CARCROSS – Premier Darrell Pasloski was presented with a petition Tuesday at his first official community visit in Carcross.

The petition, signed by 57 Carcross residents in one day, urges the government to stop all construction work in the downtown area until a satisfactory agreement is reached.

"It seems like this (construction) was made for the tourists, not us,” longtime Carcross resident Eleanor Millard told the meeting.

"But we're the ones who have to live here 12 months of the year.”

In total, the federal and Yukon governments are investing more than $9 million in the development of Carcross' waterfront and downtown.

Revitalization projects have been ongoing since the summer of 2008.

One of the biggest problems with the latest downtown renovations are the curbs, said Millard.

She, along with several other residents at the meeting, said the curbs have been constructed too high and are unnecessarily narrowing the streets.

"It's going to be really hard for the snow plow to get through in the winter,” Millard predicted.

Other construction concerns include parking spaces that are too close to each other and the confusing placement of one-way street signs.

Pasloski admitted that even he and his officials became disoriented when first entering the community.

Christian Klein, another resident at the meeting, said this is a problem due to a lack of community consultation in the engineering process.

"How much of the community was involved in this planning?” he asked. "We should have had input from everybody.”

A women in a wheelchair who owns a summer cabin in Carcross told Pasloski that because of the new construction, she has a difficult time getting around town and even in and out of her own house.

"What's going on with the curbs here?” she asked, explaining that there are very few places for her to get on to the sidewalk. "I'm not the only one here in a wheelchair.”

Other residents echoed her concern, saying the government and community need to take a proactive approach before a mishap occurs.

"What happens if there is a fire?” one resident asked.

Millard asked for an exact date of when the government could give the community some sort of response.

Pasloski said he would get back to Community Services Minister Archie Lang this week and "see how we can look at the concerns.”

Pasloski's visit to Carcross was the first of eight community sojourns this month.

"This is a great time in Yukon's history,” Pasloski said in his opening speech at the Carcross Community Centre.

"The economy is doing well, much because of the expanded interest in mining and mining exploration...the government wants to make sure all communities in the Yukon can take advantage of this situation.”

Pasloski, who became premier June 11, said he is travelling to Yukon communities this summer because he wants to get to know Yukoners and hear their ideas on things like social and community development, education and training.

"In order for us to have a strong and healthy territory, we need to have strong and healthy communities,” he said.

About 20 Carmacks residents attended the premier's visit and ate a barbecue lunch, cooked by volunteers from the Carmacks Craft Club.

Pasloski is also visiting Haines Junction, Burwash Landing and Destruction Bay to round out the week.

Beaver Creek, Pelly Crossing, Keno City, Mayo and Dawson City – where he was sworn into office – are also on his intinerary.