Thanks to Drew Degen for his commentary. No one makes compliments regarding Mr. Floreske and his business dealings with those unfortunate residents who were forced to participate in his water system, or his illegal filling of wetland/salmon habitat. My concerns have to do with the safety of his helicopter landing zone proposal. Over many years of driving through the 10 Mile curves I have all too frequently experienced very high gusting winds in an area that many consider the windiest place in the Chilkat Valley. I’ve often heard it called “a blowhole,” or more appropriately “a dirty blowhole” due to all the sand and grit blown into the air off of the riverbed. I can’t understand the Haines Borough Planning Commission’s failure to recognize that this is an area that experiences extreme weather and is an inappropriate location for building three helipads. An aircraft that is caught in a downdraft might ed up in the river, or on the road in front of some family traveling to town. Consider the distraction that several helicopters attempting to land would present to operators of motor vehicles, especially those from out of town. I’m absolutely baffled as how the planning commission arrived at the conclusion that a place known to have the worst weather in the valley, with vehicles going by at 55 mph in close proximity to landing aircraft, was an appropriate use. Have they already taken up recreational use of marijuana before we’ve voted on it?

John Norton