Residents praise Dr. Barbara Haney and urge borough to review policies under Executive Order 14168

The Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly on Oct. 23 honored outgoing Assemblymember Dr. Barbara Haney and heard extended public testimony urging the borough to review facility policies in light of Executive Order 14168. Dozens of residents spoke during the public‑comment period, many thanking Haney for her three years on the assembly and citing her work on fiscal transparency and protections for single‑sex spaces.

Sierra Kohler, speaking by phone, asked the assembly to "review borough policies in light of Executive Order 14168 to ensure compliance, safeguard our funding, and protect our young athletes." Kohler told the assembly she was a former state record‑holding swimmer and said the order ties federal funding to policies that define access to single‑sex facilities by biological sex.

Several other speakers described incidents at borough facilities that they said illustrate the need for policy changes. Johanna Rae recounted a recent episode at a borough pool in which "he walked right in and walked within 3 feet of a 10‑year‑old girl," and said staff treated the person as a regular presence. Adelina Stanton said a man "continually comes in and tries to take over the space," adding that attendants have largely "complied with the borough laws" without restricting access.

Kaitlyn Klimek, another commenter, warned that failure to comply with federal directives could jeopardize federal grant funding and estimated a potential exposure of up to "$200,000,000 in federal funding," a figure she said includes infrastructure and education grants that help the borough.

Assembly members did not take formal action during the public‑comment period. Presiding officers closed the hearing after testimony and later proceeded with scheduled resolutions and administrative business. Mayor Hopkins and borough staff acknowledged the concerns raised and committed to providing written policies on restroom and locker‑room use and to follow up with the assembly, answering questions from members about private‑party pool policies and accommodations.

What happens next: speakers called for the administration to develop a plan to bring borough policies into compliance with the executive order and to protect minors in single‑sex changing spaces. The assembly did not adopt a specific ordinance or policy change during the meeting; residents were told administration would provide existing policy language and that the issue would likely return to council or staff for review.