FORT SIMPSON (Nov 06/98) - The only plebiscite question which will now appear on December's byelection ballot will be whether the community wishes to enter into a franchise agreement with a power supplier.

The motion before council last week originally specified the Northwest Territories Power Corp. (NTPC), but the reference to NTPC was removed when a few councillors took exception to it.

After hearing the motion, finding out that a draft proposal for a franchise agreement was submitted to the NTPC, and that the NTPC would be visiting to review the proposal on Nov. 16, deputy mayor Bob Hanna said, "I think this is premature."

Coun. Gordon Villeneuve added that he believed "all avenues and options" should be explored.

Coun. Ron McCagg said he would be in agreement with the question only if NTPC was removed from the wording.

Council did agree that the proceeds from a franchise agreement would be earmarked for construction, upgrading or maintenance of recreation facilities.

The issue of a franchise agreement was brought before the public at a meeting last Wednesday. It was explained that a franchise fee of four per cent, or roughly $50,000 per year, would result in a 2.19 per cent increase in power bills, or roughly $7 per month, according to Prevost. The amount received by the village may fluctuate as power usage increases or decreases, he acknowledged.

At Wednesday's meeting, it was said that the village's last franchise agreement was in 1987.