Haines Beer Fest (photo by Andy Heddon, courtesy of Haines Visitors Center)
It’s Beer Fest weekend in Haines, Senator Murkowski’s staff plans a visit, plus pool funding, Ranked-choice voting, and the latest on the Lutak Dock. KHNS’ Mike Swasey talked with Haines Borough Manager Annette Kreitzer for the latest community developments.
Swasey – So what’s happening in Haines this week Annette?
Kreitzer – Well, Beer Fest, of course, and we’ve got lots of people arriving. So with people arriving, we just want to remind folks to be careful with their trash, because apparently, I’m hearing reports that we’re seeing, you know, some folks not cognizant of where the trash cans are. But there are trash cans out and about.
During Beer Fest, we’re going to have camping at Tlingit Park. And I just want to remind folks to be respectful of the new Longhouse that’s there. It’s a beautiful building. And then also the public beach area around the cruise ship dock is where people are going to be able to camp. We hope people come and have a great time. We’re just really looking forward to having something great to do this weekend here. And it’d be great for the businesses as well.
The next thing that’s happening is Senator Murkowski’s staff is coming both to Haines and Skagway. Now, this isn’t the Senator herself, but it is her staff. So if you’re having an issue with the Federal Government, this is your time to talk to Senator Murkowski’s staff on Tuesday, May 31, from two to 4 p.m. at the post office. And they’ll be in Skagway on June 1 from noon until 2 p.m. At the post office there.
Swasey – This week, you had a borough assembly meeting and I know one of the things on the docket was to discuss funding for the pool throughout the summer. What ended up happening on Tuesday night?
Kreitzer – The assembly postponed the amendments. There were amendments that were proposed to increase funding for the museum and to increase funding for the pool. And because of the third hearing, there wouldn’t be a lot of opportunity for public engagement. The assembly wanted to make sure that people were aware that the amendments had been made so that people can think about them, and then the assembly will take up those amendments on the 14th of June.
Swasey – Okay, so that’s at the next assembly meeting. And then what else came out of the meeting on Tuesday?
Kreitzer – Oh, my goodness, my. For folks who were listening, boy, what fortitude they had. Because we went to almost 10:30 p.m. that night. And so there are just quite a lot of, you know, concerns with zoning issues. About what the community looks like now and what it would look like with any proposed changes. And the community purpose exemptions for 501(c)(3) entities who might be looking for that property tax exemption because they fit the criteria under our code. So the assembly acted on those requests.
Swasey – Any major new developments, as far as the Lutak Dock project?
Kreitzer – No, there are no major developments about that. We’re really in a holding pattern with MARAD, which is the federal agency that oversees this project, because they’re the ones that have the $20 million grant. Right now what we’re doing is we are pursuing this project using what’s called progressive design-build. And what that means is that we will contract with a firm who will help us select a design-build team, because this is a very specialized type of project when you’re working with a dock.
So the owner/advisor is who we’re going out to an RFP for and that firm will be the firm that will help facilitate the public meetings. And then work as an intermediary between us and the design-build team in terms of evaluating the proposals that we get from the design-build teams. And being able to tell us which proposal is going to be the best proposal for Haines.
Swasey – And finally, we’ve got an election coming up, tell us about early absentee voting.
Kreitzer – It’s to fill the late US Representative Don Young’s seat. So this is just to remind folks, that this is that ballot that’s going to have 48 candidates on it. And so when you see all those names, you’re gonna have to look really hard for the people that you’re selecting.
Swasey – So you’re saying it’s not just Santa Claus versus Sarah Palin. You’re saying there are more candidates.
Kreitzer – There are more candidates.
Swasey – All right. And it’s Friday, May 27 that it starts and it runs for two weeks from then.
Kreitzer – That’s correct. Except for Memorial Day. Just want to remind folks we won’t be open on that day.
Swasey – Okay, Annette, thank you so much for your time. I appreciate it.
Kreitzer – You bet. No problem.
**This interview has been updated to include more accurate information on the upcoming election**
