Fort Simpson council briefs

Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Oct 22/04) - North of 60 Training and Consulting, a Fort Simpson business, has been selected to carry out a study on hamlet versus village status. The start date is Oct. 25. A draft result is to be presented to council at an in-camera committee meeting on Dec. 13.

The other proposals were submitted by Fort Simpson's Nogha Engineering and Environmental Services, Cowater International Inc. based in Ottawa, and Priority Consulting and TKMC out of Edmonton.

The cost of the work was not publicly disclosed. Bernice Swanson, senior administrative officer, said costs are revealed for tenders, but not in the request for proposals process.

The Business Incentive Program was applied, allowing 15 per cent higher cost for Northern bids and an additional five per cent for local bids. The scoring system was agreed upon by the village and the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, which is funding the study.

The pipeline business

Darrell Becker, Imperial's community affairs officer for the Deh Cho, told council Monday that benefits plans will not be negotiated with municipalities, but there will be numerous business opportunities associated with construction of a proposed Mackenzie Valley pipeline.

Deputy Mayor Dennis Nelner demanded to know whether local businesses will be guaranteed work. He said the Village of Fort Simpson doesn't have the money or personnel to articulate its business case.

"We can't dedicate our entire lives to this," Nelner said, adding that the federal government and GNWT must help out. "If people aren't planning now they're not going to get anything, really."

Mayor Raymond Michaud recapped that the village is seeking items such as alternate access to Fort Simpson Island, which would abet development; donations for recreation infrastructure; inheriting equipment from the pipeline project such as incinerators, compactors and chippers; use of a new barge landing for ferry operations.

Coun. Tom Wilson mentioned local interest in having power provided to the village from a compressor station or other sites.

Michaud added it would be helpful if Imperial would provide cash up front for projects such as clearing the pipeline right-of-way or producing pipeline skids at the sawmill in Jean Marie River, giving the communities some much needed lead time.

Becker replied that the pipeline is not a sure thing.

"It's far from done. It's far from secure," he said.

Union negotiations

Councillors Tom Wilson and Dave Wright will sit on the negotiations committee to hammer out another collective agreement with unionized village employees.

Lawyer Glen Tait has again been retained by the village. Negotiation dates are Nov. 23-25. The existing agreement expires on Dec. 31, 2004.

Byatt aboard

Council has accepted Mitchell Byatt as youth councillor. Byatt is the president of Thomas Simpson school's student council.