Meeting to sell Koeneman building cancelled

Ken Johnston

Steps in the right direction.
Rainy River Town Council is hoping that two things they are involved with right now will be bright spots in the future of the community.
Last week council passed a motion appointing Mayor Glen Armstrong, and councillors Brent Anderson and Dean Wiersema to a new committee called Community Improvement Planning committee (C.I.P.).
Mayor Armstrong said this week that they are hoping that the new C.I.P. will give council more flexibilities when it comes to attracting investment in Rainy River. “Right now we can not do much in the way of tax incentives (for new business).” At present the town is limited to doing things like in kind perks. “We can put a culvert in for free, stuff like that,” explained the Mayor.
Mayor Armstrong explained that Rainy River is partnering with other smaller communities in the district to get a C.I.P in place. Once it is approved by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs it will allow communities to offer incentives to prospective investors.
Geoff Gillon, economic development officer for the Rainy River Future Development Corporation said, “Community Improvement Planning allows municipalities to create a menu of incentives (to offer).” He noted that Fort Frances has their C.I.P in place now and the current council has a rebate on taxes available.
“They can design the menu to their liking,” added Gillon.
He said it takes about a year to get approval for a C.I.P. and with that in mind Mayor Armstrong said, “That is why I wanted to get the wheels turning on this so that if not this council, the next one can have options.”
Both Gillon and Armstrong said Rainy River has the highest commercial/industrial taxes in the district. Gillon said it is a hangover from the glory days of Canadian National Railway’s presence here.
Mayor Armstrong said the only thing they could do now as a council is roll back the commercial/industrial tax rate. But then the money would have to be made up on residential taxes.
“I would like to hold the commercial rate where it is.”
The other item council is hoping will send the community into the future with a positive feeling is the possible sale of the former Koeneman Lumber plant.
The Mayor called a special meeting last night to discuss the sale of the building. But the meeting was postponed due to a lack of a quorum.
Mayor Armstrong said that the offer to purchase does involve a business venture that he hopes will be good for the town.