Dawson City threatens court action to stop mine

Officials in Dawson City, Yukon, say they will seek a court injunction to shut down a placer gold mine that has been operating within town limits.

Town council voted on Monday afternoon to ask the Yukon Supreme Court to force work on the SlinkyMine site to be stopped, arguing thesite's ownershaveviolated a municipal bylaw.

Last week, local bylaw officials delivered a stop-work order to the mine, whichis locatedin the Dome Road area. However, work has continued at the property, according to the town.

The claim's owner has been cutting down trees on the property without proper authorization from the municipal government, town manager Jeff Renaud said.

"This is an administrative matter and it's the application of bylaws. It's not about blocking the mine," Renaud told CBC News afterMonday's meeting.

"It's about making sure that everything's done in accordance with the laws of the municipality and making sure everything's in place to take care of the legal aspects. Blocking the mine is not the ultimate goal here."

The town has plans to develop a residential subdivision in the same area as the Slinky property.