City council to vote next Tuesday
Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Nov 10/00) - The gloves came off Monday morning as Weatherby Trucking squared off against North Country Stables in the third of four rounds over the development of Lot 7 off Highway 3.
It was standing room only inside City Hall's committee meeting room packed with around 30 people who sat through two hours of debate which ended with the public services committee unanimously moving the case go before council next Tuesday.
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The sale of this property will positively affect the city's land development fund and generate annual taxes of approximately $3,800. |
Weatherby wants to open a marshalling station where trucks can park and stay out of the Yellowknife downtown core.
But one of the owners of North Country Stables, Joanna Jonkisz, cried foul saying the move would destroy the stables because of its proximity -- Lot 7 is right next door.
Since then Jonkisz has been fighting to block the development despite friendly overtures by Weatherby.
"She has refused to talk to me," said Weatherby.
In a letter submitted by Dr. Tom Pisz, who co-owns the stable with Jonkisz and a third partner, Nunda Rao, the veterinarian stressed it's his belief the development would not affect North Country Stables in any way.
"I believe there is no health risk or any other risk for the horses living within the neighbourhood of this trucking company," Pisz wrote.
Weatherby Trucking revealed photos of the stable's horses in the Wal-Mart parking lot as proof that horses don't bolt at the sound of traffic.
Jonkisz's representative, David Connelly, from Ile Royale Enterprises, challenged the suggestion that horses aren't spooked by vehicles. He tabled a list of 11 cases in Canada which resulted in serious injury or death resulting from spooked horses.
"It's not a question of whether it will happen, it's a question of when," said Connelly.
Connelly also implied that the stables may have legal grounds to file for an injunction in order to freeze development.
"There could be a chance we could file an injunction but it's not for sure," said Collin Chan, a lawyer with the firm Marshall and Company who also attended the meeting.
Now the onus is on City Council to come up with a decision. And if Tuesday's meeting is any indication it could be divisive.
Coun. Kevin O'Reilly wanted more time to make a decision but Coun. Alan Woytuik seemed ready to side with Weatherby.
Mayor Gord Van Tighem was at the meeting.
"We should encourage both sides to talk," said Van Tighem. "We have to make a decision based on the rules in place."
Jonkisz could not be reached for comment as of press time.
