We the People of Haines says it wants “comprehensive election reform” in the wake of irregularities that occurred during the Oct. 1 municipal election. Member Dana Hallett said members of the group believe more changes are necessary than simply reprogramming memory cards on voting machines so they accept “undervoted” ballots. Voting machines rejected such ballots, […]
Search results
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Assembly: No early favorites for manager job
Three members of the Haines Borough Assembly who met Tuesday to interview the top four borough manager candidates via Skype afterward expressed ambivalence about their options. After two hours of interviews interspersed with discussion among assembly members, member Joanne Waterman said none of the four stood out as far and away the person she would want to manage the Haines […]
Posted inNews
Scott seeks mayors’ support for highway
Haines Borough Mayor Stephanie Scott is pushing for the Southeast Alaska Conference of Mayors to write a letter supporting the Haines Highway realignment project. Juneau Mayor Merrill Sanford has also expressed support for such a letter, and said he would be willing to seek the Juneau assembly’s approval if Scott drafted the letter. In an email, Scott wrote the […]
Posted inNews
Christy’s dream attracts film crew
Documentary filmmakers will capture a local songwriter’s quest to gain the attention of television celebrity Dr Phil. For years, Bamboo Room and Pioneer Bar owner Christy Tengs Fowler has tried to get her demo album “The Dr. Phil Project” into the hands of the talk show host and psychologist who inspired the nine songs with […]
Posted inNews
Assembly lukewarm on manager finalists
The Haines Borough Assembly has whittled down a list of applicants for the manager position from 20 to four and will publicly conduct telephone interviews with finalists Oct. 29. While assembly members saw positive characteristics in each of the four finalists – Susan Jensen of Anchorage, Carlo Pilgrim of Boothbay Harbor, Maine, Jim Pascale of Hopewell, […]
Posted inNews
Assembly OKs tax on vehicles
After tabling it for nearly 10 months, the Haines Borough Assembly passed an ordinance establishing a motor vehicle registration tax Oct. 8. The ordinance, which creates a $22 flat tax vehicle owners must pay every two years, came back before the assembly at the recommendation of outgoing manager Mark Earnest. The assembly voted 4-2 to approve the […]
Posted inNews
Local DOT unsure about herbicide use
A new Alaska Department of Transportation vegetation management plan which makes it easier for the state to spray herbicides and pesticides on state land and right-of-ways has the local DOT foreman scratching his head over whether and how to use the chemicals. Matt Boron, DOT’s maintenance and operations manager for Haines, said he attended a […]
Posted inNews
Schnabel not applying for manager
Haines Borough Assembly member Debra Schnabel will not vie for the borough’s top job. Schnabel had previously voiced her intention to apply for borough manager, but in a Sept. 30 email to the administration and other assembly members said she decided against it. In an interview Friday, Schnabel said several factors influenced her decision, including a lack […]
Posted inNews, Housing
Vets’ home draws tenants, concerns
Recent agreements with local nonprofits mean the ground floor of the Soboleff-McRae Veterans Village and Wellness Center will be fully occupied when it’s completed about a year from now, said Haines Assisted Living president Jim Studley, who’s leading the project. Tenants will include the physical therapy office of Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC), Southeast […]
Posted inNews
After 35 years, Nelson exits borough
Friends, co-workers and taxpayers turned out Sept. 25 to recognize retiring Haines Borough staffer Sue Nelson. Nelson worked most recently as property tax clerk but also handled sales taxes in her first years, and has served as interim borough clerk and assistant to the assessor. She was a “bright spot of color” in the government office, said […]