Yellowknife (Dec 08/04) - Wade Friesen has done exactly what the mayor suggested.

The Northland trailer court resident, along with several other fresh faces, joined the board of Yk Condo Corporation No.8 at the organization's annual general meeting Thursday.

The 22-year-old became the de facto leader of a group of Northland residents this fall after he successfully organized a pair of meetings that drew out most of the neighbourhood.

Residents came to discuss a multi-million dollar bill they may be forced to pay in order to replace their aging water and sewer infrastructure. Many of them feel the city should give Northland residents a break because they pay property taxes, but don't receive services to their individual lots.

Mayor Gord Van Tighem told Yellowknifer last month that he wouldn't deal with Friesen from a legal point of view until he became a member of the condo board.

Now, residents have elected Friesen to the board.

Board meetings, usually poorly-attended, drew about 140 people for the AGM. Residents also voted to set up a committee to work with the city in hopes of settling their problems.

The board still has to select executive members, including their president.

Friesen said the committee's first task will be to organize their case, so they can properly prepare for negotiations with the city.

"Now that I'm on the board I look forward to working with the city on this," said Friesen.

"I look forward to resolving this quickly and I hope they feel the same way."

Trevor Kasteel, a former city councillor, was also elected to the board Thursday night.

He had previously never attended a board meeting, but said there is plenty of interest now, from both himself and residents-at-large.

"The whole Northland is all on one page now," said Kasteel.

"The good thing is to have it all under Yk Condo Corp No.8. The city will have to recognize the people who are bringing this issue forward and dealing with it."