by Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jan 16/98) - The territorial government is prepared to hand over a property at the top of the city's list of preferred locations for the proposed arena complex.

"Our intention is to provide them with the site for a nominal sum," said Ken Lovely, deputy minister of the Department of Public Works and Services.

Asked what "nominal" means, Lovely answered, "Maybe a dollar, who knows?"

A building sitting on the property currently serves as the government's liquor warehouse. Government records are also stored there. A new liquor warehouse being constructed near the airport is scheduled to be completed in March or April, Lovely said.

"The city hasn't really chosen what site it wants to build on," said the deputy minister. "They've asked us to set aside that property and that's been agreed to."

The government has yet to decide what will become of the building, said Lovely.

That may not be done any time soon. Ald. Cheryl Best said last week the city has not yet decided if it will even build the arena.

On Wednesday, Best said the arena issue will likely arise at Monday's meeting of city council's community services committee.

One option making the rounds at city hall is getting the site from the GNWT and then selling it to private interests to offset the cost of building the arena and community centre elsewhere.

That's not going to happen, said Lovely.

"The site would only be made available if used for the purpose it's being requested."