City can't save headframe
Transfer of historic Con Mine structure legally inadvisable, says administration
Elaine Anselmi
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, February 11, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Attempts to conserve the Robertson Headframe have hit what the city is viewing as a final snag, preventing it from taking over the historic structure.
Walt Humphries, president of the NWT Mining Heritage Society, front, spoke passionately about the need to preserve the Robertson Headframe. - Elaine Anselmi/NNSL photo |
The demolition of the headframe is required by Newmont Mining Corporation's abandonment and restoration plan under the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board. The only way for the structure to be left standing is if another party takes over ownership.
Many had hoped this would be the city.
"Newmont has unequivocally stated unless they can be fully indemnified and removed of all liability associated with this structure, they will not transfer this to us," Chris Greencorn, director of public works and engineering told city council Monday.
The issue, Greencorn said, is that the city cannot legally take on the liability Newmont requires.
"Only the territorial government can provide indemnity to people for things of this nature," said Greencorn.
The preservation of the headframe has been an issue in the community for more than a decade and was again brought to the forefront Monday.
"In this circumstance, there aren't a whole lot of alternatives," said Greencorn.
A structural and environmental review of the headframe was completed last April by Concentric Engineering. Costs for the project were estimated at approximately $370,000 including long- and short-term maintenance costs, an assessment and structural repairs, plus $500,000 for full remediation of the site.
"I'm definitely not going to have myself or the engineering department tied to any final budget figures associated with remediation, either structural or environmental, frankly because we just have no idea," said Greencorn.
The controversial issue brought before council did not go unnoticed by the public. The two co-presidents of the NWT Mining Heritage Society, Walt Humphries and Mike Vaydik, were in attendance along with other residents.
Following Greencorn's address, Humphries spoke to council, explaining it could be the speech of his lifetime.
"I really don't think administration ever took this project seriously," said Humphries.
"It's always been, 'Destroy the headframe.'"
If no other solution is found, Humphries went so far as to threaten to run for mayor, with his only platform being the preservation of the headframe - though he said this was an option he was not particularly in favour of taking.
When discussion of remediating the site began a decade ago, Humphries said there was an offer from Miramar Mining Company, which was acquired by Newmont in 2008, to take over the headframe, even offering a financial incentive.
"The original offer was $1 million and a headframe," said Humphries.
"Ten years later, we're still arguing about this."
Senior administrative officer Dennis Kefalas clarified that the $1 million deal with Miramar was never put in writing or officially offered to the city.
Coun. Niels Konge suggested that the discussion around the headframe may actually be under territorial jurisdiction, since the land would go back to the GNWT once it's remediated.
The city is looking to ultimately acquire the land from the GNWT but Kefalas said that is still not confirmed.
"We could determine between the government and water board what stipulations could be made to allow the government itself to take over the structure," said Konge.
He said the city should maintain its foot in the door on the issue and continue to fight to save the headframe.
The subject was added to council's agenda for this Friday's meeting between council and MLAs.
While he didn't agree with Humphries' assertion that city administration was disingenuous in its efforts to save the headframe, Coun. Adrian Bell said that it was unfortunate that Newmont's requirements for transferring the headframe were not realized sooner.
"We've had a lot of folks who had their hearts set on something happening here and the city finding a way to do this. Had we simply gotten more serious with negotiations five years ago ... we would have found out this would not be an option," said Bell.
"This is disheartening but it doesn't seem like we have much of an option at this point."
