Fort Smith (Feb 06/06) - Community leaders in Fort Smith have failed to agree on how to spend a $1.5 million windfall.

So the territorial government has been asked to decide what to do with the money from the Community Capacity Building Fund.

The request was made in a Jan. 11 letter to Municipal and Community Affairs Minister Michael McLeod written by Chief Jim Schaefer of Salt River First Nation (SRFN) and Ken Hudson, president of the Fort Smith Metis Council.

"It was very clear from the start that the mayor and town council were of the opinion that they alone would decide what community projects would get the funding and only they had the authority to allocate these funds," the letter states.

Hudson says the sides are too far apart to keep talking. "Rather than spending all our time arguing, we sent it back to government and let them decide."

The GNWT set up the $35 million Community Capacity Building Fund in August with money from the Northern Strategy.

All communities were asked how they wanted to spend their shares. If they can't agree, the GNWT will choose from submitted proposals.

The Metis and SRFN want the Northern Life Museum to get $400,000.

Under their proposal, $300,000 would also go to the SRFN's planned children's centre, $200,000 to the Metis to upgrade Roaring Rapids Hall, $100,000 for a Bailey bridge at Thebacha campsite, and $500,000 to the town. Mayor Peter Martselos says $100,000 is more appropriate for the museum since it has other funding sources.

Hudson notes the town started out wanting $1 million for itself.

"What they wanted is to be greedy and get as much money as they can," he says.

Martselos rejects any greedy label, noting the town supports SRFN and Metis requests for their own projects.

Under the town's current proposal, it would get about $800,000.

Martselos says council will now consider a plebiscite. "Let the people decide."

A town survey returned by about 220 residents found their top priorities are recreation, sidewalks and community lighting.