The borough’s Government Affairs and Services Committee was divided, but ultimately advanced an ordinance proposed by the planning commission that would require people in the townsite, Mud Bay, and Lutak areas to obtain site development permits for development activity that exceeds 100 cubic yards or 5,000 board feet. The $25 permit is intended to inform people about […]
Search results
Posted inNews
Who serves who?
Mayor’s Tier 3 stand at odds with assembly Mayor Jan Hill’s recent testimony on the Tier 3 nomination process raised concerns from some assembly members and the public this week about how she represents the borough. By charter, the Haines Borough operates with a manager form of government, which means the manager may direct municipal officers and […]
Posted inNews
Assembly discusses budget priorities
Haines Borough Manager Debra Schnabel will prepare next year’s budget without incorporating Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposed spending plan that would cut an estimated $1.7 million of state revenue to the borough. “Basically, the assembly would like me to start looking at things that could be cut, small and big, but we are not going to develop a […]
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Officials to discuss tax increases in face of state budget cuts
Town Hall scheduled for March 13 Along with tax increases and spending cuts, the Haines Borough Assembly will consider raising the borough’s tax cap during budget discussions because Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s proposed budget would reduce state revenue to the borough by about $1.7 million. Dunleavy’s cuts to school debt reimbursement, raw fish tax and the education budget […]
Posted inNews
Resource extraction debate surfaces conflict-of-interest issues for officials
For the second time in three months, planning commission members examined if their voting powers were compromised by a commissioner’s potential conflict of interest. According to borough code, conflict of interest is defined as “substantial financial gain or personal interest.” It defines the former as interest that would result in a gain or loss exceeding […]
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Should cottage businesses pay sales tax?
What is the appropriate profit margin for a lemonade stand to begin collecting sales tax? This was a question the Haines Borough Finance Committee explored on Tuesday, the answers to which will have impacts on small-scale businesses who sell food and other items at popular events such as the Haines Farmers Market and the Southeast Alaska State […]
Posted inHaines Borough, News
Assembly approves Alaska Excursions ATV permit
In a 4-1 vote, the Haines Borough Assembly approved the renewal of Alaska Excursions’ Glacier Point ATV permit that prompted questions about how far the assembly should reach as it regulates tour operators. The tour company’s permit was approved with conditions that it reduce its capacity, make its safety plan public, provide a human waste disposal plan […]
Posted inNews
Sewer plant, harbor among assembly project priorities
The Haines Borough Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution on Tuesday approving capital project and state funding priorities. Completing improvements to the sewage treatment plant, securing moorage floats for the boat harbor expansion and re-building Second Avenue between Main Street and Mud Bay Road topped the list. Debra Schnabel said that the list of six capital budget items was […]
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Assembly approves $30,000 design for chamber in library
In its final public hearing, Mayor Jan Hill broke a tie vote during Tuesday’s assembly meeting in favor of spending $30,000 for a design that would incorporate the assembly chambers into the library expansion plan. The decision to spend the money has divided the assembly since October when the proposal was introduced and recommended by borough manager Debra Schnabel. […]
Posted inNews
Attorney to troopers: borough declines to violate its own charter
The borough assembly voted unanimously to send an at times biting letter penned by its attorney to the acting director of the Alaska State Troopers saying that the assembly “respectfully declines the request to continually violate its own charter by regularly providing law enforcement services outside the Haines townsite service area.” A nearly two-year dispute […]