Tolen project nixed

Ken Johnston

At a special meeting last Monday evening, Rainy River Town Council learned of some possibly bad news.
Robert Tolen of Gameland Wood Products had asked council for permission to erect a temporary building/structure on the property he is currently occupying at 716 Atwood Ave. so that he could start manufacturing utility sheds there. However, at that meeting Tolen sadly told council that he thinks he may have lost the contract to another party.
He had hoped to employ 10 people there and start production in the next few weeks. Prior to this project, Tolen had been doing some manufacturing there of various wood products. That in itself is in contradiction to the zoning for that property (the old Border Esso).
A bylaw was introduced Monday to grant Tolen permission to temporarily use the property, which is zoned for commercial but not industrial use. Councillors Ed Tymkin and Debbie Ewald moved that the first reading of the bylaw be taken as notice of motion as some councillors needed more information on the matter.
Ewald and Tymkin noted that letters concerning Tolen’s plans for the property had been received by council and that the matter requires more investigation before making a decision.
In the bylaw council suggested allowing Tolen to use the property for manufacturing until Oct. 31, 2006.
Tolen noted that even without that contract council should look at the matter just the same as he plans to continue manufacturing wood products there. “(You) still need to get me into compliance.”
Despite feeling disappointed about losing the contract for the sheds, Tolen told the Record last week, “I will have some good news for you soon.”
Prior to the shed proposal coming along, he said he had some other ideas he was working on.