Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (June 26/02) - Yellowknife ratepayers will go to the polls Sept. 10 to decide whether the city should borrow money to complete Phase I construction of the twin pad arena.

City council reached a decision on a plebiscite at last Monday's regular meeting.

In May, council announced the Phase I portion of the $13 million arena was $2 million over budget.

The plan calls for the city to borrow $1.65 million to be paid back over 20 years. An additional $950,000 in excess capital funding will also go toward paying off the budget overrun.

Council spent Monday afternoon agonizing over several options, including a decision whether or not to cut some of the bells and whistles outlined in the original design.

They had originally voted to forego gymnasium curtains, and painting steel fixtures inside the complex, but had a change of heart at the public meeting later that night.

"I just kept thinking 'hmmn, (after) $13 million is it finished?' " said Coun. Robert Hawkins, who earlier voted against the paint and curtains.

While council voted unanimously to re-include the smaller items, it remained divided over the plebiscite.

Councillors Dave Ramsay and Alan Woytiuk wanted the repayment period to only last for 10 years.

Ramsay also wanted a second question added to the ballot, asking whether ratepayers would be in favour of borrowing to complete both phases of the arena.

"I think that definitely should've been an option," said Ramsay. "There's a real appetite for that (to complete the arena early)."

He argued that the 20-year plan will cost the city an extra $750,000 and that residents are anxious to see the arena completed now.

Others disagreed.

"We were told quite clearly by administration that we don't know how much the second phase will cost," said Coun. Ben McDonald.

The best administration can guess is that Phase II, which includes the twin arena pad, will cost around $3.4 million.

Coun. O'Reilly also said he was worried the city would have to make cuts in other areas if council opted for the 10-year plan.

"Yeah, the difference is about $70,000 a year to make a 20-year payment, but I don't think we'll meet our financial stability objectives," said O'Reilly.

Coun. Robert Hawkins wanted council to take the plebiscite one step further by putting all options made available to them by administration on the ballot, which would covered 11 different scenarios.

"I think the public is much more educated than some people believe," said Hawkins.

O'Reilly said it would only cause more confusion.

Hawkins later withdrew his motion.