Derek Neary
Northern News Services

FORT SIMPSON (May 14/99) - A public meeting held by the Village of Fort Simpson drew 15 people at its peak last Tuesday evening, but took close to three hours to wrap up as numerous issues were addressed.

The first item discussed was the village's capital projects for this fiscal year, which includes the continuation of work on Main Street. Fifty metres of sewer line is to be added to the line installed last year and storm sewers are to be put in place from the Visitor Information Centre to the Catholic Church. The price tag on the upgrade is $400,000, according to a hand-out from the Village. Improvements to the sewer along Antoine Street will cost another $120,000.

Mayor Norm Prevost noted that the entire project, which was originally on a three-year schedule, is now expected to be complete by 2004. It will culminate with the roads in the village being paved. The total for all the work, which is to include curbs and sidewalks, will be just shy of $2 million, according to Prevost.

The new sewage treatment plant, which is expected to be completed by October, will ring in at $1.8 million plus GST. That money was financed over 15 years with assistance from the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Among the other capital projects for this year are new garbage containers, which will be anchored to the ground along Main Street. They are to come with "bear proof" lids, Prevost said. The garbage cans will cost $5,000.

The recreation centre accounts for a significant portion of the capital projects budget. Seventy-thousand dollars has been set aside for completion of the complex, another $70,000 for work on the heating system, $28,000 for a new key system and $8,000 for floor finisher.

As well, work is to begin on developing a new industrial area near Rowe's Construction. Twenty lots are expected to be created. Fifteen-thousand dollars has been earmarked to get that project rolling.

Two hundred thousand dollars will be put towards paying down the Village's deficit. Prevost said Fort Simpson has been operating with a deficit for 23 years and will finally be clear of it next year. He added that the block-funding agreement with MACA expires as of April, 2000, and village council will renegotiate a new five-year deal.

Finally, improvements to the landfill site will consume $20,000.

The condition of the dump was a contentious issue Tuesday. A few residents voiced their displeasure over the "pitiful" eyesore and potential tire-flattening situation.

"We can't seem to keep control of what's going on out there," Prevost admitted. "People are dumping garbage everywhere. We're going to take a serious look at it and see what we can do to improve things there."

The use of a fence and gravel roads to direct visitors to the proper areas should go a long way towards correcting the problem, Prevost suggested. He added that the life of the dump could be extended another 10 to 15 years since soil and water samples from the area indicate no leaching of heavy metals.

The other issues to arise during the meeting included:

-- One resident said he had a problem with the wording of the request for qualifications (RFQ) for a new power provider for the community. The RFQ states that the Village is in a legal position to purchase the assets of the electrical supply system within the community. The Northwest Territories Power Corporation (NTPC) has countered by stating that if it is not the successful bidder, it will retain the power plant and be willing to sell wholesale power to the successful franchisee.

"It almost sounds like corporate blackmail when I read the letter," Prevost said of NTPC's position on the matter.

Senior administrative officer Bruce Leclaire added, "We don't agree with their legal approach, and it will be resolved."

The resident suggested that the Village is heading into an "ugly legal dispute." He suggested that the Village could put some pressure on NTPC by threatening to use an off-island location for the next power plant, forcing NTPC to move their's or give it up.

The resident also questioned what the Village has to offer by becoming a proposed partner in the power game.

Prevost responded by saying that the Village may not become an equal partner, but may assume control of anywhere between one per cent to 50 per cent of the deal. He added that the Village has no vested interest in making a profit, but simply wants to have access to how rates are set in Fort Simpson and how much is being spent in capital dollars.

The Village is also sincere about making the community as energy efficient as possible and attracting people to the community, Prevost added. As for what the Village has to offer, he said it could offer a cheaper billing system to the next power company.

-- The seemingly irreconcilable argument over whether the Village is not watering the roads enough or wasting too much water on the roads. Leclaire said the Department of Transportation advised the Village that the $48,000 worth of calcium on the streets requires water or it won't be re-activated, and therefore it will be a loss.

While the initial complaints were over the potholes and dust, the new wave of grievances have to do with the wasting of water.

"It seems to be a no-win. If we don't do it, we get complaints; if we do it, we get complaints," said Leclaire.

-- A need for more communication on behalf of the Village was also expressed by a few members of the sparse crowd. One person suggested putting fliers in everyone's mailbox, posting council agendas in public places and even looking at televising council meetings.