NNSL (JAN 03/97) - "For me, personally, it's been a really good year," says Mayor Dave Lovell, looking back on 1996.

Yet it was a stormy year for Lovell and city council.

Contentious issues such as the Woodyard, houseboaters, Tuaro Dairy bailout, Centre Square library fiasco, and a suit brought by ratepayers to stop weekly closed meetings dogged council through the year.

All but the Tuaro bailout and houseboats date back to previous councils. In spite of it, Lovell said council's second year was far more productive than the first.

"The first year seemed like we spent most of our time dealing with things left over," said Lovell.

"I would say our biggest accomplishment this year has been keeping power rates down," he said, referring to the interventions the city made on general rate applications by the Power Corporation and Northland Utilities.

The interventions resulted in a rate settlements reduced by $400,000 and $8.4 million respectively.

The Power Corp. application applied to the entire Northwest Territories. City consumers pay Northland roughly $17 million for power each year.

"We weren't the only one in on that but I don't think it would have happened without the city's leadership."

Lovell listed the city's Future Focus forums, pro-mining initiatives and progress on the twinning with Takefu, Japan, as other accomplishments of note in 1996.

The twinning, he said, should not distract the city from the ties that benefit it today. "I don't think we should lose our focus," he said. "We do lots of business in the NWT, we've had good relations with the Eastern Arctic."

If he had the chance to turn back the clock, what would Lovell have done differently in 1996?

"Right off the top, the obvious thing is the houseboat situation," said the Mayor, though he added, "I'm not sure a different approach would leave us anywhere different than we are now."

Explaining the motivation for the court action, in which the city is asking the court to rule on jurisdiction over Yellowknife Bay, Lovell said, "Fifteen houseboats are nice, 200 would be a disaster."

Almost every time he has spoken in public this year, Lovell has dwelled on the number of changes ahead for the city.

"It's a time of upheaval, a time of change and uncertainty," said Lovell. "That doesn't mean things are going to be bad -- it's also a time of opportunities."

The city is currently discussing the takeover of Health and Social Services with the territorial government.

It is also considering the option of buying Northland Utilities, having recently received a valuation report which pegged Northland's assets at $15.7 million.

The mayor said he expects the city will lose 200 to 300 people to government downsizing and relocation.

"What we've got to do is look at creating economic opportunities to make up for the opportunities lost by those jobs," he said. That includes capitalizing on the timely start-up of Canada's first diamond mine, just 300 kilometres north of the city.

In October, the business of running the city will be put on temporary hold for the business of running election campaigns.

Referring to the election as the "silly season," Lovell said he hopes it will not cost the city more time than it needs to.

"In six months it's going to be an issue," said Lovell. "I think it's really important to just run the city until then."

The mayor did not say whether he would be seeking re-election, but offered, "I really like the job. It's been one of the best experiences of my life."