Stephanie Leazier and her 10-month-old son Olen Leazier returned to the Chilkat Valley this week after taking an extended trip to visit family and friends in Michigan. Stephanie said it has been eight years since she has been back to the state and her family, including her mother and aunt, had not yet had the […]
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Posted inLetters to the Editor
Borough assembly violated code in hiring Mr. Zimmerman
Haines Borough code 2.74.035 A. 2. Borough Officers states that, “If it is found that there are qualified applicants, the assembly shall short-list, interview and hire the most qualified person with the best qualifications.” The assembly violated that code at their Nov. 12 meeting when assembly members Stickler, acting as deputy mayor, Clement, Smith, and […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Assembly made a baffling decision on borough manager hire
Who would you choose? A candidate with many years of experience in city management who has written million-dollar grants or one who has few years of experience in the field and no apparent grant writing experience. Four members of our assembly chose the latter. When assembly member Kevin Forster asked them to explain how they […]
Posted inLocal News, Haines Borough
Manager finalist negotiates contract with Haines, is considering at least two other cities
Kim Zimmerman has a busy month ahead of him. He’s finished contract negotiations with the Haines Borough, and the assembly is set to review the terms of that contract during a special meeting on Wednesday. Then, he’ll have to schedule a visit once the borough does a background check. When reached by phone Tuesday, he […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Get information from the source instead of relying on government officials to paraphrase it
As an administrator of the Facebook group Haines Chatters, I regularly post notices of public meetings, transcripts, recorded comments, and agenda items to the group. This social media option provides a community service to interested members regarding official information taken directly from the Haines Borough website. My postings of government information are copied word-for-word from […]
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Assembly briefs: A new borough manager, an interim police chief, and a severance tax
Haines Borough Assembly members met Tuesday without Mayor Tom Morphet who is out of town. Deputy Mayor Cheryl Stickler presided over a four-hour meeting that included a public hearing on severance taxes, extensive discussion of who the next borough manager should be, and updates on open government positions, who can attend executive sessions, and the […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Committee members who prefer to spread dogma over finding solutions should be removed
Members of the Ports and Harbors Advisory Committee have been using their individual seats for personal attacks against members of the public and prior assembly members, as evidenced in the Oct. 31, 2024 meeting. These same two individuals routinely spread misinformation about the Lutak Dock issue to perpetuate an unaffordable project when they should be […]
Posted inDuly Noted
Duly Noted: A death, an absence, a week honoring veterans, and a voucher program
Betty Ewing Dewitt, 89, died on Oct. 20. Dewitt, her husband and three children moved to Haines in 1962. A full obituary will be included in a future edition of the Chilkat Valley News. Gov. Mike Dunleavy is set to issue an executive proclamation declaring Veterans Small Business Week. Visiting Haines Rep. Andi Story shared […]
Posted inThis Week in History
This Week in History: Veterans Village, bears after anglers, Berger hearings
10 years ago Soboleff-McRae Veterans Village officials don’t think property tax should be levied on the second floor of their building. The Haines Borough manager disagrees. At manager David Sosa’s recommendation, the assembly last week declined to introduce an ordinance which, if passed, would have granted a “community purpose exemption” for the residential floor, relieving […]
Posted inLocal News, Government & Elections
After closed-door session, new assembly fires borough clerk
After just 11 weeks on the job, Kristine Kennedy is out as borough clerk. The Haines Borough Assembly fired her during its Oct. 22 meeting without cause after a closed-door executive session. Initially, Kennedy said her preference would be to have the meeting in public. The assembly justified going into executive session by citing an […]