Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sep 22/04) - There was extensive debate over whether mobile homes should be permitted in Fort Simpson's downtown at Monday evening's council meeting.

Council denied an application to place a new, $135,000 mobile home on a R-1 zoned, band land, leased lot on 101 Avenue. The village's bylaw states mobile homes can be located on R-1 lots at council's discretion. Without a valid reason for rejecting the development application, the village could be facing a lawsuit, senior administrative officer Bernice Swanson warned.

Coun. Kim Squires argued the community has a trailer court and it should be used for such dwellings.

"I don't want mobile homes all over downtown Fort Simpson," said Coun. Norm Prevost.

Councillors Tom Wilson and Bob Hanna noted council is in a difficult position because other mobile homes have been permitted downtown. Prevost replied those developments were approved by previous councils, not this one. He added the applicant can pursue an appeal process.

A vote on the matter wound up tied 3-3, which is considered defeated. Mayor Raymond Michaud, Wilson and Coun. Dave Wright were in favour while Hanna, Squires and Prevost were opposed. Coun. Owen Rowe excused himself from the debate due to conflict. Deputy mayor Dennis Nelner and Coun. Betty Hardisty were not present at the meeting.

Get a move on

Terms of reference for a consultant's study on village versus hamlet status should be advertised within the next few weeks.

The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, which will pay for the analysis, produced the draft terms of reference a few days after Mayor Raymond Michaud wrote a tersely-worded e-mail to express his growing impatience on the issue.

"Plain and simple, I'm tired of the slow-down tactics," he said Monday night.

The village is currently facing the prospect of cutting another $400,000 from its next budget, which Michaud described as "unacceptable."

He campaigned for mayor as a proponent of reverting to hamlet status for economic reasons.

Council will get to select the successful candidate to carry out the village versus hamlet analysis.

Time to hammer it out

Coun. Owen Rowe criticized the NWT Power Corporation for continuing to operate in Fort Simpson without a franchise agreement.

He and Coun. Norm Prevost agreed the village should force the Power Corporation to sign a deal. As an example, Prevost said if the village charged the Power Corporation a $100,000 franchise fee -- money that will flow to village coffers -- the Power Corporation will undoubtedly hike rates several cents per kilowatt to recover the loss. However, government and commercial businesses will pay a significant share of the increased costs, making it worthwhile, according to Prevost.

Welcome, marshal

Tyrone Larkin, the new assistant fire marshal for the Deh Cho, introduced himself to council on Monday evening. Based in Fort Simpson, Larkin said his duties will include fire prevention and education; training fire departments; inspections; investigations and enforcement.

"The purpose of the whole thing is to save lives," he said, adding that he has 25 years of experience.