Fort Simpson (Sep 15/06) - Village council is supporting Rowe's Construction Ltd's plans to subdivide a lot and create a six meter road.

Lot 521 is located near the end of the main street where it curves to run towards the boat launch. The small road will connect with the main street.

"I think this is really not a bad idea in all reality," commented Coun. Bob Hanna.

Coun. Bruce Thomas added that the road might help because it will open up an area that is currently very tight to manoeuvre vehicles in.

Helping hand

Village council voted to donate two village employees to assist the Seven Spruce Golf Course with installing two artificial putting surfaces.

Jeff Cressman and Barry Church attended the village council meeting on Sept. 5 to ask council for assistance.

The greens are being installed by two representatives of a company from Ontario from Oct. 12-17. Golf course members will help when they can, but since many have day jobs more assistance is needed, said Cressman.

One of the benefits is that the village employees will be given installation training so they can take more of a leadership role when other greens are done, said Church.

The two greens to be installed on holes nine and four will cost between $30,000 to $40,000 each and come with a 10 year guarantee, Church said.

Formalized relationship

The Village of Fort Simpson and the Seven Spruce Golf Course will be working towards formalizing their relationship. Since the course was started in the early '90s the village and the golf course have worked closely together, said Barry Church. With increased usage of the course there is a potential for liability on both sides, he said.

Church suggested that a document be created before the next golf season.

Mayor Duncan Canvin agreed that this is an issue that should be examined. The next council will look into the matter, said Canvin.

Tracking businesses

Coun. Bob Hanna would like to see tighter controls on business licenses.

Hanna questioned who watches businesses because some seem to have the licenses while others don't.

"As a councillor people on the street ask me that question and I can't answer," said Hanna. The village shouldn't be conducting business with people who don't have a business licence, said Coun.. Candy Brown.

Coun. Tom Wilson agreed.

"If they're in town making money why shouldn't they have a business licence," Wilson asked.

Enforcing business licenses is one of the duties of the by-law officer, said Mayor Duncan Canvin.

"I think this is something we should be more aware of," said Hanna.

Scholarship awarded

Mitchell Byatt has been awarded the second high school scholarship award of excellence from the Village of Fort Simpson to be given this year. The first award was given to Jessie Loutit. The award is worth $1,000.

Byatt is attending the Bachelor of Science program at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia.