There have been a flurry of calls to the office concerning disruption of businesses on Front St. because of work crews ripping up the old road surface.
Alas, if only the city had care and control of Front St. …but we don’t. The main thoroughfare that goes through our town falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Highways. In fact, they can do whatever they wish without so much as having to apply for a development permit from City Hall. That’s because of a special ‘order in council’ exempting the Territorial Government from having to receive permission from our town for any work that might be done on the road.
That’s not to say that the Department of Highways has been insensitive to our concerns. But they rule the roost when it comes to doing work on Front St. and will trump local bylaws by default.
Not everyone is happy with the paving project. Some point to the contradiction within the Territorial Government which on one hand celebrates and protects the historic integrity of Dawson for the benefit of tourism and culture and on the other hand an attitude that suggests an unwillingness to observe those values through meaningful consultation with all stakeholders.
Others will ask, “Should we look a 3.5 million dollar gift horse in the mouth?”
N.B. If you have any issues regarding noise and scheduling of work for the duration of this project please get in touch with the Highways Department of YTG or the MLA for Klondike Steve Nordick.
Here is the actual Order in Council that back in 1995 transferred everything over to Dawson except for Front St. (Klondike Highway) and the Top of the World.
______________________________________
O.I.C. 1995/189
HIGHWAYS ACT AND
MUNICIPAL ACT
Pursuant to sections 5 and 44 of the Highways Act and
subsection 252(3) of the Municipal Act, the Commissioner
in Executive Council orders as follows:
1. The annexed Transfer of Highway to Municipality
(City of Dawson) Order is hereby made.
Dated at Whitehorse, in the Yukon Territory, this 21st
day of November, 1995.
_____________________________________
O.I.C. 1995/189
HIGHWAYS ACT AND
MUNICIPAL ACT
DÉCRET 1995/189
LOI MUNICIPALE ET
LOI SUR LA VOIRIE
YUKON REGULATIONS 1 RÈGLEMENTS DU YUKON
June 30/96
TRANSFER OF HIGHWAY TO
MUNICIPALITY (CITY OF
DAWSON) ORDER
1. Jurisdiction over all highways within the
boundaries of the City of Dawson, other than the Klondike
Highway and the Top of the World Highway, is hereby
transferred to the City of Dawson.
2. The following provisions of the Municipal Act do
not apply to the portions of the Klondike Highway or the
Top of the World Highway within the boundaries of the
City of Dawson: subsection 252(2), sections 253 to 258,
and any other provision that depends for its effect on the
municipality having jurisdiction under subsection 252(2)
of the Municipal Act.
3. In this Order, the expressions “Klondike Highway”
and “Top of the World Highway” have the same meaning
as in the Highways Regulations.
O.I.C. 1995/189
HIGHWAYS ACT AND
MUNICIPAL ACT
June 30/96
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A couple of questions:
1) Do you have a copy of that order in council you could post here? Dawson seems to be the subject of more than their share of those things, yet we rarely get to see them.
2) Will Dawson be responsible for any infrastructure, like storm sewers, that goes under the road?
3) I don’t believe their laws trump our bylaws. Our bylaws say they need a permit. They say they don’t. They yelled louder. They win. The absolute lack of respect for this town, its rules and the people who put in long hours making those rules for the betterment of all Dawsonites will not be forgotten next territorial election. Right, folks?
4) As for the gift horse, it’s great local contractors have contracts to sprinkle water on the road and provide gravel. There’s even the odd Dawsonite holding a flag. But as far as I can tell , THIS REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE OF OUR PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE is only benefitting Skookum asphalt. As for the YG highway crew, if they weren’t working on this, they’d be working on something else. They’ve got plenty of work to keep them busy.
5) Personally, it doesn’t matter to me if it’s asphalt, chipseal or six inches of muck. But for those people who hope one day to pave over Dawson’s history in the pursuit of keeping dust off their cars and off their carpets, it’s been done. Skagway has done a much better job of it than we ever could. I’d rather preserve our heritage and be the best Dawson we can, and not a second-rate Skagway, thanks all the same.
Mr Mayor,
I am somewhat confused by your suggestion to forward any concerns about the Front St. business disruption to YTG. Today, Tuesday ,July 22, we were told by YTG that city council held a meeting last night and requested that the work to install the city sewer lines be done today. As you are well aware, the business owners on Front St. has been requesting any work to be done should be done after 8 pm. We were flabergasted that it took place in the middle of the day, and once again disrupted our business’s. In closing, I would like to say how disappointed I am in our city council not supporting our request.
Hi Jane,
This is simply untrue, there was no direction given by council at last night’s meeting that sewer lines be dug today. This is a YTG project entirely under their care and control and is incumbent on them to inform the business community in advance of any contemplated work. Please contact our MLA Steve Nordick or highways for an explanation.
I guess it was bound to happen. someone just told me they wouldnt be coming back to dawson because of the paving.