LoW council appoints Stewart McNally as new fire chief

Ruth Brett
Contributor

The Lake of the Woods Township Council met for their regular Oct. meeting in Morson with Mayor Pizey, Councillors C. Fadden, J. Moen, and B. Lundgren, Clerk-Treasurer P. Giles and Road Supt. E. Pearson present.
Bills for the month of September in the total amount of $91,895.46 were approved for payment.
Even though F. Berg’s resignation was accepted by the AMBIS Committee this past Aug., Council has agreed to hire him for the short term for LoW Twp. as Chief Building Official until the permanent CBO postition can be filled.
In the meantime, LoW Twp. Council has received the AMBIS recommendation that “it’s member municipalities pursue provision of Chief Building Official and inspection services from Pwi-Di-Goo-Zing Ne-Yaa-Zhing Advisory Services on a permanent basis”.
E.Pearson reported that tarring on the north part of Hwy. 621 is done; the Bernier Road for severance in Conc. 3 Lot 3 McCrosson is almost completed; the new snow plow has been installed on the truck; and he is catching up on the grading.Council requests a 5 year plan to ensure the side roads are improved and kept in good repair. Big Grassy F.N. has given verbal permission for the Twp. to repair the navigation light at the mouth of the Little Grassy River. However Clerk Giles has requested that permission in writing.
LoW Twp.’s new Fire Chief Stewart McNally was not present but will be available for the Nov. Council meeting. The Fire Dept. has been working on fire prevention and fire alarm inspection programs. 3 members of the Fire Dept. had some fun with the children at the Bergland School as they conducted an information session. Fireman T. Gill will attend training in Dryden on Nov. 3-5 and 17-19.
Regarding the cemeteries - in the future, where the applicant for use of the cemetery is not the rights holder, an affidavit will be required that states the rights holder, the number of other heirs and states that they are in agreement regarding interment rights and placement of urns. If this is not done, the application will be refused.
Clerk Giles will check wilth a local contractor for a time frame to repair the the government dock in Morson.
The Clerk advised that the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario will be holding an information session regarding lotteries on Nov. 7th at 6:30pm at the Rainy River Legion.
Both dumps in the municipality changed to winter hours on Oct 15; in Bergland - Wednesday and Sunday from 10am to 3pm ; in Morson - Tuesday and Saturday from 10am to 3pm.
4 By-Laws were enacted #180 - the Fire Chief Appointment By-Law
#181 - the Block 10 SM - 325 Sale Approval By-Law
#182 - the By-Law #177 Amending By-Law
#183 - the Rainycrest Funding Agreement By-Law
The next regular LoW Twp. Council meeting will be held in Bergland on Nov. 9th.
For Your Information regarding the vote by mail process
1) If the voter declaration form is not signed the ballot is rejected.
2) It is not lawful to vote for more than one school board representative in the District - that is if the voter has properties in 2 different municipalities, he can only vote for one school board rep.
3) Students away at school may vote in both their home municipality and the municipality where the school is located.
4) Other non-student children must, on voting day, reside in the municipality in order to vote in Lake of the Woods Twp.
5) Only the completed ballots go in the “secrecy envelope”
6) The voter declaration must not be inside the secrecy envelope. We need to see it to mark off those who have voted.
7)Spouses or same sex partners of owners or tenants of land in the municipality are eligible to apply to be added to the voter’s list and receive a ballot.