Town council to look at establishing a commercial greenhouse industry here

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Rainy River Town Council is looking at the possibility of a commercial greenhouse industry here.
At their regular monthly meeting Monday, council unanimously agreed to apply for Northern Communities Investment Readiness funding. The funds, if approved, will be used to do a feasibility study on commercial greenhouse possibilities in Rainy River.
Councillor Gord Armstrong, who is also the Economic Development Chair in Council, reported that he had a phone meeting with Connie Nelson from Lakehead University last week and she said LU is very interested in what Rainy River is proposing to do with greenhouses.
"She offered advice and suggested that we speak to some area farmers to see what experimental crops may be tried here," said Armstrong.
If council gets approval from NCIR they have set a limit of $3,500 as the taxpayer's share of the study.

Other business
•Council passed a resolution encouraging the province to step up its fight against contraband tobacco products.
"Therefore be it resolved that this council request the Mayor to write a letter to the Ontario Minister of Finance in support of the Ontario Governments 2012 budget commitments to eradicate contraband tobacco through the implementation of additional regulatory, enforcement, etc."
•Mayor Deb Ewald reported that she spoke to Stewardship Ontario at the recent Northern Ontario Municipal Association meeting. "They said they plan to come back our way this summer to pick up electronics for recycling as they should not go to the dump."
•Councillor Ashley Stamler requested that she and several other volunteers, possibly students, be allowed to use the town's lawn mowers, etc. to groom the park. "It needs to be done before the summer students are able to start."
Mayor Ewald also suggested that the playground equipment may need to be painted.
Councillor Larry Armstrong said that a priority list of maintenance items at the park needs to be developed. "That will give us something to zero in on."
•Council donated $100 to Rainy River High School's Chem Free Grad party. It will be given in the form of four $25 gift certificates to be used only at local businesses.