Adding local foods to school lunches, improving bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and stopping youth smoking are programs that could get funding under a $2.5 million health and wellness grant recently received by Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC). Former Haines Borough mayor Jan Hill is helping administer the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services grant that will award […]

The Haines Borough Assembly would spend up to $30,000 to remove and dispose of junk on a Small Tracts Road property under a “last resort” plan introduced Tuesday. It was unclear this week how or if the borough would recoup removal costs from landowner Lucy Harrell. “If the borough is in the position where we have to […]

The Haines Borough is looking to contractors for planning and execution of its major projects, including an expanded port and a “community” center. It also will seek at least one contractor for “special projects.” Pay for the port consultant is expected to come from a state grant; other consultants’ pay would come from economic development and engineering […]

A pending enforcement action against a Small Tracts Road property owner has cast a spotlight on the perennial issue of junked cars in the valley. The Haines Borough is now investigating ways to make disposal of wrecks more economical. The borough in April told landowner Lucy Harrell she had to clean up a former tire shop property […]

The Haines Borough’s government affairs and services committee and about 30 residents on Tuesday brainstormed how to best manage and promote the Chilkat Center to increase the building’s use. Subtracting out income from rentals, the center costs the borough about $50,000 per year. “It would behoove the borough to have someone in charge of organizing […]

Meredith Pochardt turned a summer job with Takshanuk Watershed Council into a longer stay in Haines. Pochardt last week started as the Haines Borough’s new Community Youth Development (CYD) director. “I’ve always loved Alaska,” Pochardt said. “I lived in Seward three years ago, so I was looking for a way to get back to Alaska.” […]

Broadcast of Haines Borough Assembly meetings on local cable TV station Channel 14 resumed this week. Videographer Bill Kurz had stopped filming the meetings after a dispute with Mayor Jan Hill. Hill lost her seat to challenger Stephanie Scott this week in a final count of outstanding ballots. “The meetings will be video-recorded for the foreseeable future. That’s the game plan,” […]

Borough manager Mark Earnest has recommended an 18-member Haines Port Development Steering Committee. “It’s an advisory group,” Earnest said. “It’s a mix of government, of private sector and then the staff to support this effort.” The Haines Borough Assembly on Sept. 27 approved seeking letters of interest from those wanting to serve on the new committee. The initial deadline […]

Borough manager Mark Earnest has recommended an 18-member Haines Port Development Steering Committee. “It’s an advisory group,” Earnest said. “It’s a mix of government, of private sector and then the staff to support this effort.” The Haines Borough Assembly on Sept. 27 approved seeking letters of interest from those wanting to serve on the new committee. The initial deadline […]