State of affairs

Ken Johnston

The state of the town’s public services was called into question Monday night when discussion about the Recreation and Library boards was brought up at the monthly meeting of Rainy River Town Council.
Councillor Ed Tymkin questioned whether the Recreation facilities are getting maximized usage and suggested that if that is not the case then perhaps things should be “scaled back.”
Councillor Brent Anderson, the town’s exofficio on the Rec. Board, noted that last week the chairman of the board, Wes Blight, resigned and so did the long time Rec. Director Monique Gall. Anderson did not dwell on reasons why they left but did note that the board is planning for public elections in early April and is hopeful that with some new blood they can reenergize the facility.
Councillor Tymkin also raised the issue of the public library and the possibility of it being relocated to the school. “Is that idea still alive?”
Library Board Exofficio for the Town, Debbie Ewald noted that the chair of the board, Terri Anne Lundgren is due to give birth any day and that while the idea is still alive not much has been done recently on it.
Tymkin suggested that with the word that Best Start will not be going into the school that the library might have a better chance of getting into the school.
Ewald agreed but noted that, “The library only has so much for rent and if they want more than we have... we run on a bare-bones. I think (council) should look at all services and ways of saving money.”
She also suggested that by encouraging more members of the community to “take ownership” programs will grow rather than shrink and be more successful.
Councillor Anderson asked that council give the new board a chance. “Things are not in dire straits there yet, but maybe we should give the new board a chance.”
Councillor Dean Wiersema asked if it was true the ice plant was down and how bad it was.
Anderson did not know about the plant.
It has been down since Thursday and Rec. Board. Interim Chair Walter Wagner had technicians in working on it last Friday.

Other business
•The Library has begun work on its family literacy enhancements. They recently received a Trillium Grant for the work.
•Council passed a motion to prime and surface (pave) 1.7 km of Railway Ave, 1st Ave., 2nd Ave. and Little St. this summer at a cost of $30,000. Dept. Clerk Veldron Vogan noted that the Little St. surfacing is south of the tracks and needs to be done now in case the crossing is closed as trucks wont be able to get in there to do the work if it closes.
•A meeting will be held on April 1st in Chapple to discuss the future of Rainycrest. Mayor Glen Armstrong noted that if Riverside permanently takes control the elected officials that operate the board now will not have a say on issues like taxation. He urged all of council to be in attendance.
Councillor Debbie Ewald said the municipalities will be receiving correspondence on the RR Dist. Municipal Association’s position on the facility’s operation.