Representation to Borough Assembly

Recently I suggested changing to the precinct way of electing members of the borough assembly. The borough clerk was good enough to point out to do that would require legislative action. She suggested that perhaps changing to voter districts might accomplish what we want. At present it seems that just a borough code change will do it. I am working with Dept. of Community and Regional Affairs to get the facts.
My concern is to have ALL areas of the borough represented equally on the assembly. I well remember how it was years ago when living out the highway not having representation. It was much like being the forgotten second cousin. As it is now all but one assembly member lives within a mile of borough hall. Also believe it would be easier for assembly members to represent roughly 400 residents in one area than trying to represent all

2,400 or so of us over such a large diverse area.

Borough Assembly Elected by Precinct

The precinct is the smallest political unit in the country; each precinct elects one assembly member. A precinct is where elections are won or lost. Most importantly, it is your neighborhood. You know the people, the schools, and the community centers. You have your hands on the pulse of the precinct. You understand the assets and needs of your neighborhood and have a desire to improve it.

The precinct assembly person organizes their precinct and educates voters about important issues. Haines with about 2,300 residents would have about 383 people in each precinct. We have a representative form of government and elections by precinct is the most representative.

Some would like to change to what they call the “ Slate “ elections where if there are say 2 assembly seats available then with how ever many people run the top two vote getters would get the seats. Though unlikely you could end up with 6 next door neighbors as the assembly. Point is many areas of the borough could be left out. That method is easier for the government but not the residents.

Thank you;

Bill Kurz

Haines Port Development Council

The Haines Port Development Council Board met 11 am Tuesday April 10, 2012 at Captain’s Choice Motel, Haines, Ak.

Board members went over what each had been doing to help promote / market the Haines Port. Mr. Ed Lapeyri owner of the former Chilkoot Lumber dock and property joined the meeting. Mr. Lapeyri made it very clear he is open to most any reasonable purchase or leasing of the dock and property. With all the many opportunities available at the Haines Port the Council agreed the next important step is to advertise the port and it’s many opportunities throughout the Yukon and Alaska.

With our work promoting / marketing the Haines Port we have found we need to become a " Bonded Port". We expect to handle LNG and mining equipment from Kitimat, BC. Canada and other Canadian ports being transshipped through Haines going to the Yukon mines.

This Yukon mining development is big and Haines is in line to do well. We are getting responses from mining companies interested in Haines. Due to the congestion in Skagway, even mines that are furthest away are interested in Haines. The fact that between the Haines Lutak Dock and the old Chilkoot Lumber dock and property there is about 25 acres located over 5 miles from town and cruise ships, makes it appealing.

It was recommend that we contact the US Customs and Border Protection Trade Specialist in Anchorage, Jeffrey Lisius, which we have done. Mr. Lisius will be working with us to get our port set for expected international trade.

The fact that we have not been a Bonded Port explains one reason why for all these years foreign freight going north and ore going south has gone through Skagway. Once we become a bonded port we will be able to handle a fair share of that freight. We have many things going for us that Skagway does not have. There is no way US. DOT. will let LNG be shipped through Skagway. By DOT regs it's to close to cruise ships and residences. LNG is safer than gasoline but still has some risk.

We have been in contact with Alaska DOT. They are glad we are keeping them up to date on our progress as they need to do the road / highway planning.

Bill Kurz

Box 1363 Haines, Ak 99827

wckurz@yahoo.com

Lynn Canal Conservation

Music in the Stacks

April 8 – April 14, 2012

Brown Bag Lunch all week

Sunday Melina Shields 1 – 2 pm

Monday Eric Holle 12 – 1 pm

Tuesday Lucy Southern 1 – 2 pm

Wednesday Tom Heywood 12 – 1 pm

Thursday Aleta Adkins 1 – 2 pm

Friday Nancy Nash 12 – 1 pm

Saturday Mario Benassi Jr. 1 – 2 pm

But wait. . . there’s more!

Monday Screening of the movie “The Librarian” 7 pm

Tuesday Video Conference Event – The Loire Valley and its Castles `12 – 1 pm

Library Trivia Challenge 7 pm Win prizes!!

Wednesday Annual meeting – Friends of the Library 6 pm

Showcase of new library technology and entertainment 7 pm

New members welcome!

Thursday Video Conference Event Inside the Vault:

The Curator Series, The Pear Harbor Attack 12 – 1 pm

Art Tour 6 pm

All Week Library fine forgiveness (come in person with your library card)

Free library card replacements

Prizes! For bringing in your library card for checkout!

Play games and create art

Mary Albanese

Author of

“Midnight Sun, Arctic Moon”

Mapping the Wild Heart of Alaska

Reading & book signing

in collaboration with the Babbling Book

@ your library

Tuesday, April 17^th, 2012

7:00 pm

Check out the links I have provided to ‘capture’ you!

See you there :)

http://midnightsunarcticmoon.com/id9.html

http://midnightsunarcticmoon.com/id20.html

http://midnightsunarcticmoon.com/id23.html

http://midnightsunarcticmoon.com/id90.html

Chilkoot River Corridor Improvements

Public Workshop

Tuesday, April 17^th

American Bald Eagle Foundation

6 – 8 pm

Time to Wake up

Here we go again with another change of borough managers. These changes cost us at least $200,000 each time simply for the change. Lost productivity, getting up to speed, new manager getting known to agencies. Near as I can tell we have only had one manager who worked for us a reasonable time. That being Robert Venables. In Robert’s case he spent his early adult life here, married here, raised his family here, owns a home here. That is not the case with any of the others.

For many years the City of Haines had a strong mayor with administrator. The borough had a strong mayor with office help at one point promoted to administrator. Both worked well for years.

Then came unification with a manager and weak mayor. The record shows it simply has not worked. At least with a strong mayor with admistrator we have a leader for 3 years which is longer than our manager average.

It’s time to wake up and make a change.

Bill Kurz