Council passes minor variance to Locum House at no charge

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Monday evening council held two meetings.
The first one was a public meeting to discuss a minor variance needed by the Rainy River Locum House.
Citizen Rick Bourre was present to express his concerns about the proposed building and the fact that it will block his view of the river and the view of the river to passers by.
The variance will see the building encroach on property lines 2.8 m and 2.7 m down from the 3 m in the towns building code.
At the regular council meeting council approved the minor variance and also waived the variance fees of $375.
Councillor Gord Armstrong reported that the Locum House Committee found some irregularities in their bidding process and will be re-tendering it in the new year.
New Fire Department
After about two years of meetings between Rainy River, Dawson and Lake of the Woods Townships, all three councils have rubber-stamped a new joint fire service.
Rainy River Town Council was the last to approved the needed bylaw and once approved Monday the West Rainy River District Fire Service now makes all three fire departments one.
Other Business
•Council passed a bylaw to borrow $300,000 to meet town expenditures in 2012 until taxes or other revenues are collected.
•Council agreed to give the Recreation Board, Library Board and Volunteer Fire Dept. each $150 to be used for Christmas celebrations.
•Each town employee will receive $50 gift certificates to be used at a local business as a Christmas bonus.
•A new Miscellaneous User Fees bylaw was passed. Clerk Vel Vogan said that most fees have stayed the same. Mayor Deb Ewald noted that library fees have been raised or changed.
•Council joined the Ontario Association of Cemetery and Funeral Professionals at a cost of $100. Clerk Vogan said that new forms will be enacted in July of 2012 and this organization has the legal ability to draft them for the town. "We will get our almost hundred dollars' worth," said Vogan.
•Council paid the expenses to send Councillors Ashley Stamler, Gord Armstrong and citizen Vaughn Murray to a meeting in Atikokan discuss the idea of having a long boat race across the district.
•Councillor Ashley Stamler said that she has been researching the cost of pole banners for the community and has only received one call back so far. She will continue to work on prices and options.
•Matt and Amy Ashworth were accepted as members of the RR Volunteer Fire Dept. pending physicals.
•Council agreed to donate 2012 desk planners to the Rainy River District Annual General Meeting.
They also agreed to support Mayor Ewald's bid to remain as RRDMA President for another term.
•Councillor Larry Armstrong noted that the contract for Chief Building Officer services with AMBIS will be up next June. "We will look at the numbers and then have to decide if we will continue with the same group or tender it out."
•Councillor Ashley Stamler and RR Fire Dept. member, said that she is in the process of getting a District Fireman's Ball going. "We hope to raise awareness about what we are about."
She hopes the event will also raise monies that can be donated back to the community. She said that response has been good so far and that she hopes to hold the first one in Rainy River and then it will rotate communities.
•Council accepted the resignation of Geraldine White from the Rainy River Public Library Board.
•Council approved a motion to nominate Jonathan Stamler for an Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers. He volunteer a great deal of time doing various extra work to the 4008 Railway Museum this past summer.
•Councillor Larry Armstrong was appointed to the Deputy Mayor's chair for 2012 in the absence of Mayor Ewald.
•A letter of support will be send to the District of Rainy River Law Library Association asking that the judicial vacancy in the Rainy River District not be moved to Kenora and that a judge be appointed in Fort Frances.
•January was proclaimed Alzheimer's Month. The town will fly the Alzheimer Society's flag at the Town Office that month.