Those in Haines still owing property taxes that were due Nov. 1 now have two more months to make their payments. The retroactive extension was granted by the Haines Borough Assembly in a unanimous decision during a meeting Tuesday night. The new official due date is Dec. 31. The assembly’s action followed residents’ requests for the borough […]
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Posted inLetters to the Editor
Few details on $3.5 million of downtown property sales
A month after they were listed for sale, there are still no answers to why $3.5 million in property — most of it on Main Street — went up for sale, and the properties are still listed for sale. Chris Thorgesen, the owner of the properties, declined to comment on why he is selling the […]
Posted inDuly Noted
Duly Noted
Southeast Alaska State Fair director Jessica Edwards spent three days at the International Association of Amusement Park Attractions trade show in Florida. She visited the 42-acre event with husband Andy Hedden, daughter Sophia Hedden, and the president of the fair board Eric Forster. The fair hopes to add a new ride by its 50th anniversary in 2018. After three days […]
Posted inNews
Ad hoc committee to look into property tax assessment changes following uproar
The Haines Borough Assembly is seeking five community members to join a new ad hoc committee to look at changes to the borough’s property tax assessment process. The new committee comes after a summer of some intense public criticism following a dramatic rise in some property assessments and resulting tax bills. Assembly members in favor of the […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Education, budget dominate legislative town hall
Public education, ferries and a budget surplus dominated discussion as the Chilkat Valley’s legislative representatives visited Haines to hear community priorities and field questions ahead of the fast-approaching session, which begins in January. The Juneau Democrats, Sen. Jesse Kiehl and Rep. Andi Story, met with about a dozen residents during a town hall Monday evening […]
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Assembly plans work session on Porcupine Road
Assembly members and Mayor Tom Morphet are hoping to find out more about the multi-million dollar planned Porcupine Trail Road project at an informational meeting later this month. This summer, the borough spent $1.4 million to restore the flood-damaged road that runs parallel to the Klehini River after Mile 26 of the Haines Highway. The Federal Emergency […]
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Borough property tax deadline could get 2-month delay
Haines residents could get a two-month extension on the due date of their tax bills after the assembly moved forward with an ordinance that would push back the Nov. 1 filing deadline. On Monday, a special assembly meeting was held to introduce an ordinance that would extend the due date for delinquent property tax payments […]
Posted inNews
Borough seeks residents to join ad hoc property tax assessment committee
The Haines Borough Assembly is seeking five community members to join a new ad hoc committee to look at changes to the borough’s property tax assessment process. The new committee comes after a summer of some intense public criticism this year following a dramatic rise in some property assessments and resulting tax bills. Assembly members in favor […]
Posted inNews
Outgoing planning commission grants permit for controversial Lutak Rd. gravel project
Despite pushback from people who called the project a risk to public safety, members of Haines’ outgoing planning commission granted a permit for a company to blast into a hillside along Lutak Road to extract hard rock and other material. During the planning commission meeting on Monday (Oct. 23), members heard pushback from a handful of people […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
New assembly members put focus on transparency as they take office
Public referenda, goal-setting sessions, office hours and reinvigorated committees – those are a handful of proposals a new slate of assembly members have tossed out as they take office. New assembly members Craig Loomis, Natalie Dawson and Kevin Forster – plus new Mayor Tom Morphet – say their election represents Haines’ desire for more transparency and accountability […]