Veterinarian says trucks won't hurt horses
Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Nov 03/00) - Things are heating up in the fight over Lot 7, a four-acre piece of land beside North Country Stables on Highway 3.
Earlier this month, the stables' owners and local residents pledged to fight local entrepreneur Blair Weatherby and his proposal to move his trucking business from Kam Lake to Lot 7.
Last week one of the three co-owners, 13-year Yellowknife veterinarian Dr. Tom Pisz, did a 180 degree turn and endorsed Weatherby's move.
Pisz opposed the development at an Oct 17 public services committee meeting. The minutes quote him "(expressing) concern that this (Weatherby Trucking) development is inappropriate."
But in an interview with Yellowknifer earlier this week Pisz said the development might help the stables. He said he changed his mind after Weatherby told him that he would help whenever he could with the stables.
"He offered to plow our driveway and groom our arena," said Pisz.
It is now his belief that "the trucks won't hurt the horses."
Pisz said co-owner Joanna Jonkisz has blown things out of proportion.
Jonkis told Yellowknifer that the truck business would lead to the closure of the stable, and cost them two jobs.
"The stable does not employ anybody," said Pisz, referring to the Oct 25 article where Jonkisz said the stable employs two instructors.
Jonkisz said Pisz's change of mind was caused by a personally motivated vendetta.
According to Jonkisz Pisz is reacting to a domestic incident which he said happened on Oct 19, two days after the committee hearings.
According to police reports Pisz allegedly uttered death threats against Jonkisz. He was released under a restraining order which restricts him from the stables which is on the same lot as the house he and Jonkisz shared.
The case has not gone before court.
"This is a personal thing," said Jonkisz.
"He's trying to get me back for what happened," she said.
Pisz disagrees and said the stable cannot survive without him. since he is the only one who knows anything about horses, a view shared by some of the stable's customers.
In letters submitted to the court over the restraining order several customers feared that their investments in their horses would suffer should Pisz not be allowed to visit.
The third owner, retired Yellowknife accountant Nunda Rao has sided with Jonkisz.
"I don't stand beside Pisz," said Rao.
