday approved its spending plan for the coming year, including $5.5 million in general fund spending plus $1 million for student activities, school lunch, transportation, Community Education and facilities and equipment. Superintendent Michael Byer told the board the budget represents district priorities for early literacy, mathematics and vocational education, while accommodating a […]
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Recruiting firm may assist next chief hire
Haines Borough Manager Mark Earnest is looking into several headhunting firms to see if they might be up to the job of finding Haines a new police chief. Earnest said during a Tuesday personnel committee meeting he would contact Minnesota-based Brimeyer Fursman LLC, the Washington-based Prothman Company, and Soldotna-based Russell Consulting LLC to explore the process and […]
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Culbeck to moonlight for mine firm
Executive assistant to the Haines Borough manager Darsie Culbeck will work as a camp manager for Constantine Metal Resources this summer while the company performs exploratory drilling for a potential mine about 40 miles north of Haines. Culbeck and other borough officials – including manager Mark Earnest and Mayor Stephanie Scott – said this week they didn’t see a conflict in […]
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420 valuation appeals slow BOE process
The Haines Borough is extending its Board of Equalization process in order to accommodate a flood of property assessment appeals. About 420 appeals were filed before the April 15 deadline. Contract assessor James Canary said due to the volume of appeals, the borough will not have inspected many properties before Monday’s scheduled Board of Equalization (BOE) hearing. […]
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Efforts will brighten Main Street
Efforts to beautify downtown Haines are coming together to give Main Street a facelift before the beginning of tourist season. In addition to art installations in seven Howsers windows, displays commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Alaska Marine Highway will be mounted in windows of the Coliseum Theater building and at the ferry terminal in the […]
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Panel seeks price tag on new muniplex
An ad-hoc committee charged with prioritizing the fate of public facilities in the Haines Borough is investigating how much it would cost to design and build a new structure containing the fire hall, jail, dispatch center, assembly chambers, government offices and possibly the visitor’s center. The building would go in the area of the existing public safety […]
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Fireworks set off dispute at Mosquito Lake
Resident complaints about late-night fireworks in the Mosquito Lake Road area have troopers instituting new rules about firework use in the neighborhood. Several residents recently complained to Haines Borough officials and troopers about fireworks exploding as late as 2 a.m., set off by area lodge owner Bruce Bauer and customers there. Gely Diaz de Sutcliffe, who lives […]
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Assembly scratches $2,300 for new chairs
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 […]
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 […]
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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 […]