Mayor Debbie Ewald sees positive future for Rainy River

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Rainy River Mayor Debbie Ewald feels Rainy River is on the right track to a bigger and better future.
Looking back at 2008 and ahead to 2009, she told the Record last week that the biggest accomplishment for the town was, “Sewer, sewer and sewer!”
No the town is not getting flushed down the toilet. On the contrary the community has had its hands tied when it came to any new development. The existing sewer system has been at maximum capacity for about fifteen years and getting it fixed has been a struggle.
But all that has changed with a big part of the project already completed in 2008 and the rest of it to be done this year. While the town has been aggressively looking at ideas to create jobs and new housing developments for retirees, the restrictions of the existing system have held them back. “Now we can move full steam ahead,” said Ewald on Friday.
“We have done a good job filling up what we have already,” noted Ewald. She is referring to the large number of existing homes that were for sale last year and the efforts of the Rainy River Economic Development Committee and its development officer Anthony Mason. “Many homes sold and there are new people in town as well as some who moved back to Rainy.”
While it was not a moment she calls a high point, the resolution of the law suit against the town by former Clerk Deb Bowman was a relief. “It lifted a huge burden off our shoulders and allowed us to fully focus on the community’s future,” said Ewald.
Two high points for her included the moving of the Rainy River Library to its new home and the excellent work the beautification committee has done in town. A grand opening for the Library is being planned for later this month.
Looking ahead she noted that council has a couple of irons in the fire that may generate jobs here but, “I don’t want to say anything at this point... I do not want to raise hopes like Globeco did,” said Ewald.
An issue that has carried over from 2008 is that of the lack of transportation (i.e. bus service) in and out of the area. “We plan to meet with Riverside to see if there is a way to utilize that van the province gave them for this area.”
With the town’s assessment dropping by nearly 6% overall, the Mayor said she is not too concerned at this point about it. “We are in the early stages of budgeting but I think we can manage.”
In addition to aggressively marketing the community for industry and as a place to live, Ewald said that council is also still looking for a dentist and now a third full time doctor.
“There is enough business at the clinic for another doctor in addition to Drs. Beller, Singleton and Nurse Practitioner Nicole Therrien.”
The town will also have to do some repairs to the town garage. “We have to do something with the roof. It has been leaking badly,” said Ewald.
A columbarium will be installed at the cemetery this year, adding to its beauty already.
The Mayor said that she knows there is work to be done but she feels that council and the members of the community that have stepped up to help out on committees are on the right track. “Hopefully the slide downward is done. I think everyone is working for the betterment of the community.”