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Six Nations Natural Gas Company set for expansion ..... Continrud from front page years until 1996. says Petruzzella The Six Nations Natural Gas Co. is a partnership between Six Nations Council and the company which began with the sod turning in 1989. Phase one was complet- ed in December of 1990 and included training workers and actual construction of laying pipes. In 1989. Robert Henhawk was hired to train workers in dis- tri bu ti on and maintenance of pipelines while John Skinner of Mohawk College trained the workers for in-house piping. The majority of the classroom theory instruction took place in the din- ing hall of the Six Nations Community Hall from November '89 through June of '90, addition- al classroom instruction for in- house piping was held at Mohawk College. Union Gas assisted with training materials. When the gas company first turned on in December of 1990, there were 30 customers and it has grown to 160 customers. The partnership between the gas company and council is an 'arms- length' relationship. Council is a beneficial partner, which means if a profit is realized from the com- pany, council would be able to claim a share. Petruzzella explained, however, council's share would be required to be re- distributed for the community's benefit. The gas company is a general partner, where all liability rests and complaints should go directly to the gas company, he said. Petruzzella has gone before council to keep them advised and updated on the gas company and will continue to do so as the need arises. The gas company is funded from a variety of sources including economic development. ultimate- ly through council. which is used for capital expenditures, for instance. the pipeline expansion. The company is partially funded through the Federal government under another program, along with revenue generated through sales of gas and consumer hook- ups to the gas line. Petruzzella has a lot of experi- ence. He worked out in Calgary or five years in the 'oil patch' which is the oil and gas industry in Alberta as an engineer. He also worked in Toronto for five years in finance. The position he hold with the gas company called for someone with both engineer- ing and business experience. To access the service a con- sumer would be charged a one- time installation fee. The charge would be from the property line of the customer to the meter site, usually near the existing stove or furnace. There is a minimum charge of $340. The monthly charge is calculated in cubic meters of gas consuinption and the cost works out to $5.96 per 1000 cubic feet. The meters are read monthly around the 23rd of each month and the bills are mailed out within three business days. The gas company does not have a budget payment plan at this point, because it is necessary to have at least one full year of ser- vice to make budget computa- tions. Petruzzella is looking at implementing a budget plan for September of 1993. Petruzzella says the quality of the workmanship of the Six Nations Gas Company is proven by the fact there have been no accidents or personal injuries to the workers. Ordinarily, the gas company has eight employees, including the general manager. During the summer months, the staff is expected to increase to 12 or 13 for the expansion. During Phase One or the Six Nations Natural Gas Co. Ltd, which consisted mainly of training and construction, Bob ffenhawk and one or the instructors check out some or the underground connections. Curtis E. Hill and John VanEvery worldng on some or the buried pipeline used in the SN Natural Gas Company during the training and construction phase or the project.