Public meets with council

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Nine residents of Rainy River attended a special public meeting held by Town Council regarding the 2008 town budget, Community Improvement Plan, 2008 User Fees and the closing of the Little Street railway crossing.
Mayor Debbie Ewald welcomed all in attendance and turned the floor over to Town Clerk Veldron Vogan and Finance Chair Brent Anderson to outline the 2008 budget which includes a 5% property tax increase for Rainy River residents.
Vogan noted that the public will see a great deal of what is in the budget this summer and fall as there is a lot of outdoor work going to take place. “The sewer lagoon expansion and sewer lift station at the bottom of Sixth St. will be happening this year. Little St. Crossing will be closed and major upgrades to Railway Avenue will be done.”
To help with the added workload the town is hiring another outside part time worker.
Anderson explained why there is about a $400,000 increase in roadways spending this year. He basically pointed towards the work to be done on the rail crossing and railway avenue.
Mayor Ewald noted that 80% of the costs for the work are being paid for by Transport Canada and the other 20% is being picked up by CNR.
Anderson also noted that water and sewer rates will not go up for residents this year. However, when the year is over the system is projected to be in a $8,935 deficit but that will hopefully be offset by a $33,000 annual grant from the province to help with cost overruns due to changes forced by the province. Clerk Vogan said, “To receive that money ($33,000) we can not increase the rates.” The annual grant is available for five years at this point.
Community Improvement Plan
Vogan noted that the plan is available for all residents to read at the town hall. It is basically a plan that outlines what kind of incentives council can offer potential industries/businesses looking at locating in Rainy River.
Crossing Closure
While no definite timeline for removal of the crossing at Little has been nailed down, Town Foreman Bob Jenson said work on Railway Avenue will begin this week. It will be basically doubled in width to make it a real road and not a laneway as it is now. It is hoped that once the work on Railway Ave. is completed then the crossing will be closed. The town also plans to replace aged waterlines on Railway while they have it dug up.
Public concerns
Several residents asked what the increase to the taxes was this year and what that amounts to. Mayor Ewald said 5% and that translates to $30,000.
Norma Blight who lives on Little St. asked if the tax rates are the same for people who live with no back alley’s, sidewalks, street lights, etc. versus those that have full services. Clerk Vogan explained that the tax rates are the same for all residents. However, one’s assessment should value their property according to what services are available. Hence someone with a comparable house to Blight’s with more services available should receive a higher assessment value than Blight and that is multiplied by the tax rate and should mean higher taxes for someone with more services.
Blight also raised the concern about trains blocking crossings and asked who residents should contact. Vogan said Transport Canada should be the one contacted. However, Vogan said that if residents note a train is blocking a crossing for more than five minutes they should write down the time of the blockage and one of the car numbers and call it in to the town office. “We will forward it to Transport Canada.”