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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Northland home owners are still without a plebiscite on infrastructure spending as the city and trailer court board tinker with final details before sending it out for a vote.

Mayor Gord Van Tighem says "the ball is in Northland's court" as owners of the 258 trailers in Northland trailer court face a $20-million bill to pay for badly needed replacement of underground water and sewer lines that are 15 years past their prime.

Trailer owners were told last month at Yk Condominium Corp. No. 8's annual general meeting to expect a plebiscite to be mailed out in March, where owners would be asked to vote on whether to accept a local improvement fee to cover the loan needed to pay for the upgrades.

The monthly rate reported at the time was $360, much lower than the $455 per month at a five per cent interest rate over 25 years originally proposed by the city. Condo board members have said they planned to continue pushing for an even lower figure.

"We have worked with them to get the best deal possible so that they know what to talk to their membership about," Van Tighem said on Wednesday. "They now have the best deal that we can talk about until we actually book a rate for a loan. Once we do that, we will know what the bottom line is on the number and away we go."

While the latest figures for the local improvement fee were not being disclosed by the city or the condo board this week, there has been some indication the proposed charge to property owners may around $300 per month for 25 years.

Van Tighem said it is best to go ahead with a loan now in an agreement with the city, which would then take ownership of the infrastructure, because interest rates are low right now.

Carl Bird, director of corporate services for the city, reported to city council at a recent municipal services committee meeting that the city was waiting for the condo board to decide on the latest version of a memorandum of understanding for the improvement fee.

Once an agreement is made between the city and the condo board, the memorandum will then be reviewed by council before going out to Northland owners. If approved, construction work could proceed this year.

"(The condo board's) infrastructure committee met last week and they have the document back from their lawyer with minor suggestions that he discussed with our legal counsel as well," said Bird.

A special meeting was to have taken place among the condo board of directors last Tuesday, he said.

Wade Friesen, vice-president of the condo board, said he still expects to meet with the city at least one more time because there are further amendments the board would like to propose.

He said he hopes this can be wrapped up within the next week, and remains hopeful a plebiscite can go out to property owners by the end of March for their approval.

"I was hoping end of March and it is still a possibility but I can't make any guarantees," said Friesen.

Both councillors Amanda Mallon and David Wind were hopeful this week that they would see the memorandum soon.

"I expect, if we're very lucky, we will get something this coming Monday," said Wind, who had requested an update at the municipal services committee.

"If not, relying on what administration told us this week, I would expect to see it at the first municipal services committee in April."

Mallon said she couldn't say when council would see it, but hoped it would be sooner.

"As council members, we want to see it as soon as possible," she said, pointing out that it is important the condo board hurries.

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