Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 12/02) - The 12 residents of Husky Trailer Park may be getting more money to relocate, if some councillors get their way.

The town decided two weeks ago to close the trailer park because the cost of replacing the utilidette was too high.

At Monday night's committee of the whole meeting, council discussed how council could cushion the blow to residents.

The original plan allowed for a $5,000 relocation allowance paid by the town to owners.

Coun. Don Craik raised the issue because of some comments he'd received from the trailer park's residents, who felt the $5,000 was generous, but not enough.

"They are going to be faced with a lot of costs beyond moving," Craik said.

Coun. George Doolittle said he's also heard from several people who have invested in renovations to their trailers and have planned their futures on staying put.

High costs

"It's not the fault of the town, but some people are going to face very high costs in moving out of there," Doolittle said.

Coun. Vince Sharpe was opposed to the original motion and said the trailer owners will be faced with thousands of dollars in extra expenses.

"A guy offered to give me his trailer because he can't afford to move," Sharpe said.

"Some of these people are going to have to abandon their homes, because of the decision made two weeks ago," Sharpe said.

"You're going to have to live with that."

Husky Trailer Park resident Ron Wainman said not only will there be high costs from moving and reconnecting services, but some of the trailers might not survive the move. "Some of those trailers will not last the move," Wainman said. "If they're moved, they'll fall apart."

Craik suggested that the town could waive the cost of hooking up to the utilidor at the new property.

Sharpe said the town should provide the relocation allowance of $5,000 and add an additional $5,000 off the purchase price of a town lot.

Council agreed to send the matter to the public works committee to see what could be done.