The Great Northern Ski Society is hoping the federal and territorial governments will help it pay for a new lodge at Mount Sima in Whitehorse.

'We've come to that time now where we need to get the chalet replaced,' Dan Boyd, a society director, told council at Monday evening's meeting.

Boyd addressed council during discussion on applications the city may submit under the federal and territorial Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund.

Under the funding arrangement, the federal, territorial and municipal governments each pay a share of the work for various projects that are approved.

The ski society is proposing to pay the city's share of the estimated $1.5-million project for a new lodge at the hill if the project is approved under the infrastructure fund.

If council goes ahead with the proposal, the city would submit the application for the funding.

Council will also be voting on whether to submit applications for the proposed extension to Hamilton Boulevard and infrastructure work in Takhini North.

At last night's meeting, Boyd noted the current lodge was originally built as a temporary site. Once the hill matured, Boyd said, it was expected a more appropriate chalet would be built, rather than the trailer. It currently has a number of picnic tables, washrooms, the ticket sales spot and a cafeteria with some storage space and offices.

'The chalet is totally inadequate,' he said, suggesting that it 'won't show us well' in 2007 when the Canada Winter Games are here that February.

Boyd, a former city councillor, pointed out the Canada Winter Games would require temporary spaces to be set up at the facility during the two-week national event if the chalet doesn't go ahead.

'Is this an absolute necessity for the Canada Winter Games? No,' he said later in the meeting. 'Is it a necessity for the Mount Sima ski area over time? Yes.'

The proposal would see a structure developed with the current building dismantled. Portions would potentially be reused as space for ski and snowboard rentals, ski patrol and overflow space, notes a report to the city from the ski society.

Boyd pointed out the board is studying the possibility that basement space in the proposed chalet could serve as the rental shop and space for the ski patrol as well as other features planned for the building. Access to the basement could come from the parking lot.

The new building would include a kitchen facility which could serve up to 500 people, an administration office, ski school area, lift pass sales, storage lockers and washrooms.

The society is also proposing the building have a mezzanine area with a conference/meeting room and lounge area. It could be used during the Winter Games as a broadcast area and in the post-ski season as a potential summer rental space for events.

With the basement in place, Boyd suggested the chalet would likely double in size.

A new well and sewage disposal system would also be installed to service the hill rather than the current water delivery and sewage pump-out system it's on.

Although the project is estimated at $1.5 million, Boyd said the society has been looking at ways to bring those costs down.

'We've already identified some areas where we believe we can, perhaps, create some more efficiencies,' Boyd said. 'We've been talking to some of the business community and there's support there.'

The costs may be able to come down to approximately $1.2 million or $1.3 million, he suggested.

A preliminary schedule would have the building in place by December if construction began by May 1.

The application wouldn't cost the city. However, Coun. Doug Graham, who's also the president of the Association of Yukon Communities, said he won't support it if it means other Yukon communities don't get funding for necessary water and sewer projects.

'I think it's a wonderful idea; nothing I would like to see happen more,' Graham said of a new chalet.

'The unfortunate part is that if it means that a small community if it means that Teslin or Carmacks or Carcross or a small community like that isn't able to do a water project or a sewer project that's essential to the life of that community, then I don't support it.'

As much as he'd like to see a new chalet be erected, it may not be as high a priority as other projects that need to occur, he said.

The fund leverages $48 million, with 33 per cent from each of the three levels of government.

Graham also noted the importance of identifying priorities in considering whether to apply for the other two projects.

In a memorandum of understanding with the territorial government for the management of the athletes' village for the Winter Games, the city agreed to apply for the rural infrastructure fund in the Hamilton Boulevard and Takhini North projects.

The boulevard work would see the road extended, providing a second access to the Copper Ridge subdivison.

A report to council noted the work is currently in the predesign phase, which will provide information needed to complete public consultation and the environmental assessment.

Construction isn't expected to start until 2006 at the earliest, with completion then targeted for 2008. However, the project isn't part of the city's long-term capital plan, Graham pointed out.

'To tell you the whole truth, I'd rather see that $3.5 million (the city's share in the project) spent on paving or chip sealing downtown city streets,' he said. Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Avenues often aren't considered for paving when the city looks at projects around town, Graham added.

'We have to start taking a look at that kind of stuff before we look at extending Hamilton Boulevard,' he said. 'If it costs us $3 million or $3.5 million to start paving and putting some curbs and gutters and sidewalks in that older section of Whitehorse, to me, that would be a good expenditure.'

Graham would also put improvements to roads in the city's industrial area before Hamilton Boulevard.

While he said he realizes applying for the funding is part of an MOU that was signed, 'a second mistake doesn't necessarily make a first mistake any better.'

Graham sees the Takhini North proposal as doing a couple of good things for the community, he said.

The administrative report to council notes the existing infrastructure doesn't meet current standards and is deteriorating.

'A major sewerage force main runs through this development from the Kopper King area and, besides running at capacity, is also in a deteriorated state,' reads the report.

'Prior to the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund program announcement, the city proposed an infill development that would cover the infrastructure lot sales and thereby reduce the impact on the general taxpayer.'

The entire project is estimated at $8.1 million, with the city's share of the funding pegged at $2.5 million. The city wants to have the infrastructure done in 2007.

Said Graham: 'It will allow the City of Whitehorse to do some planning and bring on a subdivision ourselves and see if we can do it right, but more importantly, it will bring another area into the City of Whitehorse, another residential area into the City of Whitehorse, that's closer to the centre of the city, which is something that I think is a good thing and something that we need to do more of.'

He pointed out the management committee on the rural infrastructure fund has not met yet this year. That could cause further problems in the funding being available this year.

Council will vote next week on whether to apply for the funding for the three projects.

Mayor Ernie Bourassa was absent from last night's meeting.