Maidy named to open seat on assembly The Haines Borough Assembly Tuesday appointed resident Sean Maidy to an open assembly seat after members questioned the preferred candidate’s availability. Assembly members said last week that James Hart was their preferred applicant to take Margaret Friedenauer’s open seat until the October municipal election. Hart was unable to call in […]
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Assembly seeks advice on conflict code change
The Haines Borough Assembly directed the manager and borough attorney June 13 to consider revision of code that bars the borough from contracting with Roger Schnabel’s businesses. A May 30 memo from the borough attorney to the assembly stated the borough could not contract with Southeast Roadbuilders because it is owned by the brother of manager Debra Schnabel. […]
Posted inLocal News, Elections
Assembly tilts toward Hart for assembly seat
The Haines Borough committee of the whole supported James Hart for the open assembly seat Monday, contingent on his availability to attend meetings through October. Assembly members Heather Lende, Tom Morphet and Stephanie Scott voted to recommend Hart for the seat, but Ron Jackson and Tresham Gregg had concerns if Hart could fit the commitment into his schedule. Hart, […]
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Assembly passes $18 million budget
The Haines Borough Assembly unanimously approved a $17.8 million budget Tuesday, including funding $95,000 for a local economic development corporation, hiring a fifth police officer and covering increased costs of staff health insurance. Due to rising costs in borough employee health insurance, the assembly increased the borough’s contribution for employees on the borough’s “blue family plan.” On […]
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Schnabel starts into manager’s job
Debra Schnabel began work as the Haines Borough manager Monday, wrapping up a controversial hiring process, but still leaving unanswered questions about how Schnabel will handle land use and contracting issues concerning her brother, Roger Schnabel. Roger Schnabel owns Southeast Roadbuilders and Skookum Holdings, two companies who regularly contract or work on projects in the borough. On […]
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Friedenauer quits assembly, cites bullying, vitriol
Haines Borough Assembly member Margaret Friedenauer resigned her assembly seat Wednesday, citing bitterness, cynicism and a lost desire to lead. Krista Kielsmeier, executive assistant to the borough manager, also resigned Wednesday. Friedenauer penned a letter to the assembly and Mayor Jan Hill stating her resignation, effective immediately. “I have unfortunately strayed from focusing on issues and spend too […]
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Mayor blasts assembly, calls hire a ‘set-up’
Haines Mayor Jan Hill lambasted the borough assembly Tuesday evening, accusing members of violating borough charter and saying the hiring of Debra Schnabel as borough manager was a “set-up.” “I agree with those community members who have stated that this assembly violated our charter which clearly states that the manager shall be hired based solely on professional qualifications,” Hill read […]
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Assembly balks at trooper bid to expand police role
The Haines Borough Assembly will seek legal advice regarding an Alaska State Trooper official’s opinion that the borough is responsible for policing boroughwide. The action comes after the Alaska Department of Public Safety offered a one-time, $25,000 payment to the Haines Borough for policing, on the condition that the borough provide policing outside the townsite. The area previously was […]
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Assembly favors former mayor for Case’s seat
Former Haines Mayor Stephanie Scott will likely fill the vacant assembly seat, left by Mike Case after he resigned last month, if the Haines Borough Assembly follows through with a recommendation made last week. The assembly will make an official appointment at their Tuesday meeting but voted 4-1 Thursday to recommend Scott, citing her experience as a municipal staff member […]
Posted inLocal News, Elections
Assembly seat draws 7 applicants
Seven residents are seeking appointment to the Haines Borough Assembly seat vacated by the resignation of Mike Case. The applicants include some who want more assembly representation by young people, the sponsor of the recent recall effort, and the borough’s former Mayor, who says she knows her way around borough code. The assembly will interview Paul Nelson, Sean […]