Council discusses water/sewer rates, but no action taken yet

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Council had a busy but uneventful meeting Monday evening with much of the agenda being eaten up sending staff and council to meetings in the upcoming weeks.
However, one issue from last month's meeting did arise.
Councillor Larry Armstrong, who is also the Chair of the Water and Sewer committee, asked if anything has been done to look at the issue of high water and sewer rates in Rainy River.
Last month Gayla MacMillan lead a group of concerned citizens in a charge to have something done about the high rates in Rainy River.
Council agreed to look at the idea of water meters. However, nothing concrete has been done on the matter since last month's meeting.
Armstrong did say he liked the Record's editorial suggestion that the province be brought on board and at the very least provide some kind of rebate or relief for low income water and sewer users.
Other business
•Council revised committee leadership chairs to reflect the arrival of new councillor Susan Carpenter and the departure of former councillor Brent Anderson. At the Committee of the Whole level Larry Armstrong is now the Finance Chair, Susan Carpenter is now chair of Personnel, Property and Bylaw committees. At the regular council level she is also the chair of the Curling Club committee now.
•Council agreed to send Town Clerk Veldron Vogan to the Association of Municipal Clerk Treasurers of Ontario Zone 9 Fall meeting on Sept. 20-21 in Thunder Bay with expenses paid.
•Council will spend $200 on a parting gift for Dr. Beller.
•Clerk Vogan will attend the OACFP Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act Information Training Seminar on Oct. 6, in Kenora with expenses paid.
•Designated Fire Dept. officers will attend the Ontario Fire College training conference on Sept. 16-18 in Thunder Bay with expenses paid.
•Mayor Deb Ewald and Councillors Susan Carpenter, Ashley Stamler and Gord Armstrong will all attend the Rainy River District Municipal Association Fall General meeting in Emo on Sept. 29 with expenses paid.
•Mayor Ewald and Clerk Vogan will attend the Northwestern Ontario Regional Conference on Sept. 21-23 in Thunder Bay with expenses paid.
•Council agreed to purchase a half page advertisement in the NWO Sports Hall of Fame Induction Dinner Souvenir Program at a cost of $250. Resident Don Gale will be inducted later this month.
•Council donated $100 to the Goderich disaster relief fund.
•Council commended 4008/Railway Museum Ambassador Jonathon Stamler for his exemplary service this past summer, noting that he went above the call of duty.
•Building permit fees for the erection of the big tent to be used by the Rainy River Walleye Tournament were waived by the town.
•Council agreed to purchase special occasion insurance for the RRWT to be later reimbursed by the tournament committee.