A majority of city council has approved a land swap with Northwestel Inc. required to clear the way for construction of the city’s new operations building beginning next year.

The swap involves gaining use of a strip of land owned by Northwestel along Range Road to build a road access and to the Yukon government land the city will be leasing to provide the area necessary for the new building.

In return, Northwestel will sublease a strip of the government land from the city.

The government land is located between Northwestel’s Range Road property and the clay cliffs.

Phase one of the building consolidation project is scheduled to begin next year. The total cost is currently estimated at approximately $50 million.

The intent of the project is to consolidate city service operations to one site.

It’s commonly accepted the existing Municipal Services Building on Fourth Avenue, for instance, is run down and well past its due date.

Coun. Samson Hartland was the only member of council to vote against the land swap Monday.

Samson has been vocal in his opposition to the project, suggesting he’s not sure taxpayers can afford it.

It may be more appropriate to look at leasing existing space available from the private sector, he explained in an interview this morning.

He noted on top of the money the city has already set aside in reserves and federal gas tax money, the city will still have to borrow $20 million to finance the project.

“I am not really keen on mortgaging our future right now on our operations building that I am not sure we can afford,” Hartland said.