LoW fire pacts on hold

Ruth Brett
Contributor

The Lake of the Woods Township Council met on Friday, Nov. 4th at Bergland with Mayor V. Pizey, Councillors T. Sepers, B. Lundgren, J. Moen, C. Fadden and Clerk-Treasurer P. Giles present. There were no delegations on the agenda so council went right to the regular business.
A discussion was held with regard to the tax assessment notices. Some are quite high and others unchanged. Community members with complaints or questions should phone the assessment office. Councillor Moen noted that the Ombudsman is now examining assessments in Northwestern Ontario.
Bills for the month of October in the total amount of $64,826.59 were approved for payment.
Road Supt. E. Pearson, who was not present, submitted a written report asking for additional funds to do work on Lakewood Drive and Red Wing Road and, as well, some grading on a few of the Bergland area roads.Snow fencing will be done this coming week.
Clerk Pat Giles advised the meeting that Councillor Bill Lundgren will have served on Council for 25 years as of Dec.1, 2005.
Fire Dept: Council continues to consider replacing three fire trucks and is asking for at least three comparables for each truck before a final decision is made.
Recreation: The LoW Rec. Committee has planned a craft show and sale for Nov. 19 and a Lutefisk supper on Dec. 3, both to be held at the Bergland Hall.
Old Business: Fire agreements with First Nations and unorganized territories continues to be on hold until the Township’s Fire Dept. is completely organized and trained.
The mileage rates issue will be dealt with in the New Year.
New Business: Mayor Pizey will lay the wreath at the Remembrance Day Service in Rainy River. Council will use the vote-by-mail process for the upcoming election(next fall).
By-Law #163, being the Phase III Juniper Shores Subdivision Agreement By-Law was enacted.
By-Law #164, being the AMO Gas Tax Agreement By-Law was enacted.
Council will request the Minister of Municipal Affairs to remove “Municipal Councils” from Bill 123 (the Transparency in Public Matters Act). Municipalities are already covered in the Municipal Act on these types of matters.
Council supports the resolution of the Township of Alberton which requests that the Province not exempt Engineers and Architects from Bill 124. This Bill requires that architects, engineers, builders, building officials be registered and licensed.
Council authorizes the AMBIS Committee Chair and Secretary to sign an addendum to the CBO contract that would change the CPI adjustment date from April to January of each year.
Clerk is to write for more information on Northern Ontario Highways Strategy five year program.
Council will appoint Glen Armstrong of Rainy River as their representative on the Rainycrest Board.
Many municipalities in the District have asked Fort Frances to reconsider their decision to cut dispatch services, offering to pay more money, but Fort Frances is continuing with their plan to contract out that service.
An on-site meeting for the new Stintzi drain was held on Nov. 3rd.
The Clerk will notify TVO that their dish cover in Morson needs repairs. Clerk Giles will write to MTO again requesting that the Spruce Creek culvert, under Hwy. 621, be properly reinstalled or replaced. Council will not delegate authority to the CBO to issue conditional building permits.
Council has received the MNR wolf survey report; the OPP third quarter report; and the MPAC news release regarding the complaints to the Ombudsman.
A reminder that the LoW Township office will be open only on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from Nov. 7 to 18.
Council extends their sympathy to Mayor Val Pizey, who lost her husband to cancer this past week.