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Council briefs Baker Centre requests tax relief Tim Edwards Northern News Services Published Wednesday, July 27, 2011
A presentation was made Monday by Bill Braden, the president of the Yellowknife Association of Concerned Citizens for Seniors, the owners of the Baker Centre and other seniors facilities. The centre provides 15 recreational programs for seniors - including exercise, bridge, and lawn bowling - according to Braden, adding these are services provided to the city's seniors that the city might not be able to provide itself. The Yellowknife Seniors' Society - which has a membership of more than 400 - leases and operates the centre. "They do make a substantial difference," said Braden. On top of the lease, the seniors' society pays the operations and maintenance costs, which include property taxes, estimated by city administration to be $7,554.11 per year at 2011 mill rates. Braden said the centre provides for municipal services and therefore should be eligible for a tax exemption, but also acknowledged the city already supports the seniors' society with grant money of about $55,000 annually. Both Mayor Gord Van Tighem and city councillor Mark Heyck pointed out the seniors' society's bookkeeping prowess, with Van Tighem calling it one of the more responsible and responsive groups to which the city gives money. "To their credit, they keep their house in order and can afford it," said Heyck. He added exempting property taxes on top of a $55,000 grant to an organization that seems fiscally healthy wouldn't be prudent. Coun. Amanda Mallon was in favour of the exemption, saying the organization provides important and benevolent services. Coun. Shelagh Montgomery said she was against the exemption at this time, considering the city's current contributions. No date was set for when the matter would be voted on at a regular meeting of city council. Public hearing on land rezoning A special council meeting will take place at city hall Aug. 8 at 7 p.m. for a public hearing to rezone land near the North Slave Correctional Centre. On conditions, the city has transferred land it obtained from Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA) to Homes North for residential development. The land now needs to be rezoned from public land to residential land to allow for future construction. "This isn't for the development of a mobile home park, it's for the rezoning," city councillor Bob Brooks told Yellowknifer, when asked about the planned future use of the land. The first reading of the bylaw passed Monday night with only Coun. David Wind opposed. Brooks said first readings are usually passed because discussion and debate of bylaws takes place at the second reading. In this case, a public hearing with 10 days public notice is required by municipal bylaw in order for the rezoning to take place. MACA exchanged the 118,459-square-metre parcel of land adjacent to the correctional centre for the old Pentecostal Church lot, which has been housing the Artist Run Community Centre and is owned by Homes North. RTL to build water treatment plant access road The contract to build an access road to the site of the new water treatment plant was awarded to RTL Robinson Enterprises Ltd. at a cost of $1,891,296.65 on Monday night at a city council meeting. City councillor David Wind asked for an update on the water treatment project - specifically if funding from higher levels of government had been found. He said because the project is required by territorial legislation it should be supported by the government demanding it. Administration is continuing to look for more government funding for the $18-million project, said Carl Bird, director of corporate services, but as of yet no funding - other than the federal gas tax fund, which is paying for half the project - has been found. Wind said he wanted to ensure it is known the city is still looking for additional money. "The reason why I'm asking is to assure the public," he said.
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