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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - City councillor Bob Brooks asked city administration in Monday's regular council meeting whether a pumper truck had been employed to remove "sewage" in the city's alleyways.

By "sewage" Brooks acknowledged he was referring to the human waste found in the alley between 49 and 50 Streets behind the Taste of Saigon restaurant and the rear east-facing wall of Overlander Sports, as reported in last Wednesday's Yellowknifer.

Brooks said he had heard the city had promised to clean the alleyway by using the city's pumper truck to suck up the sewage. But that was news to one city staffer.

"That's the first I've heard of it," said public works director Dennis Kefalas.

"The comment was made," said Mayor Gord Van Tighem, referring to the promise of a pumper truck.

"I don't know what happened," he added.

Brooks further questioned if the city has a policy or strategy to deal with sewage in alleyways.

"As administration I don't think we've had much discussion on it," said Jeff Humble, director of planning and lands, who was acting on city administrator Max Hall's behalf on Monday.

He said the issue, however, is being taken seriously and administration will not be ignoring it.

More Yellowknifers say 'no' to post office sale

Sixty-three Yellowknifers have signed letters protesting the sale of Yellowknife's post office by the federal government's public works department, Coun. Paul Falvo stated during Monday night's council meeting.

And one of those 63 was Falvo himself.

The "for sale" sign first appeared in the window of the historic building in August and since then has generated much debate.

The building, built in 1956, houses Yellowknife's post office on the bottom floor and has vacant space on its upper floors.

In the letters, which all contain the same text, concerned Yellowknifers agreed the building is "the crossroads and heartbeat of our town."

The letters also stress the need to understand the importance of the building as a meeting place in town, Falvo said.

Grant funding boost will go to 2009 budget

City council members voted unanimously on Monday to increase grant funding to $360,000 from $300,000 for the upcoming 2009 budget deliberations.

If the increase is passed in the 2009 budget, 17 groups will receive funding in the coming year.

Among them are: the Yellowknife Seniors' Association ($55,000); SideDoor Ministries ($40,000); the Yellowknife Ski Club ($25,000); and Ecology North ($20,000).

Coun. Bob Brooks again stressed the Grant Review Committee's wish for some groups to "wean themselves off grants, if possible."

One of those groups, said Brooks, who is also chair of the committee, could be Folk on the Rocks. This group has "shown the ability to be self-sufficient," he said.

Folk on the Rocks is up for $15,000 in 2009, and following the wean-off trend, $10,000 in 2010.

Core grant funding has not increased in four years, according to Coun. Kevin Kennedy.

"I think these groups are extremely important to the city," said Coun. Shelagh Montgomery.

The volunteer groups "make a town of this size much more vibrant than it would otherwise be," added Coun. David McCann.