District leaders to meet

Ken Johnston

Bergland will play host to the leaders of the Rainy River District this Saturday as it holds the annual meeting of the Rainy River District Municipal Association.
Delegates from as far away as Atikokan will gather at the Bergland Hall to discuss issues that affect the communities across the district.
The day will begin with a business section that will see leaders discuss and endorse resolutions that once passed will be sent to the Northern Ontario Municipal Association annual meeting. At press time the secretary for RRDMA, Anna Boily, had not completed the list of resolutions to be discussed.
Another item on the agenda for the business meeting is the cost apportionment for RRDSSAB. That is the umbrella organization that oversees the social services in the district and services like land ambulance. Each municipality pays a portion of the costs to RRDSSAB for the services. Boily said the meeting will see them discuss how the apportionment is calculated.
Other topics of discussion at the business meeting will be the Fort Frances Clinic, the NOMA levy payment and election of new officers.
After the business meeting several speakers will address the delegates throughout the day. They include Pete Sarsfield of the Northwestern Health Unit, Donna Dittaro of RRDSSAB, Jeanette Cawston of Best Start, Geoff Gillon of Rainy River Future Development Corporation, Jane Gillon of the Ministry of Development and Mines, Grace Silander of the Rainy River Valley Safety Coalition, Tim Gauthier of Ainsworth, Tannis Drysdale of Drysdale Consulting, Chantelle Bryson of Buset and Partners, Ken Boshcoff, MP and Donna Anderson POA coordinator. All will be given about 20 minutes to give a presentation and may take questions from the delegates if time allows.