The Haines Borough needs to create a permit process to protect itself from lawsuits resulting from shooting mishaps on the reality TV and nature shows produced in the area, borough manager Bill Seward told the Commerce Committee Wednesday night. Under current borough procedures, the borough currently has no way to indemnify itself against claims should disaster happen […]
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Posted inNews
Groups seek delay in heli-skiing decisions
Hold off until mountain goat and bear preliminary studies are finished next spring. Tighter conflict-of-interest rules. That’s what two local advisory groups say is needed in dealing with expanding the areas available for heliskiing in the Haines Borough. Both recommendations are going to the assembly. On Wednesday, the Upper Lynn Canal Fish and Game Advisory Committee requested the […]
Posted inHaines Borough, News
Assembly approves first harbor contract
A slightly trimmed Portage Cove Harbor Expansion now enters its first phase. “I believe this is one of the biggest and best projects we’re going to see,” said Mayor Jan Hill. The Haines Borough Assembly approved 5-1 Tuesday a contract with Pacific Pile & Marine to install a steel breakwater barrier and fill up the harbor’s uplands area with […]
Posted inNews, Elections
Assembly hopefuls enter final stretch
Now it’s your turn. Haines voters will cast their ballots Tuesday for two highly contested seats on the Haines Borough Assembly and two non-contested candidacies for the school board. Incumbent school board members Sarah Swinton and Lisa Schwartz face no challengers. Meanwhile, the assembly terms of Diana Lapham and George Campbell are up. Lapham is running for re-election. Campbell is […]
Posted inNews, Haines Borough
Vote on tourism tax advances
After more than an hour of testimony from residents, the Haines Borough Finance Committee last week recommended to let voters in the fall municipal election decide the fate of the 1 percent tax for tourism and economic development. Committee members Ron Jackson and Diana Lapham supported the recommendation; Tresham Gregg was opposed. The assembly will take up […]
Posted inNews
Heliport OK’d for year-round use
The Haines Borough Planning Commission last week approved unlimited, year-round use of a 35 Mile Haines Highway heliport, though the owners will not be allowed to use the site for commercial tours outside of the heli-skiing season without an additional permit. The commission voted 6-1 to approve the three-year conditional use permit submitted by Mike Wilson, manager of […]
Posted inNews
Freerider’s death, accident spotlight safety issue
Tuesday’s death of a Freeride World Tour champion in Switzerland returned a spotlight to the safety of extreme skiing, coming less than a week after a Utah man snowboarding with a Haines heli-ski outfit was caught in an avalanche on the Takhin Massif. Estelle Balet, a 21-year-old Swiss snowboarder who won the women’s snowboarding Freeride […]
Posted inNews
Planners OK heliport at 35 mile
The Haines Borough Planning Commission last week approved a heliport near 35 Mile Old Haines Highway to be used for winter heli-skiing, but the applicant is pushing for unlimited, year-round use. Mike Wilson, general manager of Coastal Helicopters, co-owns the 35 Mile property with Alaska Heliskiing owner Sean Brownell. The two have been pursuing the conditional use permit since […]
Posted inNews
Heliport issue delayed 4 times
Since appearing on the Haines Borough Planning Commission’s agenda in October, the issue of siting a heliport at 35 Mile Old Haines Highway has been postponed four times. Complicating the question is the change in tactics from Mike Wilson, who originally applied for the conditional use permit in October. Wilson, who manages Coastal Helicopters, owns the property with Alaska […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Decision erodes support for Freeride
Over the objections of Chilkat Indian Village, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, professional hunting guides, Chilkoot Bear Foundation, Lynn Canal Conservation, and numerous individuals, the Haines Borough Assembly is allowing the Freeride World Tour to operate their helicopters in two areas not on the approved heliski map. By so doing, they have taken an event that would have been supported, […]