Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Friday, February 16, 2007

FORT SIMPSON - Work to encourage village residents to fix their pets is still on going by Cause for Paws, said representative Betty Hanson.

Hanson attended the village council meeting on Feb. 5 to provide an update about the group's work.

After completing a survey of local dog owners, Hanson said many have agreed to a barter system to get their pets spayed or neutered. If enough people are interested a deal can be worked out with veterinarian Dewey Stickney, she said.

The bartering service will involve Cause for Paws raising the money for the procedures and owners contributing to the community through sweat equity.

"Hopefully by putting their sweat into their dog they'll be more in charge of their dog," said Hanson.

Hanson said she is looking for a long-term solution and if even 10 dogs are fixed it will be a start.

Change tables considered

Improvements and renovations are ongoing at the recreation centre, said Mayor Duncan Canvin, who recently toured the facility.

Following recommendations, change tables for babies will be installed in the washrooms.

Chipping in

Village council will be doing a number of things to assist with the upcoming Beavertail Jamboree.

Following a request from the jamboree's planning committee, councillors agreed to give a 50 per cent reduction in the user fees for the recreation centre during a number of the jamboree's events and donate the other 50 per cent of the costs as a grant.

Village council will also be sponsoring and hosting a pancake breakfast again this year.

In addition, council passed the first two readings of a motion to make March 9 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. a civic holiday.

Bungled water and sewer lines

A building project by the Fort Simpson Housing Authority has been stalled because of inaction by the village, said Coun. Bob Hanna.

Work has stopped on an almost-finished four-plex on Antoine Drive because water and sewer lines haven't been brought alongside the property, said Hanna.

"The bottom line is its the village's fault in reality," he said.

Hanna said the work should have been done in the fall but village staff are overburdened. When time was running out in the fall, a contractor should have been hired, he said.

Mayor Duncan Canvin said this was the first time he had heard of the problem, but he would look into the situation.