Some Dawson City residents upset over Dome Road deal

Dawson City, Yukon residents are looking at their options following a community meeting about a deal to reroute a road around a mining claim.

The Yukon government, the City of Dawson and a miner reached an agreement that will allow the miner access to his claim under the Dome Road. The territory will pay the $1.3 million cost of re-routing the road.

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Residents are upset because they say there was no public consultation prior to the deal.

Jim Taggart says residents were told the matter is now closed and they're considering what to do next.

"We have to look at all our avenues or potential avenues to try and have these issues addressed," he said.

"One of those would be to petition the municipality to open a referendum and that's something we are pursuing and we'll get some legal advice on this and we'll make a decision in the coming days."

Taggart says it was clear from Wednesday night's meeting the deal to re-route the Dome Road was arranged behind closed doors. Some of the 25 people at the meeting walked out in protest upon hearing that.

The deal includes the miner giving up his claim after three years and the land being turned over for housing. Taggart says among residents' concerns is which parts of the claim will become available for housing and whether the area will even be viable for housing after mining is complete.

Taggart says, in the meantime, residents are concerned about the disturbance from living near a working mine.