The push to change local election procedures continues with the Haines Borough Assembly still split down the middle on whether to switch from a seat system to a roster-style ballot. Mayor Stephanie Scott has repeatedly broken ties between the assembly members on whether to advance the ordinance which would make the change. Members Debra Schnabel, Joanne Waterman and Norm Smith have consistently voted for […]
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Posted inElections, News
Redistricting on assembly agenda
Haines Borough Mayor Stephanie Scott said this week she will ask the assembly whether it wants to weigh in on where Haines should fall in new redistricting plans. The Alaska Redistricting Board is currently holding map work sessions to redraw district boundaries ruled unconstitutional by the Alaska Supreme Court. Initially lumped in with Juneau, Skagway and Gustavus, Haines […]
Posted inNews
Budget: $12.2 million, reduction in tax rates
On a 4-2 vote, the Haines Borough Assembly approved its $12.2 million spending plan for the coming year Tuesday, including a reduction in the property tax rate inside and outside the townsite. Townsite landowners will pay 10.17 mills under the new budget, down from 10.79 mills last year. The base property tax rate outside the townsite was […]
Posted inNews
Manager contract talk heats up
Discussion of Haines Borough Manager Mark Earnest’s contract became heated Monday, prompting an assembly member to request police presence at the personnel committee meeting due to an “unruly” audience. Seven residents spoke at the meeting, with their complaints ranging from Earnest’s “ridiculous” amount of leave time to his perceived mishandling of borough issues. Annie Boyce voiced concerns […]
Posted inNews
Assembly softens crab letter terms
The Haines Borough Assembly voted unanimously Tuesday to remove mention of an emergency closure to the local Dungeness crab fishery from a letter to the Department of Fish and Game. In the original letter, Mayor Stephanie Scott expressed concern that human and sea otter pressure on the fishery will ultimately decimate the crab biomass and prevent sustainable commercial, subsistence and […]
Posted inNews
Herbicide rules raise concerns
A local conservation group is working with Haines Borough Mayor Stephanie Scott to address the potential use of herbicides and pesticides on state lands. In response to a recent change in state law that eliminates public review and a Department of Environmental Conservation permitting requirement for using chemicals on state land, Lynn Canal Conservation is asking the borough to consider how […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Attorney advice needed on conflict
Today I spoke with Mayor Stephanie Scott concerning the issue of Darsie Culbeck’s appearance of a conflict of interest. I was stunned to learn the borough’s legal counsel had not been conferred with in this matter. She indicated that she will now seek legal counsel about this. Manager Mark Earnest should have, at the least, gotten a legal opinion before […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Haines impressed visitor with attitude
Late last month I was invited to participate in a panel discussion on port development in Haines hosted by the Haines Port Development Council. I served as the Mayor of Valdez when the new port infrastructure was developed in the late 1970s and so greatly appreciated the invitation. I chose to drive to Haines so I would […]
Posted inNews
Borough pursues area crab closure
Haines Borough Mayor Stephanie Scott is drafting a letter to the Department of Fish and Game suggesting emergency closure of areas around Haines to commercial crabbing. The assembly voted unanimously May 28 for Scott to draft the letter, which will be reviewed by assembly members prior to submittal at the June 11 meeting. Scott called the letter “a […]
Posted inNews
Local, live music on the rise
Live music is on the upswing in Haines. You can hear it at weddings, at the assisted living center, and between the rows of books at the public library. And more than ever in recent memory, it’s playing in local bars, year-round. Groups of local musicians performing here include Divine Funk, The PBRs, The Irish […]