With only two names appearing on the fall municipal ballot for two seats open on the Haines Borough Assembly, interest in serving on the town’s main decision-making body has reached the lowest point since at least 2002, when the former City of Haines and Haines Borough merged into a single government. The paucity of assembly candidates is particularly […]
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Gov. Parnell to visit
Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell will make a social call to Haines Tuesday for a half-day visit, including stops at the American Bald Eagle Foundation and Haines School. He will visit Ketchikan before stopping in Haines, and then head to Skagway Tuesday afternoon before returning to Juneau. Parnell is seeking re-election in 2014. Parnell’s press secretary, Sharon Leighow, […]
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Borough may get help on manager hire
The Haines Borough Assembly appears to be leaning toward hiring a headhunting firm to find the municipality’s next manager, but assembly members still want some details hammered out first. The assembly met Monday as a committee of the whole to discuss how to move forward with the hiring of a new manager. Manager Mark Earnest said last week he’d […]
Posted inNews
Tighten access to public records?
The Haines Borough Assembly last week introduced an ordinance that would restrict public access to employee evaluations and applications for borough jobs. Borough attorney Brooks Chandler drafted an ordinance at the request of manager Mark Earnest that would make performance evaluations and job applications of many borough employees confidential and inaccessible to the public. The Chilkat Valley News […]
Posted inNews, Elections
‘Corporate personhood’ issue advances
Haines Borough voters will likely get a chance to strike a blow against “corporate personhood” when they go to local polls Oct. 1. Clerk Julie Cozzi this week reported said that a petition with 291 signatures submitted to the borough Aug. 6 probably contains the required 216 valid signatures to go on the municipal ballot. […]
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Earnest says he’s leaving
The Haines Borough Assembly on Wednesday approved 5-1 the resignation of manager Mark Earnest. Member Norm Smith, a longtime Earnest critic, opposed the motion without comment. “I truly want to spend more time with my wife and son. I’ve been missing a good part of his development and maturity and it’s becoming very important to me now,” Earnest said […]
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Snafu, ship visit kill cell service
Cell phone service came to a virtual standstill in Haines Wednesday when statewide problems affecting provider ACS coincided with an ongoing gridlock in service for AT&T Alascom customers on days large cruise ships dock. “It’s getting to be a real problem,” said Krista Kielsmeier, who greets cruise ship visitors for the borough’s tourism department. The […]
Posted inNews, Alaska Marine Highway System
Comments on ferry plan due Aug. 30
Residents have until Aug. 30 to comment on proposed changes to the design of a new, shuttle ferry being designed to run between Haines and Juneau. A separate shuttle vessel would operate between Skagway and Haines, with Haines serving as a “key transfer point” for passengers traveling between Skagway and Juneau. Rebuilding the Haines ferry […]
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Resident petitions to pave Blacksmith
Blacksmith Street resident Leo Smith is fed up with the dust from the heavily trafficked roadway outside his house and has organized a petition to get it paved. The street runs perpendicular to Beach Road in Fort Seward, threading between Lutak Lumber and the Fireweed Restaurant. Smith’s is the only residence on the unpaved street. A dry […]
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Assembly approves community donations
On a 5-1 vote, the Haines Borough Assembly Tuesday approved more than $100,000 in grants to local non-profits. The borough had set aside about $130,000 for gift-giving. Contributions from the borough’s general fund included Haines Friends of Recycling, $4,887; Chilkat Valley Preschool, $11,010; Southeast Senior Services, $6,176; Haines Dolphins Swim Team, $3,184; Lynn Canal Broadcasting, $1,378; American Bald Eagle Foundation, […]