Communities agree to look at regional airport concept

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Controversy was flying around the room at the 20th Annual Rainy River District Municipal Association General Meeting in Stratton.
A resolution moved by Fort Frances Councillor Rick Wiedenhoeft regarding the future of Fort Frances’ airport, was met with concerns from several other communities.
In the initial version of the resolution concerns arose around two paragraphs. The first stated, “And whereas the operational costs and the maintenance of this regional airport must be supported by all residents in the western portion of the District.”
The second stated, “And further be it resolved that this regional airport be funded by all the residents it serves in the western portion of the Rainy River District including those in First Nations and the unincorporated areas.”
Lake of the Woods Township Reeve Val Pizey immediately spoke against the resolution saying, “I think it is a little early with this resolution. We have no ideas on governance or financial information.”
Emo town councillor Anthony Leek echoed those sentiments saying, “I agree. We need to get more information. This seems to be a little rushed.”
Dawson and LoW Twps. Clerk Pat Giles asked, “What does this resolution mean to individual municipalities? Can we as individuals decide on funding (without going back to our councils).”
Town of Fort Frances Chief Administrative Officer Mark McCaig responded, “We see this as conceptual. There is no onus on individual communities (at this time).”
RRDMA President and Rainy River Mayor Deb Ewald, who seconded the resolution said, “This gives Fort Frances meat to explore funding avenues.”
Rainy River councillor Gord Armstrong said he too had problems voting for the resolution without more information. “It does not read like a conceptual resolution. I feel uncomfortable when our council has not said yea or nay. It needs to be reworded and brought back later.”
Wiedenhoeft and Ewald agreed to table it and have the RRDMA resolutions committee sit down with them to rework it and bring it back later in the day.
When it was brought back the two paragraphs were reworded to sound less binding than the first version. In the first paragraph of concern it now said, “And whereas the operational and the maintenance of this regional airport should be supported by all residents in the western portion of the District.”
The second paragraph was changed as follows, “And further be it resolved that a funding model for this regional airport be explored which would include the entire Rainy River District, First Nations and the unincorporated areas except Atikokan.”
Atikokan was exempt from the resolution because they have their own airport. However, Atikokan Reeve Dennis Brown questioned the inclusion of “all” unincorporated areas. “There are unincorporated areas east of Atikokan. I question whether it is fair to include them in a funding model for an airport in Fort Frances.”
However, it was decided to leave the resolution as it was amended.
Pizey again expressed concern. “I still feel it is too early for this. I have no information on expenses or traffic volumes. I have no data to make an informed decision.”
McCaig said, “All that information was sent out to all communities on Sept. 27, 2010.”
But Pizey said that she had not seen that information and Armstrong and Leek seemed to reinforce that with their comments. “If it was sent out I stand corrected,” said Pizey, but I have not seen it.
Wiedenhoeft and councillor Ken Perry from Fort Frances both said that they had hoped the respective representatives from each community would have spoken to their councils after a meeting earlier last week whether it meant calling a special meeting or at a regular meeting. But with the short time frame between the meeting and RRDMA’s conference Saturday, it was apparent that little discussion transpired between the two.
With the changes to the resolution approved, the call for the vote on it was made. It passed with no one voting against it. However, Pizey did abstain from voting.
McCaig said, “We will try and walk through this together and walk slowly.” He noted that they have looked at many ideas and how Kenora and Dryden operate. “We are open to any idea that will work.”
The issue of the airport arose last year when Fort Frances reported to area councils that their costs have been rising. They are hoping that district residents that utilize the facility will see a value in renaming it to be a regional airport and that the communities that are in the district will help pay for it.
McCaig said the Town of Fort Frances’ annual budget is about $21 million and that the airport accounted for 3.11% of its budget in 2009 and 3.28% in 2010.