Council tables adoption of RR Fire Dept. community risk assessment

Ken Johnston
Editor

Rainy River’s Town Council tabled the adoption of a risk assessment report Monday, put together by the Rainy River Fire Department.
The report, presented to councillors late last week, contains areas of risk in the town that the community needs to look at. However, councillors felt that they needed more time to digest the information within it.
Councillor Lance Lindal said it is full of mistakes, citing that it identifies risk to cottages. “Where are there cottages in Rainy River,” asked Lindal before moving to table it.
Councillor Brent Anderson agreed that the motion to adopt the report should be tabled. Councillor Larry Armstrong said that he feels that council should be given more time to read it and then meet with the Fire Chief to discuss it.
Council did however pass a motion adopting the Fire Depts. plans for a smoke alarm program in which they will visit every home in Rainy River and insure they have a smoke alarm. Councillor Armstrong noted that he feels the way the policy reads that council will be on the hook for the cost of a smoke alarm if a resident does not have one in their home.
Mayor Gordon Prost said, “If we buy them one, put it on their taxes.”
Other Business
•Council agreed to set up a bank account for the Rainy River Centennial Committee.
•Council agreed to send Mayor Prost, all expenses paid, to Ottawa for a Mayor’s Week similar to the one hosted there last year by M.P. Bob Nault. Prost said it cost the town about $2,000 last year, but that it was called at the last minute. This year it will be far enough ahead he said they will be able to save on the airfare.
He noted that most mayors last year pushed for more infrastructure money and that cry was heard as it was beefed up in the latest federal budget.
•Council will hold a special meeting next Monday evening to set a date for renovation of the Town Garage building. Work was to be done this spring but it has been delayed. No reason for the delay was given.
•Council declared May 4-10, 2003 as Emergency Preparedness Week. Town Clerk Deb Bowman reported that work in several fronts with regards to the Community’s Emergency Preparedness is well underway. She and Dawson Clerk Pat Giles have agreed to be alternates for each other as Community Emergency Management Coordinators. Work on an action plan, risk analysis, control group, care of volunteers, public awareness and a new bylaw are proceeding at a good pace.
•Council approved and Alzheimer Society Walk of Memories for Rainy River to be held May 10th.
•The town accounts were approves as follows:
Town General: $193,603.69
Water: $11,016.37
Sewer: $807.16
Cemetery: $977.77
OHRP: $3,462.19