Council to vest two Rainy River properties

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Property issues were front and center at Rainy River Town Council's regular monthly meeting Tuesday evening.
Property Committee Chair Susan Carpenter brought forth a motion concerning two properties the town had up for tax sale recently.
Both parcels, 204 Fourth St. and 1102 Government Road, were unsuccessfully sold.
The next step is for the town to vest them. Council approved this step Tuesday and soon the Town will be able to do whatever it sees fit with them.
New property numbers
Council passed By-law 1571-12 which identified several lots on River Avenue that did not have numbers. This by-law was to update that information for the 9-1-1 Emergency Response System.
The lots will now have the numbers 86-100 River Ave. These are the lots west of Sixth St. where the new locum house is being built.
Minor Variance
Council began the process for a minor variance for property owner Jeff Mortimer at 94 River Ave.
Mortimer requested a variance to the zoning by-laws that state utility buildings must be built after the main dwelling. Mortimer requested that he be allowed to construct a garage next year and the dwelling at a later date.
However, that later date concerned Mayor Deb Ewald. According to the document she was reading from that later date would be 2015. "If he is going to build the garage next year, why not the house the year after. I think 2015 is too long."
Council also was informed that Mr. Mortimer had not come in and signed a letter of under taking.
With the concern about the date of construction and the lack of his signature, council opted to table the motion on the variance.
Other business
•Councillor Gord Armstrong reported on a meeting he and CAO Veldron Vogan had with Fisheries and Oceans Canada regarding the weeds in front of the park.
"Before we put the boat ramp on the west side of the dock there used to be a culvert through there and hence flow of water. We need to get an engineer in and see what we can do to restore that."
Armstrong said they feel if there is flow there the weed problem will be reduced.
•Mayor Deb Ewald said that negotiations with CUPE will begins soon as their contract expires Dec. 31st.
•Councillor Ashley Stamler said that she and Rec. Dir. Kam Kuzyk met Tues. to reopen the idea of a skate park in RR. "We hope to have a public meeting next week and rekindle it."