Spooks to be out early in RR this year

Ken Johnston

Monday evening Rainy River town council kept with tradition of the past decade and decided to move trick-or-treating to October 29th this year, since Halloween falls on a Sunday.
Mayor Glen Armstrong said that the move was done in response to several requests he has had from citizens regarding the event.
In the past councils have done the same thing, citing everything from religious reasons to allowing the kids access to the businesses, many of which are closed on Sundays.
Other Business
•Council agreed to rent space to Melanie’s Foot Care at $150/month in the RR Clinic.
•Council granted the Rainy River Future Development Corporation a vacancy tax rebate for the former Bebe Sues Restaurant for 2003.
•Council withdrew a motion to grant Globeco International a vacancy tax rebate for 2003.
•Council hired Spark Check to service all fire extinguishers in its buildings.
•Council approved the appointment of Karl Drackert to the Rainy River Volunteer Fire Dept.
•Councillor Ed Tymkin asked that the fire dept. be more transparent in how its payments are distributed to dept. members.
Mayor Glen Armstrong agreed saying, “They should be better organized when handling the that much ($9,000) of the public purse.”
•Council was informed that town clerks can now perform Civil Marriage services. Council has to now decide if it wants to offer these services. Mayor Armstrong noted that the services would have to be available to both opposite and same sex couples.
•Councillor Larry Armstrong reported that Rainycrest’s board continues to look at all funding options, noting that, “We are not satisfied just coming to the municipalities for more money.”
The Home for the Aged is running funding shortfalls. This year they asked for a 12.5% increase in levees from the municipalities. Armstrong said that was not enough and that there will likely be another hit of equal size this year.
•Public works committee chair Larry Armstrong reported to council th at the town crew has been busy doing maintenance work and that the committee is working on the sewer infrastructure plans to be ready for when government infrastructure money comes available.
•Councillor Deb Ewald reported that the Library will holding an open house next Wednesday to celebrate Ontario Library Week.
•Councillor Deb Ewald also reported that the Recreation Board is down to four members and that more are needed from the community.
•Council went in-camera at 8:30 to discuss the Koeneman Auction cancellation.