Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Jan 26/01) - Rycon Trailer park could prove too expensive for the city to service says a city administration report
The report said the cost of servicing the 30 year-old park is considered "prohibitively expensive".
The report is based on an engineering study conducted this summer and has been submitted to the public services committee.
While two options are outlined for preserving Con Place trailer park, Rycon has been omitted.
The land Rycon and Con trailer parks occupy is part of a bigger parcel of land which includes the land in and around Con Mine.
Con Mine is projected to shut down in four years. Mirimar will then turn over the land back to the GNWT from which it leases. The city gets first crack at the land for leasing purposes because it falls within its boundaries.
The initial report meant to give councillors something to chew on ultimately recommends a committee be struck to look at all possible options for both parks. But at the outset Rycon is a tough sell.
City planner Dave Jones said the layout of Rycon poses logistical problems which hike up costs. Most of the eight lots in Rycon sit on one side of the road which, according to Jones, makes service hook-ups pricey.
"Con Park is a typical cul-de-sac and cheaper to service, you lay down one pipe and service both sides of the road," said Jones.
"In every instance (in Rycon) there is only units on one side of the road and it makes it extremely expensive," said Jones.
Lot owners would have to pay between $3,000 to $5,000 to hook into the city water and sewer lines. This offsets some costs for the city with lots on both sides.
Monte Christensesn, manager of the city's planning and lands division said administration's report reflects his department's initial opinion on the trailer parks, but it does not mean Rycon is out of the equation.
"We could change our minds," said Christensen.
Christensen said there are a host of options available to keep Rycon.
"One of the purposes of the committee is to look at options," said Christensen, "Rycon could come up."
He said administration's report is just a starting point.
Mayor Gord Van Tighem is optimistic about Rycon's chances. He said the new committee will have an opportunity to look at the bigger picture.
"The larger the area, the better the chances of a private developer taking a look at it," said Van Tighem.
The terms and conditions for a committee to look at the trailer parks will be presented to the public services committee on Feb 6.
