Karen Hess speaks at a parks and recreation committee meeting that brought out more than 50 members of the public. (Emily Files)
Dozens of Haines residents turned out to a meeting Tuesday to defend their rights to use snowmachines and four-wheelers in certain parts of the Chilkat Valley. But the committee they voiced their arguments to said it was not planning on restricting that use in the first place.
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee usually has a handful of people in attendance at its meetings. Not this time. The committee had to switch its meeting venue last-minute when they heard about the rumor that would bring more than fifty people to the audience.
“We don’t have any plans of limiting motor vehicle access at this point,” said Interim Borough Manager Brad Ryan. “We haven’t even thought about doing that.”
Ryan said the impression that the parks committee wanted to restrict motorized uses in the 25 Mile and Kicking Horse areas was false.
The parks committee is interested in creating a comprehensive winter recreation map. Committee member Burl Sheldon explained that the most recent heliski map committee sparked the idea.
“Maybe we should look at a bigger picture for winter recreational use planning rather than always being reactive to the needs of the heliskiing group,” Sheldon said.
Committee member Thom Ely reiterated that they were not planning on shutting down certain areas to snowmachining or other activities.
“We all live here to do the things we like to do in the winter, whether that’s snowmachining or skiing or whatever,” Ely said. “And like a lot of things in Haines, a rumor gets started. And Donnie Turner called me and said ‘hey I hear you want to shut us out the Kicking Horse and no snowmachines up the Kicking Horse.’ And I said, ‘no, that’s not it at all.”
But the reassurances from committee members and the interim manager did not ease the audience’s concerns.
“I think it’s kind of crazy that you guys just went out on a limb and decided to shut down half the valley,” said Charles DeWitt.
To be clear, the parks committee did not decide to shut anything down. And, any recommendation they make is advisory to the assembly.
But the audience members had a bigger concern, that the creation of a map or plan would infringe on their freedoms.
Mike Mackowiak said he and other would fight to keep their rights to use motorized vehicles in the valley. (Emily Files)
“What we’re talking about here is a loss of rights,” said Mike Mackowiak.
Mackowiak and others said they’ve seen motorized use areas chipped away over the years.
“I think it’s interesting that it’s Black History Month and we’re celebrating that we no longer have people that have to sit in the back of the bus or that can’t get on the bus at all,” Mackowiak said. “And yet here we’re talking about divvying up the land right now that’s open to everyone, public use, and saying that ‘no only some people are gonna get to use this because they’re better citizens.’ I’m tired of being a second-rate citizen.”
The parks committee said the map idea is an effort to plan for the future. Nicole Holm responded to that.
“The future is my kids and the future is a whole bunch of other kids around here,” Holm said. “We moved back here so my kids could go moose hunting, so they could ride four-wheelers, so they could go up the river. And if you think once they start putting restrictions, they’re not gonna keep going, they will.”
Jerry Lapp questioned the borough’s authority to impose restrictions. He said the legislation that designated the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve protects traditional uses, including operation of motorized vehicles.
Many people encouraged the parks committee to forget the idea of a winter recreation plan completely.
“Why are we even jumping through these hoops?” said Jerry Erny. “Just drop it.”
Parks committee chairman Rich Chapell says his group will consider at upcoming meetings whether to pursue the winter recreation plan. Chapell says he was not expecting the idea to become controversial. The committee usually gets very little public feedback on its work.
Even though to a certain extent, it was a misunderstanding that drove the crowd of residents to the meeting, Chapell says he is glad they spoke out. He says, they ‘got their message across.’
If only Haines got together like that for more serious problems. There are things going on that I cant even write about here where lives have been shattered from the mistakes of “professionals” in town. Indeed some have died from such and no crowd rushed to their aid when they needed it. But you scare people about their recreation and oh boy, look out! How about we improve the medical care we have? Yes its NOT A-OK. Then mental health is another issue buried under the rug in town. And low income having less help than they should. Or how we could rid the town of the chemical drugs such as meth. I was happy to see so many people show up about this map. Maybe its a start of things to come where the public stands up to bureaucrats.
You folks can’t decide on how to enforce the current rules and regulations you have.
http://www.chilkatvalleynews.com/story/2015/08/20/news/public-safety-commission-to-take-up-minor-offense-ordinance/8168.html
Relax, there is no way you are going to be able to get a committee together to advise on changing regulations. These folks just wanted to put together a map. This is a pictorial representation of a geographical boundary. It is not a regulation tool. Man! They are just trying to do civic duty and help enrich the lives of the valley. Maps are good, and are always changing to reflect the present. Not always the future. Holy shnikeys.
I reject the Us vs. Them mentality some vocal motorheads preach. I’m a biker, a skier, a snowmachiner, a motorhead in my own right. I also RECOGNIZE that public lands belong to everyone, and sometimes my motorized use can ruin the experience of non-motorized users in the same area, not always, but sometimes. Even in areas with restrictions on motorized use, no one is taking away anyone’s rights to use that land, it just restricts which types of use are allowed. Reality check: ALL PUBLIC LANDS HAVE USE RESTRICTIONS. Always have. You can’t go in and ride a bulldozer around for fun, and that restriction protects EVERYONE’s right to enjoy what the land has to offer. So let’s all calm down and envision the types of uses we want to be allowed in certain areas. Together. This is a way to PROTECT the rights of snowmachiners, and other users as well.
I want a winter recreation map! I have lived in Haines 3 years and don’t know where to go in the winter to ski or snowmobile. I would LOVE a map showing where to do fun things in our town. Newcomers need this information! I am tired of hearing about people having fun (after the fact) and I have no idea about where these places are. I hope ice skating and snow shoe areas will also be on the map. I think it opens up our lands to more people, not just those “in the know.” The map should include where to rent equipment or buy it, too.
If we have a rec committee then make it a committee that is about all things motorized! Not about lame biking and stupid snowshoes! All about motors and braaaaap! Leave this town if you think otherwise! Make Haines America as great as it always was!
to start off there was over 150 people at the library. If you listened close enough to hear the WHOLE story then you would have heard the things that talked about non-motorized vehicles. That is what everyone was worried about. Thom Ely has tried before to make the kicking horse non-motorized and he was going to do it again if he could!! Then for him to propose to make Haines a Bicycle town, That is a big conflict of interest. He is over reaching his duty as a committee member. People don’t like any kind of hidden agenda and that is exactly how this was presented. I sure hope Mr. Chapell is right about them getting the message. Because it was very clear last night that nobody wants this map!