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Washout closes Highway 1

A washout at the Axe Handle Creek culvert closed Highway 1 to traffic for almost two days.

The section of the highway between Checkpoint and the junction with Highway 3 was closed on Sunday afternoon after a motorist reported the road condition, said Art Barnes, the regional superintendent of transportation for the South Slave Region.

Water had flowed over the road and approximately 30 per cent of the road's width had washed away for 100 metres.

The flooding was likely caused by pieces of ice blocking the flow in the culvert at kilometre 274, which caused it to flow onto the road, he said.

"There was no serious structural loss there," said Barnes.

The department took the precaution of closing the road because it was a safety concern for vehicles travelling at night, Barnes said. Water also came over the road at three to four other sections between kilometres 254 and 288.

The road was reopened during the late morning on May 6 when the department announced that water levels had receded and there was sufficient roadway remaining to permit traffic.

Premier to attend meeting in village

Premier Floyd Roland is among the government officials who are scheduled to attend the NWT Association of Communities' 42nd annual general meeting.

The meeting will be held in Fort Simpson from May 8 to 11. Ministers Bob McLeod, Norman Yakeleya and Michael McLeod are also slated to attend.

Roland will be speaking to the association on Saturday morning and the session will be followed by an open discussion with the ministers, said Yvette Gonzalez, the chief executive officer for the association.

The government's proposed cutbacks are expected to be a key discussion topic, she said.

"We're hoping the premier will share some of what these cuts will mean to communities," said Gonzalez.

Fort Liard election called for June

An election has been called for the chief and council of the Acho Dene Koe First Nation in Fort Liard.

Nominations opened on May 2 and will close on May 19 at 5 p.m. Advance polls are scheduled for June 13 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the community hall with the regular poll to follow on June 17.

Watching the river

Tthek'ehdeli/Jean Marie River

The ice on the Mackenzie River by the community started to move a bit on May 5 before stopping. The water rose on May 6 and the ice started to move again.

The ice on the Jean Marie Creek started to move on May 4.

Ernest Hardisty travelled to Yellowknife for the Edehzhie meeting from May 2 to 3. Chief Stanley Sanguez chaired the meeting.

The doctor's team is set to visit the community on May 14.

The moms and grandmothers in Jean Marie River are wished a happy Mother's Day.

Birthday wishes go out to Gloria Watsyk on May 14.

Joint birthday cake

Ka'a'gee Tu/Kakisa

Julian Landry and Lloyd Chicot will be in Edmonton from May 8 to 10 for a meeting.

A band council meeting was held on May 7.

Birthday wishes go out to brothers Darcy Simba on May 8, Harvey Simba on May 11 and Joe Simba on May 12.

Still waiting

Sambaa K'e/Trout Lake

As of May 6 the ice still hadn't moved on Island River.

MLAs Sandy Lee and Kevin Menicoche were in the community on May 6 for a public meeting.

Looking after education

Pehdzeh Ki/Wrigley

A District Education Authority meeting is scheduled for May 14.

A harvesters' meeting was held with the Dehcho negotiating team on May 6.

MLAs Kevin Menicoche and Sandy Lee held a public meeting in Wrigley on May 5 to discuss concerns with health services.

Honouring mothers

Deh Gah Got'ie Koe/Fort Providence

The Friendship Centre will be holding a Mother's Day brunch on May 11 from 10 a.m. to noon.

As of Tuesday afternoon the ice on the Mackenzie River had moved at least three times at Fort Providence.

The ice started to move on April 30 in front of the community but jammed up. An area did clear from the Big River Service station to the water treatment plant.

The ice moved again on Monday night and started again on Tuesday.

Fort Providence is holding their annual community cleanup from May 12 to 16.

Giant ice cubes

Tthenaago/Nahanni Butte

The ice on the Liard River broke at Nahanni Butte on May 5.

Island airport lease renewed

Council will be granting Airports North Ltd. a new lease for the island airport.

The Fort Simpson village council will be working to develop a lease but it could include changes relating to the lease price, length and the insurance needs, said Mayor Duncan Canvin.

Chris Yarrow of Wolverine Air, Ted Grant of Simpson Air and Jacques Harvey of South Nahanni Airways, attended the council meeting on May 5 to speak on the matter.

"Our livelihood is this airport," said Yarrow, who is also the president of Airports North Ltd.

The companies didn't ask for a $1 lease fee and will understand if the village has to raise it, he said.

The question about the future of the airport was raised, however.

Every 10 years when the lease comes up, a long-term decision needs to be made, said Yarrow.

The new lease should be at least as long as the previous one, 10 years, or the companies can't plan for projects that require financial expenditure, said Grant.

"You can't do anything with a five-year lease," said Grant.

Council was looking to shorten the lease so it wouldn't bind future councils, said Canvin.

Council will examine all the factors and have a new lease drafted, Canvin said.

Request denied

An airplane challenge won't be receiving any support from the village.

The village received a request from the International Air Rally to be included as one of the destinations during this year's flight between Winnipeg and Inuvik. The group asked for a donation of $5,000 and for landing fees to be waived.

A group of wealthy businessmen flying in their own planes who would only be staying in the village for a day doesn't need support, said Mayor Duncan Canvin.

"They can get screwed," he said.

Canvin added that Gord Van Tighem, the mayor of Yellowknife, said the city wouldn't be supporting them either.

Resolutions oppose job cuts

The village council will be presenting two resolutions to the Northwest Territories Association of Communities (NWTAC) when they meet in Fort Simpson this week.

The first resolution asks NWTAC to encourage the territorial government to maintain its hiring freeze but rescind all layoff notices given to government employees.

The second resolution asks NWTAC to lobby the government to rescind its plans to privatize maintenance operations at its airports including Fort Simpson's.

Raymond Michaud, on behalf of the Union of Northern Workers, originally presented the outline for the resolutions to council. The council made the decision to accept the resolutions and move them forward, said Mayor Duncan Canvin.

Nogha Heights agreement passes

Council passed the final reading of an amended bylaw that has given Nogha Enterprises Ltd. a two-year tax reduction on their empty lots at Nogha Heights.

The bylaw is an extension of an existing agreement between the village and Nogha that was slated to expire this year, said Mayor Duncan Canvin. By extending the agreement Nogha will continue to look after their responsibilities towards the lots, including road maintenance, and the village will give them a 75 per cent break on taxes.

Office move pushed

Council has tasked the village administrative staff with completing the steps needed to move the village's office to the Visitor Information Centre.

Councillors agreed the move has been discussed a lot but few of the necessary steps have been taken to make it a reality. By mid-June the staff should have a telephone system planned and have solutions for a computer network, said Coun. Kim Myers.

The administrative staff will have to spend time looking at the functionality of the space, he said.

The village office needs to be moved so the existing office can be renovated to house the library before it is evicted from Dehcho Hall, said Coun. Candy Brown.

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