By Jessica Edwards
The Haines Borough Assembly April 22 heard complaints from Haines
Highway residents about helicopters, voted to end a mandatory insurance program for
assembly members, and amended a request from the Chilkoot Indian Association to rezone to
multiple residential.
The assembly also advanced to a third public hearing May 13 an
ordinance that would ask voters in the October municipal election whether to exempt the
Haines Borough from the Alaska Public Official Financial Disclosure Law.
During public comment, six residents complained about increased
helicopter noise and activity this spring in the Chilkat Valley.
Assembly member Deborah Vogt said public testimony made it clear that
"we really need a way of monitoring the heli-ski industry…and a schedule for
penalties."
Carolyn Weishahn, who lives at 40 Mile Haines Highway, said she had
documented helicopters deviating from designated flight paths out of 33 Mile even when the
weather was good, and said a system that placed the burden on residents to monitor
helicopter activities was problematic.
"It is very difficult for citizens to document and get that
information to you, have action taken on it, and have it be fool-proof." Weishahn
said the borough should mandate in-flight GPS monitoring devices such as those used in
other parts of the state.
"We need to have monitoring on the helicopters…We’ve got
to have enforcement."
Floy McDowell, a 26 Mile Haines Highway resident, said the borough
needed to put into place a fines and penalties schedule. She said residents had filed
complaints to the borough regarding helicopters in no-fly zones and nothing had been done.
"No fines have been set for their infractions," she said.
"I feel it sets bad precedent and needs to be resolved."
Resident Sheri Brewington of 27 Mile Haines Highway also cited
infractions this season. "This heli-skiing has been do-able in the last four
years," she said. "But this year we have somebody who’s a rebel and
won’t play by the rules…We need stiffer fines or to suspend licenses."
Dave Werner said although he wasn’t against heli-ski tourism, the
heli-pad at 18 Mile had seen increased use this year and wondered if there was an
alternate site that might be of less impact to residents. "It’s just getting to
be a little too much. They’ve been operating over 13 hours…from the crack of
dawn ‘til sunset."
Werner recommended 19 Mile and 25 Mile as possible alternatives,
suggestions that didn’t sit well with Gordon Whitermore, who said 19 Mile was an
"echo-chamber" and noted there are homes at 25 Mile. Whitermore said he’d
witnessed a gray and black helicopter violating designated flight paths.
Mayor Fred Shields tasked the commerce committee to address the issue
of setting fines for helicopter tour permit violations, and said he would refer the issue
of landing sites to the planning commission.
Later in the meeting, Jim Conway of Teton Gravity Research withdrew a
request his company made for one-time permission to film in two areas outside those
designated for commercial heli-skiing: south of the Davidson Glacier and East of Lynn
Canal.
Conway said good weather had rendered new locations unnecessary, but
said his company might make a similar request, limited to a few days, in the future.
Assembly member Deborah Vogt said borough code didn’t allow for an
exception. "Code requires that we change the map," she said, adding that the
assembly could conceivably amend the map to open a particular area for a few days. Vogt
said it was important that all heli-ski activities avoid designated sensitive habitat
areas.
"We need to know about it ahead of time," said Doug Olerud.
"We’ll need 10 months to work on this."
Members of the assembly also voted unanimously to end participation in
an insurance program administered by the state employees’ union, after a
misunderstanding that coverage was optional.
The program, which mandates assembly members’ enrollment, is
costing the borough about $70,000 a year – about $10,000 a piece for six members and
the mayor.
Members of the assembly who voted for the benefits last October,
including Jerry Lapp, Vogt, Olerud and Pete Lapham, said they did so with the
understanding that members could opt out of the coverage and save the borough the cost of
redundant or unnecessary policies.
At least two assembly members already have coverage and a third member
doesn’t want it.
Resident Rob Pollock said he thought it a conflict of interest that
borough assembly members voted themselves health benefits. He said many borough residents
were without insurance coverage.
The assembly voted 5-1, with Olerud opposed, to remove from the table
an ordinance amending the official zoning map to change a parcel of property owned by the
CIA from light industrial to multiple residential. The ordinance was amended to remove
property owned by the Port Chilkoot Company from the request.
The original ordinance was tabled April 8, after Olerud objected to Lee
Heinmiller’s participation in the borough planning commission’s recommendation
for the zoning change. Olerud said Heinmiller, who is president of Port Chilkoot Company,
had a conflict of interest.
Olerud said he was satisfied the amended ordinance, which rezoned only
the CIA property, cleared any ethical questions, but he was still opposed. "I still
think it’s a mistake to rezone commercial to residential."
He said he hoped to see commercial and industrial growth in the
townsite, and continually rezoning tracts for residential use precluded such development.
Olerud suggested the CIA proceed with its subdivision with a variance in the existing
commercial zone.
CIA environmental coordinator Scott Hanson told the assembly April 8
that a variance in a commercial zone was not an option, as it would allow for activities
such as commercial auto and heavy equipment repair, bulk fuel storage, or solid waste
transfer next door.
CIA tribal administrator Greg Stuckey said this week the project was
"pretty much on schedule." A final environmental review is pending, and
engineering should be completed in the next couple weeks, he said.
Initial road construction is set for late July or early August.
In other business, Mayor Fred Shields appointed an ad hoc advisory
committee to review applications for police chief and officers and make hiring
recommendations. Appointees are Dick Flegel, Ike Lorentz, Mike Case, Jerry Erny, and Bill
Stacey.
The Public Safety Commission will also review the half dozen or so
applications for both officer and chief positions and make recommendations.
The assembly authorized manager Robert Venables to negotiate a contract
with Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures to provide cruise ship passenger shuttle
service.
