Last December’s devastating weather event led to major property damage for many Haines residents. The value of some of their properties has plummeted. The Borough Assembly is considering taking steps to relieve the tax burden of those residents who have already suffered significant losses.
The process involves changing borough code so that assessments can be done that reflect current property values. Mayor Douglas Olerud says the change has strong support in the Assembly.
“I would be surprised if it doesn’t pass unanimously.”
Next year’s budget is up for passage on Tuesday night, but the mayor says there’s still work to be done on the spending plan.
“We were presented with a very trim budget by our interim manager, and she did a really good job trying to get this as low cost as possible. And the assembly has seen some things that they would like to change, I think there’s going to be some changes in the police budget, we’re still looking at trying to get the pool open for longer, (and we’re) looking at funding for the museum,” said Olerud.
With those changes, it’s likely that a budget won’t be passed before June. If the budget isn’t passed by June 15th the manager’s budget must be used for 2022.
The future of the ailing borough-owned Lutak Dock is also up for discussion Tuesday night.
“We have a dock that was built in the 50s that’s failing on us. And we need to have the ability out there to not only bring in freight that we use as residents but to have that as a facility for whether stuff is going into the Yukon or coming down from the Yukon. That dock gets used for a lot of different things,” said Olerud.
The interim manager has an initial presentation of a major upgrade project planned for Tuesday and a town-hall-style meeting planned for sometime in June.
That project would include replacing the steel cells that are failing on the borough dock, installing riprap and dolphins for ships to tie up on, improving parking, and developing the uplands by the tank farm for future use.
Olerud says funding for the dock upgrades has not been secured, but they are working on several options.
“Senator Kiel and Representative Hannan tried to get an amendment to the budget for $7 million for doing phase one. That vote failed. But when some of the rescue money comes out, I’ve been told there’s potential for that being included in August when we do some other capital projects. We’re working multiple angles, we’re still working on a Build Grant with the federal government, AIDEA is also an opportunity,” said the mayor.
The assembly will also discuss plans for a new Verizon cell phone tower at the dock.
“The proposed location for it is up by the Delta Western fuel tank farm up above the ferry terminal. They want to have the ability to put a tower in there, and that should extend cell phone coverage throughout most of Lutak Inlet there. So that’ll be a help to fishermen when they’re out on the water. And hopefully, it’ll reach up to the residents at the far end,” said Olerud.
Throw in a license for an existing fly fishing tour business, and a new wet well for the wastewater treatment facility, and you’ve got a busy night at the public safety building. The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 and you can stream it live at khns.org.
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