Council set to raise residential taxes but lower business rates

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Rainy River Town Council held its regular monthly meeting Monday evening.
It was a quick meeting with about 25 mins of the 75 it took being used up reading a new cemetery bylaw.
The bylaw had to be passed to meet provincial guidelines for cemetery rules and regulations.
Taxes/Fees going up
Finance Committee Chairman Brent Anderson reported to council that the town budget is complete and that a public meeting on it will held on June, 5, 2007. Anderson said that taxes will be going up about 5% on average for residential taxpayers and business taxes will be going down.
“That is being done to bring them more in line with Emo’s rates,” explained Anderson.
Mayor Deb Ewald said the break will hopefully help attract businesses to town.
Anderson said that water rates will also see a slight increase this year.
Economic Development
Eco. Dev. Committee Chair Gord Armstrong reported that he and other officials travelled to Morden, Manitoba to get ideas on how Rainy River can spark some growth here. “They told us to develop from within first and then focus what is naturally available in the area. That made me think of the bird watching right away,” said Armstrong.
He also noted that the strategic planning process is moving forward. They had one meeting with invited members of the community. A public meeting will be held tonight, May 15th and that will end the public meeting portion of the process.
New Expense Policy
Council passed a revised councillor, mayor, town staff, or other authorized representative expense policy.
Councillor Armstrong questioned what constituted a part day. Council agreed to spell out that anything less than 4 hours would result in a $50 perdiem and anything greater would be $100 per day.
Councillor Anderson said the main reason for the new policy is to tie the mileage expense to the Revenue Canada recommendations on their website. “This way when it changes ours will change and we do not have to keep passing a new bylaw.”
He noted that it is 48.5 cents per kilometre for Ontario on the site now.
New Rec. Board
Councillor Gord Armstrong noted that a new board has been elected. Deb Wagner is the new chair, Eltjo Wiersema, Vice-chair, Gabe Langlais-Treas., and members Grace Seguin and Ron McAlister.
Other business
•Council approved free dumping days for RR residents from May 16-26, 2007.
•Council agreed to enter into building inspection services with Pwi-Di-Goo-Zing-Ne-Yaa-Zhing Advisory Services, pending approval of the final draft of the agreement.
They also tentatively appointed Dave Zatulsky as Chief Building Official for Rainy River.
•Council went in camera to discuss personnel matters at 8:15.