Jeannie Rocher's request to receive a rebate on the 1998 property taxes for the building portion of the assessment has been turned down by the city's financial, legislative and administrative committee.

As a result of the 1997 fire, the assessed value of the improvement was reduced to $40,940 from $319,000. Council granted a rebate in November 1997 representing the property taxes from August 1997 to December 1997. If granted, the rebate would be $843.36.

Meanwhile, nothing has been done to improve the condition of the building since the fire.

The Rochers, who own the building, have not yet decided what they plan to do with the building site.

A deadline of August of 1999 has been set by their insurance company for the Rochers to clearly define what they plan to do with the building by this date.

City council will vote on the requested rebate next Monday.

More help needed

Sharp downturns in gold prices is resulting in the owner's of Yellowknife's Giant mine turning to the city for help.

The GNWT has developed a contribution program through its Exploration and Development Work Program and has requested that the city become a partner in the program.

The plan suggests that the city contribute $37,500 in 1998, $150,000 in 1999 and $112,500 in 2000 to Royal Oak's cause.

The City of Yellowknife is still assessing the situation and realizes what a negative affect the loss of even one of the mines could have on the community.

According to Coun. Bob Brooks, if Royal Oak were to go under, the city would loose an annual income of about $30,000 that comes in from those employed at the mine and their families.

"It not only keeps them working -- it looks at the long term situation for Yellowknife," said Brooks about the effect the plan will have on miners in Yellowknife.

What is to be done about the situation will likely be announced at the legislative assembly today. It will then be discussed at council the following Monday.

City of Yellowknife's legal budget

On July 13, 1998, city council established a policy to keep it informed of the city's legal spending.

The legal spending budget for the city was divided into three categories.

There is the general legal fees category, which includes written and verbal legal opinions the city receives from its legal counsel, and the litigation legal fees category, which includes fees for different non-insurance related lawsuits the city is involved.

There is also the development appeal board legal fees category, which includes the provision of legal advice for the development appeal board.

In 1998, the city allotted $10,000 for development appeals and spent basically nothing on it.

It allotted $50,000 for general legal fees and spent only $44, 647.

However, the city went through three major lawsuits in 1998, pushing it over budget in the litigation category.

The budget was $60,000 and they spent $126,430.