Yellowknife (Sep 10/04) - Senator Nick Sibbeston sent council a copy of a letter he addressed to new Indian Affairs and Northern Development minister Andy Scott, urging that the federal pipeline readiness office be relocated to Fort Simpson from Yellowknife.

Council decided to write Scott a letter of its own reinforcing that request.

The pipeline readiness office shouldn't be 400 miles from the nearest point along the pipeline route, Wilson said.

To approve or not approve

Coun. Dave Wright questioned the need for council to approve development permit applications when the bylaw officer already assesses them.

Although he acknowledged council should continue to be informed of developments, he noted the village's bylaw states developments complying with existing regulations shall be approved, so council has no right to reject them anyway.

As he pointed out at Tuesday's meeting, only one of seven applications on the agenda entailed discretionary use, the other six were "rubber stamped," by council. The approval process winds up delaying applicants' construction plans by weeks, Wright noted.

Coun. Norm Prevost countered that in cities, the approval process can take two to three months. He said residents simply must plan ahead.

Bernice Swanson, the senior administrative officer, said she and the bylaw officer are not qualified development officers or building inspectors. Council sometimes picks up on her oversights, she said.

As well, if a decision on an application is challenged in court, it's best that it's council's decision, she said.

Prevost said a request should be made to have the new assistant fire marshal review development permit applications.

Pipeline problem solvers

Deputy mayor Dennis Nelner and Coun. Tom Wilson were appointed to a community working group, which is being formed to address impacts from the proposed Mackenzie Valley pipeline.

Nelner said government, industry and private business must be tapped for investment dollars in Fort Simpson.

"A group like this will help to focus those (parties)," he said.

Wilson concurred, adding, "I don't think we can just sit on the sideline and wait."

Junior councillor

Council is considering bringing a youth council member aboard. The junior member would have no voting privileges, but may be offered remuneration. There was some debate over whether the honorarium should be paid to the individual or the school's student council.

Senior administrative officer Bernice Swanson said she would investigate what other communities have done.