The Haines Borough Solid Waste Working Group refined a new list of goals Sept. 6 in preparation to present them to the borough assembly. Group members Burl Sheldon and Melissa Aronson compiled the list of seven goals, which the group simplified in an attempt to “stay out of the weeds.” The group has been meeting since December. […]
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Posted inNews
Police response outside of townsite under microscope
Haines Borough Police Chief Heath Scott warned the borough assembly not to “write legislation in blood” after some assembly and community members questioned the need for local, borough-wide police protection. Scott spoke during a Government Affairs and Services Committee meeting organized to address a borough-wide policing ordinance the borough assembly referred back to the committee. […]
Posted inLocal News, Elections
Mayor, assembly candidates want to repair wounds
October’s municipal race heated up this week after a handful of residents declared their candidacy for Mayor and assembly just before Monday’s 5 p.m. deadline. Artist and Skipping Stone Studios owner Joanie Wagner is challenging incumbent Jan Hill for a three-year term as Mayor. As of last week only two candidates had filed for the three open assembly seats. But […]
Posted inNews, Elections
Haines votes ‘No’ to recall three assembly members
Assembly members Heather Lende, Tresham Gregg and Tom Morphet retained their seats on the assembly, according to unofficial results from Tuesday’s special recall election. More than 1,050 people, 47 percent of registered voters, cast their ballots in the special election, signaling the end of a recall effort that started in April. Don Turner Jr. initiated […]
Posted inHaines Borough, News
Staff to reexamine pot tax
A proposed tobacco and marijuana excise tax ordinance will be divided and head back to the Haines Borough Assembly as two separate ordinances. The assembly voted unanimously Aug. 8 to separate the two taxes that charges an excise tax of $2 per pack of cigarettes, 45 percent of the wholesale price of other tobacco products, and $5 […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Recall, refresh community trust
I would say that without arguing points, the merit of the recall, or other subjective points, one thing is certain looking at presented facts, this recall had merit in order to get this far. Recall is happening. My approach to this is that these individuals have brought a level of distrust into the community that has […]
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Borough-wide police protection, a guide
At the Haines Borough Assembly‘s direction, borough staff have drafted an ordinance that creates and funds a borough wide “community safety service area.” The issue could go before the voters this October, pending assembly approval of the measure. The ordinance comes after a handful of meetings centered around a vacant Alaska State Trooper position the state […]
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Public’s turn to weigh in on sin taxes
The Haines Borough Assembly last week advanced a new tax on tobacco and marijuana products. The 4-2 vote levies a $2 excise tax on each pack of cigarettes brought or transported into the Haines Borough after Dec. 31, 2017. The ordinance also levies 45 percent of the wholesale price on other tobacco products. The excise tax ordinance levies $5 […]
Posted inNews
Highway police vote introduced
On a 4-2 vote, the Haines Borough Assembly on Tuesday introduced a ballot question on creating a “Community Safety” service area to address the issue of townsite police responding outside its boundaries. Members Tom Morphet and Sean Maidy voted against the measure. “We’re not choosing this for (residents outside the townsite). We’re giving them an opportunity to […]
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Assembly favors taking ownership of bridge
The Haines Borough Assembly expressed support for taking over ownership and maintenance of a new bridge at Excursion Inlet to be built by the U.S. Forest Service. Borough manager Debra Schnabel said the federal agency proposed the borough take ownership of a new, $700,000 structure that will cross South Creek and the right-of-way beneath it. It will replace a […]