LoW councillor resigns

Ruth Brett
Contributor

The Lake of the Woods Township Council met on June 2nd at the Bergland Hall instead of the council Chambers, due to the large number of community members expected to attend.
The meeting began with the delegations still voicing their concerns over the Council's hiring of spouses.
Council decided to discuss the budget since so many members of the public were present. The Clerk went through the budget items and recommendations. Council recommended that the reduction in education tax be moved to general so that the total tax rate remains the same as last year. By-Law 131, being the 2004 tax rate by-law, was passed to establish those rates.
Lake of the Woods Township will be placing an congratulatory ad to the town of Rainy River in the special edition of the Rainy River Record and will present a plaque to the town at the celebrations on July 31.
Council authorized the write-off of taxes in the total amount of $2,749.36
At the Bergland rink the players’ boxes will be removed due to their state of disrepair, and Council has authorized the hiring of an electrician to disconnect the power.
Council went in-camera at 10:10pm to discuss personnel matters. The matter discussed was that Councillor Alfred Gate had filed his resignation from Council with Clerk Giles some days before the meeting. Clerk Giles was authorized to approach the next runner-up in Ward 1, Nancy Gate, if she would be interested in the seat. If she is not, then the Clerk is authorized to place an ad in the paper for an interested person to fill the vacancy.
The Mayor advised Council that representatives from the Ministry of Health and RRDSSAB toured the Morson area and identified 3 possible sites for a medical helicopter landing pad.
Council has received notice that the livestock valuer, John Olson, has resigned his position.
Fred Gate, Cemetery caretaker, has resigned his position as of June 15th, 2004.
Council was informed that the Ministry of Natural Resources is looking for a representative for the Aulineau Peninsula Enhancement Area Wildlife Management Plan.
The minutes of the LoW Council will be on the website at www.lakeofthewoods.ca .
The next Council meeting will be at the Morson Hall on July 6th at 7pm.