Yellowknife (Nov 19/04) - Mayor Gord Van Tighem says nothing will get resolved at Northland Trailer Park until its condo board takes charge of negotiations with the city.

For the second time in a couple of months, dozens of Northland residents filed into the Great Hall of the legislative assembly Monday night. This time they were there to discuss a written response by Mayor Gord Van Tighem to a number of questions residents had about their property taxes, among other things.

Many feel the city is treating residents of the park unfairly. They pay property taxes, but don't receive direct services from the city because the park is considered private property.

They are also facing a multi-million dollar bill to replace their aging water and sewer system.

The meetings have been led by Wade Friesen, a 22-year-old owner of three trailers in the park. He doesn't sit on the park's governing board, Yellowknife Condominium Corp. No. 8, but unlike the board, has so far proved more successful at getting residents to show up for meetings.

About 150 people attended Monday's meeting. There are 259 homes in Northland altogether.

"As far as dealing with one member, unelected, just a spokesperson, there's not a legal entity to deal with," said Van Tighem.

"What he needs to do now, as the personality, is to deal with the board."

Van Tighem said it's up to residents to make sure they attend the board's annual general meeting Dec. 2 to give the condo board some direction, so the city can then work with them. Board meetings have been poorly attended in the past, often with not enough trailer owners attending to reach quorum.

Friesen said it likely won't be long before he has all the legitimate authority he needs to deal with Mayor Van Tighem and the city.

He said a group of residents, including himself, are planning to ask the board to strike a committee which will bargain with the city.

"If it's the board he wants to deal with, then the board we will become," said Friesen.

"It's going to be a kind of advisory committee for the board, so they can tackle the legal and we'll tackle the political with whatever appears needed to be done."

Friesen said there appears to be a lot of support among residents to form this committee. He also expects the AGM to be well attended.

Board treasurer Bill Graham, who didn't attend Monday's meeting, said the board is prepared to hear what residents have to say.

Resident and former city councillor Trevor Kasteel intends to be part of the committee.

"If we are thought of as just one big property, then why are we not taxed as just one big property," said Kasteel. "The city is going to have to bend on some of this stuff, and we probably will, too."

Frame Lake MLA Charles Dent, who attended the meeting, said he thinks the city is being unfair on at least some issues. "Their trailers seem to have been valued and assessed the same as mobile homes in other areas of the city, where the services are handled in a different way," said Dent.

"I'm not sure that's being fair."