Fort Smith (Feb 13/06) - Michael McLeod plans to wait to see if Fort Smith leaders can hammer out an agreement on how to spend a funding windfall from the GNWT.

The minister of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA) has responded to a recent letter from two Fort Smith leaders asking the territorial government to decide what to do with its $1.5- million share of the Community Capacity Building Fund.

McLeod has encouraged the town council, Salt River First Nation (SRFN) and the Fort Smith Metis Council to reach an agreement.

"It's our desire to have the community make the decision and have all three sides sign off," he says.

In a Jan. 11 letter to McLeod, SRFN Chief Jim Schaefer and Metis Council president Ken Hudson asked MACA to decide how to spend the money, since they were unable to reach an agreement. If the parties can't come to an agreement by Nov.1, he will take the issue to cabinet.

The Northern Life Museum is the focus of disagreement. The SRFN and Metis want the museum to get $400,000 of the funding, while the town thinks the figure should be $100,000.

Mayor Peter Martselos says he is pleased the minister wants talks to continue.

"I'm sure at the end of the day common sense will prevail," Martselos said.

Aside from money for the museum, the Fort Smith Metis and SRFN have proposed $300,000 for the band's planned children's centre, $200,000 for the Metis to upgrade Roaring Rapids Hall, $100,000 for a Bailey bridge at Thehacha campsite, and $500,000 for the town.

Town council wants about $800,000 for various community improvement projects.