Jess McDiarmid
Northern News Services
Published Friday, January 18, 2008

YELLOWKNIFE - City councillor Shelagh Montgomery asked the city to be more diligent about leaving its vehicles idling at Monday night's council meeting.

She said she had noticed on the weekend a city vehicle left running in a no idling zone while a city worker was clearing snow in front of city hall. Montgomery said she went inside to pick up items and do some reading and when she came out, the worker was in the truck eating while it still ran.

"One of the reasons we all hear about why those trucks are allowed to idle is to keep them warm, because that's their place of office," said Montgomery. "Well, the door was wide open."

If the city doesn't already have an internal policy on idling, the councillor said she would like to see one put in place.

Heritage award to local teen

Council voted unanimously to give the 2007 Heritage Award to Tyler Heal, a 16-year-old Yellowknifer who recently published a book documenting the history of the city's street names.

The Times Behind the Signs, a compilation of articles published weekly in Yellowknifer, was released in late November 2007.

"What Tyler has done here would be a tremendous accomplishment for a historian or anyone. That he's done it before he can get a driver's licence or drink a beer, and he didn't even keep the profits, he gave that to the heritage society, it's a tremendous achievement," said Coun. Paul Falvo.

Heal designed the book and did the publishing work. He's donating proceeds to the NWT Mining Heritage Society.

Councillor questions mortgage agreement

Coun. David Wind put some tough questions to city administration about a bylaw authorizing the city to grant a roughly $1.75-million mortgage for the construction of the Bailey House.

While city administrators assured council the bylaw didn't mean borrowing or vulnerability, Wind asked for more information on funding agreements of the joint project.

Under the agreements, the Salvation Army will run the facility for 15 years, at which time it will take ownership. Wind said he worried what would happen if "everything fell apart," leaving Yellowknife footing the bill for a defaulted mortgage.

But director of public safety Dennis Marchiori said due to yet another agreement, if the mortgage went into default before the 15-year period ended, the city would regain control of the land and building. It could then decide whether to find another operator for the facility or sell it to pay off the mortgage.

Wind said in light of the new information he would support the bylaw.

"Just go for the vote, Wind says yes," said Coun. Lydia Bardak, laughing.

She added she was pleased to support it and the "exciting" three-way agreement between the public, private and non-profit sectors.

Mayor Gordon Van Tighem, a former banker, praised Wind for asking "all the right questions that a banker would have asked."