The Haines borough manager finalist was scheduled to visit mid-December to sign his contract. But, he gave notice just before Thanksgiving that he had accepted a position elsewhere. Haines’ interim manager says that part of the problem was negative comments about the candidate in both radio and print stories. 

 

Interim Manager Elke Doom completes her last day of work Dec. 15. Kim Zimmerman, the assembly’s choice to fill the permanent manager position, was tentatively scheduled to start work in January.

Although the assembly approved his appointment with a vote of four to two, he was not the applicant favored by Mayor Tom Morphet. Some residents spoke against Zimmerman in public comment, questioning his five years of experience compared to the other candidate. Others didn’t look favorably upon Zimmerman’s military background. 

As mayor, Morphet didn’t vote for a borough manager. But after the assembly chose Zimmerman, Morphet told the Chilkat Valley News how he felt about the winner.

“Maybe Zimmerman will surprise me,” Morphet said. “He hasn’t impressed me. He hasn’t proved himself to be a serious candidate. He seems like a guy who is kind of flitting around.”

Doom points to that comment as one reason why Zimmerman backed out.

“He has declined the position,” Doom said. “He doesn’t want to work here.”

Zimmerman said he could live with the political drama, but the financial package was the deciding factor. He accepted a job as city manager in Junction City, Kansas. He described that negotiation process as “simple.” He said all of his moving expenses will be paid. Had he chosen Haines, he would have lost over $30,000 in moving expenses. Cost of living would have been higher and the salary would have been lower. 

At the Nov. 26 Haines Borough special meeting, when the town was still expecting Zimmerman’s visit, resident Don Turner Jr. had harsh words for the mayor.

“In just a little over a year, we lost our manager, two clerks, two chiefs of police, director of public works, the planner, a harbor master and a grant writer,” Turner said. “…So why is this happening? It’s a hostile work environment caused by the mayor and the old assembly, except for Mr. Thomas. It’s my opinion that this mayor is a major part of the problem. People who live here do not want to work with or around this mayor. It’s time for the mayor to step down.” 

Later in the meeting, the mayor described what he’s seen in Haines in past recall votes, warning against such action.

“Hatred soars, relationships end,” Morphet said. “It’s ugly business. All progress and cooperation on the assembly grinds to a halt as every assembly vote occurs in the shadow of how citizens might count that action toward a recall vote. It’s terrible stuff. If anyone in this valley is thinking about recalls at this time, you’re playing with fire. A fire that could leave this town burned permanently, particularly in our current perilous condition.” 

At the same meeting, resident Linda Huber appeared to serve the assembly with a lawsuit.

“I come before you with my ongoing frustrations with the Haines Borough Police Department,” Hubert said. “Can I step forward? I have some papers I would like to hand out. Mayor Tom Morphett and interim manager, members of the assembly, you have all been served.” 

Doom says the paperwork was not a legal document. Huber was unavailable for comment. 

After multiple meetings on the matter, the assembly voted five to one at the Nov. 26 meeting to move the Lutak Dock draft environmental assessment (EA) on to the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD), without comment. 

Assembly member Kevin Forster explained his yes vote.

“I personally don’t feel that I have the technical prowess to make meaningful comments on this EA after seeing it, and particularly that it is a draft,” he said. “I think the whole purpose of this process is that it allows for comments in the next month after it’s been submitted. And I’d like to push this on to MARAD so that we can fulfill our contractual obligations and continue this process moving along.”

 The second public hearing for the ordinance to issue permits for commercial helicopter ski tours is scheduled for Dec 17. Assembly member Stickler says the assembly’s aim is to maintain the status quo for one year, while they engage with stakeholders to understand the community’s needs.

A Committee of the Whole is scheduled for Dec. 5 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss legislative priorities. The Letnikof Cove float was recently damaged, making it a higher priority as the mayor shared concerns a piece could break off of the infrastructure and crash into another dock.

Stickler had hopeful words at the end of the contentious meeting.

“I think a goal that all of us can have … is to move beyond a four-two, or a five-one assembly, and get to a six-zero assembly,” she said. “If we can start thinking along the same tracks, if we find our true north together, then we can move together as a body. …We can move this community forward. And it’s going to require that we’re willing to leave our silos, our little corners, our little friendship corners … and be willing to meet in the middle. And that’s going to require intention, and it’s going to require a bit of vulnerability.”

This story was updated with the new Committee of the Whole date and time.