Hay River (Feb 27/06) - Hay River has been asked if it's interested in taking over the territorial park within its boundaries.

Industry, Tourism and Investment Minister Brendan Bell made the offer at a Feb. 20 meeting of town council.

Industry, Tourism and Investment Minister Brendan Bell, left, chats with Councillor Mike Maher at a Feb. 20 meeting of Hay River Town Council.- Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

Bell believes local control would mean better operation of the Hay River Territorial Park, which consists of 36 campsites and a beach on the shore of Great Slave Lake.

"You're here on the ground and can do at least as good or a better job than we can," he said.

The minister also noted parks infrastructure funding receives "short shrift" from the GNWT because of other priorities, such as health and schools.

"I don't think I'm going to be successful getting capital dollars and I think it needs some refurbishment," he said.

However, Bell claimed the offer is not an offload of responsibilities."We're certainly not trying to dump anything on you."

There have been similar discussions with Yellowknife and Inuvik on territorial parks in those communities. The parks are operated by private interests under contract to the GNWT.

The takeover idea received a mixed response from Hay River councillors.

"From my perspective, I'd like to keep it in territorial government hands," said Coun. Robert Bouchard, noting it would only be more infrastructure for the town to look after.

"It's an attractive deal," joked Coun. Dean McMeekin, noting it came with no GNWT money.

Mayor Diana Ehman said the town would study the offer and the equipment involved. The council passed a motion to investigate the matter.

"We can't just turn it away without looking at what you're offering us," she said.

"If it's a bad deal for the town, you won't take it," Bell said.

Some town residents at the meeting raised concerns.Doug Swallow pointed out there are dirty campsites and glass on the beach and noted a piece of equipment known as a sand sifter - which removes glass from the beach - is in bad shape.

"Be careful you're not stuck with a lemon," Swallow told council.

The campsites were created by the GNWT in 1970. The park was expanded in 1992 to include the beach, which had previously been run by the town. For one year in the late 1990s, the town resumed operating the beach before turning in back to the GNWT.