Fort Simpson (Jun 09/06) - Council voted in favour to pass the third and final reading of the bylaws to increase water and sewer rates and mill rates.

The rates for water and sewer are increasing by 10 per cent across the board from last year, lower than originally proposed.

The original bylaw called for increases from $4.20 per 1,000-litres to $5.00 for residential rates and from $7.96 to $10.60 for all other users.

Rates will now be $4.62 for residential, $8.25 for bulk purchases and $8.76 for all other uses.

The mill rate (the amount of tax paid per dollar of an assessed property value) has been increased by the planned one per cent. Vacant and undeveloped land has an additional increase of 30 per cent on the rates.

Helping dogs

Representatives from Cause for Paws, Betty Hanson and Shauna Christensen, came to the village council meeting to provide an update on group activities.

Hanson told council that over the month, she plans to visit every residence in the village with a survey. The goal is to determine the number of dogs in the area.

"We need to get to the people," she said.

Hanson said she will also be pressing owners to get tags for their dogs. She asked council to consider dropping the $50 fee for tags for non-fixed animals to $25 during her campaign.

Mayor Duncan Canvin said council might consider a one-time amnesty.

After the survey is completed, Hanson said she will come back to council to present her findings and talk about the areas of greatest need.

Needing more space

Village council voted in favour of allowing the Open Sky Festival to use additional space in the Visitors' Information Centre for the Nah a Dehe artist project exhibition.

The festival is booking the video screening room from June 28 to July 5, but also needed extra space in the permanent collection area for the work, explained Michael Blyth, the artistic director for the festival.

Mayor Canvin expressed some concern that tourists may come to the VIC to learn about the village and the displays are needed for that purpose.

Blyth said the work in the exhibition has similar themes to the displays that will need to be moved for the week.