LoW council to hold

Ruth Brett

Present at the Sept. 7, LoW Twp. Council meeting were Mayor Pizey, Councillors Moen, Fadden, and Lundgren, Clerk - treasurer P. Giles, Road Supt. E. Pearson, and five visitors including John Miller who made a presentation regarding two matters. Firstly, he is requesting to purchase the road to the old Government dock at Taylor Bay. Secondly, he is wishing to set up a new retail complex in the Township and is requesting Council’s assistance and input. Mayor Pizey suggested that he needs a study done and that he work with the RRFDC in this matter.
Mayor Pizey read a letter from Councillor Fadden stating that she was unaware that because she worked at the Morson Shopping Centre, there could be conflict regarding the purchase of land from R.A. Gill Ltd. for the heliport. She apologized for not declaring such.
Bills for July in the amount of $69,645.08 and for August in the amount of $165,370.69 were approved for payment.
Consent file 46B0303, M. Bernier, was granted amended provisional approval with 8 conditions attached. The original provisional approval was repealed.
Consent file 46B0403, M. Helder, was granted provisional approval with 4 conditions attached.
The Card Club was given consent to use the main hall downstairs in the Bergland Hall for rent of $20.00 per month.
Two By-laws were enacted; By-law No.133, the vote by mail for the 2004 By-election and By-law No.134, the 2004 Garbage Collection Agreement.
The Provincial Government has eliminated the Provincial grants for the Municipal Outlet Drainage Program as of July 28th, 2004. Council passed a resolution to request the Government to reinstate the funding for that program. The resolution will be also circulated to Hon. Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario; to Hon. Steve Peters, Minister of Agriculture and Food, and to Howard Hampton, MPP.
LoW Township has entered into an agreement with Agricorp for the placement of a rain gauge at the Bergland Garage for the term of March 1, 2005 to Nov. 1, 2008.
The Mayor and Clerk have been authorized to sign the amended joint agreement for Chief Building Official services; minor word changes having been made to the original agreement.
LoW Township will buy a full membership in the Morson Tourism Assoc. ($375.00) and place an 1/8th page ad. ($240.00) in their brochure.
Superior Safety has inspected the fire extinguishers and emergency lights in both community halls. Some lights and extinguishers need to be replaced. The relay for wiring for the fire alarm control box in the Bergland Hall is now being corrected. The Ministry of the Environment has been out to inspect both the Morson and Bergland dumps because of a complaint; no report has been received yet but the dumps appear in good order. F. Gate has submitted proof of his WSIB coverage as requested by Council. Clerk Giles will write a letter to John Miller advising him that it is not the policy of Council to dispose of roads and therefore, would not be prepared to sell him the road to the old Government dock in Taylor Bay.
Council will hold a public meeting at the Bergland Hall on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2004 at 9am to consider the hiring policies of Council and how Council will procure goods and services.
The regular LoW Township Council meeting was held on Oct. 5, 2004 at the Morson Hall. Present were Mayor Pizey, Councillors Fadden, Moen, and Lundgren, Clerk-Treasurer P. Giles, Road Supt. E. Pearson and seven visitors including Staff Sgt. Hugh Dennis, Darren and Dennis Robinson and Stuart Gill.
Hugh Dennis gave Council an update on OPP statistics and activities in the District. He noted that they were slightly less busy than last year.
Darren Robinson questioned why their company has not been able to get any road work in the Township. He stated that their bids are the same as the competition. During a lengthy discussion, he asked, “Do you tender the road jobs out?”. Mayor Pizey stated that there have been a lot of problems with tenders and contracts in the last nine months and advised the Robinson that a public meeting was been scheduled for Oct. 23 in Bergland at 9am to discuss the whole system of procurement of goods and services and hiring policies.
Stuart Gill, speaking for the Morson Tourism Assoc., requested support from Council, both monetary and in volunteer hours for the Bass Tournament. He told Council that the Bass Tournament would be moved to the Morson Government dock. He asked that a member of Council attend the MTA meetings involving the bass tournament.
Bills for the month of September in the amount of $70,503.54 were approved for payment.
The dump hours have been changed again effective Oct.16, 2004. In Bergland on Wednesday and Sunday from 10am to 3pm. In Morson on Thursday and Saturday from 10am to 3 pm.
The Clerk will write Anishinaabeg of Naongoshiing to advise that effective Jan.1, 2005 both of the LoW Township landfill sites are closed to all non-taxpayers. The Clerk will also write to the three citizens from Spohn and Sutherland, who are presently using the dump, to advise them of the closing.
Council has authorized the purchase of a 2005 Ford F350 diesel one ton cab and chassis from Sunset Country Ford to be delivered in Jan. 2005. The vehicle will be financed from equipment reserves.
The Fire Dept. pumper truck from Bergland is being repaired at present. With the repairs and two new front tires the cost will be about $3,000.00.
The LoW Volunteer Firefighters are working at getting reorganized. Council requires a list of firefighters before the end of the year.
Council has appointed Councillor J. Moen to sit on the Morson Bass Tournament Committee with the MTA.
Council has authorized the payment to the MTA of $2,500.00 less the previously approved membership fee($375.00) and the price of the ad. ($240.00).
There is a meeting regarding the cell phone tower on Oct. 19th at 1:30pm in the Morson Hall.
The public meeting to discuss the procurement of goods and service policies and Council’s hiring policies will be held at the Bergland Hall on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2004 at 9am. Community input is important. Community members may want to get a copy of the policies to read them over. Copies may be obtained from Clerk Giles at the Lake of the Woods Municipal Office in Rainy River.
Clerk Giles will write to the MTO’s District Engineer requesting that trees be cut in the ditches on Hwy. 621. Road Supt. Pearson will send a letter to Hydro requesting repairs of the culverts on Gerben Rd. The ends were crushed by Hydro’s brushing crew.
Council is taking no action in regards to the matter of the Clerk solemnizing marriages.
A few letters were received regarding the Bergland Hall with comments, both positive and negative,as well as suggestions for needed changes. Council will continue to review the operation of the halls.
The township will have to reapply for funding for the Bear Wise program because the MNR did not have time to complete the bear survey.
John Miller has submitted a letter and picture for his proposed retail development. He has been advised of the avenues available to him to make the proposal work.