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Council briefs Burst pipe at Co-op Simon Whitehouse Northern News Services Published Wednesday, March 27, 2013 Chris Greencorn, acting public works and engineering director, said the problem most likely stems from an aging half-inch service line leading to a single residence in the area of Wilkinson Crescent and Borden Drive north of the co-op. The city is not exactly sure where, however.
He said there is a possibility for more breaks given the number of problems the city has encountered over the past four years. Public works is continuing to maintain and assess the area until the spring thaw.
The burst pipe has caused the ditch along Old Airport Road to fill up with water and has made for treacherous travel in the underpass under the road from the Co-op parking lot and onto Frame Lake, which is covered in overflow. Maintenance crews have to then excavate and clear the water out of the ditch each time there is a break.
City negotiating to turn tailings pond into sports field
The drumbeat for an additional outdoor sports field is growing louder as the city enters negotiations with Con Mine owner Newmont Mining to take over an old tailings pond site near Taylor Road.
Jeff Humble, director of planning and economic development, told city council on March 18 that the city has been in discussions with Newmont on what the potential is for the city to acquire remediated land for recreational use on the Con Mine site.
The land in question, which contains a tailings pond, is about 80 hectares off the main curve on Taylor Road. The city envisions using at least part of the area to build multiple ball parks, a running track and a few soccer pitches. Humble said the city is working toward a memorandum of understanding with the mining firm, and while it could materialize as early as this summer, there are still many unknowns at this point, including whether it is economically and environmentally feasible to upgrade the area for recreational use.
"The heart of the issue is determining the level of remediation or what additional standard or improvements would be required for bringing it up to acceptable standard for park space," said Humble.
"Right now (the mining firm) are only legally required to bring it up to industrial standard."
Con Mine general manager Scott Stringer said there is still a lot of work to do before a decision can be made on the matter.
"We've had preliminary discussions with the city on a concept that may or may not work but there is a lot of work to do before we can determine whether it is something that can or cannot happen," he said.
Councillor thanks emergency services for Jamboree help
City councillor Cory Vanthuyne, who also serves on the board of directors for the Long John Jamboree, heaped praise last on the city's fire department and municipal enforcement division for keeping an eye on things during the Jamboree's fireworks show and giant bonfire on Yellowknife Bay, March 16.
As the site planner, he said part of his responsibility is dealing with risk assessment and communicating with municipal enforcement and fire department.
"So we had added patrols and a little extra attention paid to the fact that the event was going on and things going on like the Big Burning Thing," said Vanthuyne. "They put a couple of guys on snow machines that patrolled the fireworks area. We are very thankful for that kind of support."
The city has also helped out with special grant funding and provided a number of other services as well, including rented items such as tents, tables and chairs.
The Long John Jamboree board of directors is to be meet again April 2 for a post-event meeting.
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