Towns trash blue boxes

Ken Johnston
Editor

In an effort to make a statement and save the taxpayers money, Rainy River town council added its voice to the list of those who have gave their notice of intent to opt out of the Northwestern Ontario Recycling Association (NORA).
Monday evening council learned that Emo and Morley had added their names to the list that already includes Red Lake, Kenora, Alberton and Sioux Lookout.
NORA, which has been servicing the area for more than a decade has been drowning in debt the past few years and just two weeks ago announced a 70% increase in per capita fees to cover debt for the past year and 2002.
Councillor Glen Armstrong noted that while he supports recycling it has become to cost prohibitive at about $17,000 per year in Rainy River.
Councillor Larry Armstrong agreed saying, “We have to get all councils to petition the government to put more funding into recycling... just as they cut funding they mandated recycling.”
However, communities of less than 5,000 people do not have to recycle.
Mayor Gord Prost said that, “We really do not have recycling now. It is being picked up and stockpiled in Dryden. We are paying somone to haul it away and it is not being sold.”
NORA committee member and councillor Gerry Marchuk noted that the market for recyclables has fallen right off citing the fact that newsprint once sold for $250 a metric tonne and now sells for $70 a metric tonne.
Councillor Lance Lindal said, “It is a sinking ship.”
Council unanimously passed a motion giving NORA and its members the required six months notice to opt out of the program effective July 14, 2002. In the mean time council hopes that NORA can find some alternatives to their problems. Council also mentioned that they may explore other options for local recyclables.
DSSAB to ASB
Council passed a motion to participate in a study to look at converting the existing District Social Services Area Board to an Area Services Board.
Councillor Larry Armstrong explained that the study is fully funded by the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines and that the town can opt out at any time.
The DSSAB looks after four areas: Ontario Works, Child Care, Land Ambulances and Social Housing. The ASB adds two more major areas of responsibility: Long Term Care and Public Health.
Larry Armstrong said the latter one could be the scary one, but urged council to move forward with the study. If a majority of the 11 municipalities in the area do not go for the study it will not proceed and the DSSAB will remain as is.
Mayor Prost said that under ASB, that board could have the power to directly tax the public for services under its control. “The town could walk away from an area and let them pick it up,” said Prost.
Other Business
•Council agreed to purchase a new Bobcat tractor from Stratton Equipment at a cost of $26,796 plus taxes. Public Works chair Gerry Marchuk said the old one has become expensive to maintain and that they are getting good trade in for it against the brand new one.
•Council passed its accounts but Councillor Gerry Marchuk raised cheque number 14933 to Hydro One for $8,945. It was to pay for street light power in Rainy River from May to November. Clerk Deb Bowman said that Hydro had not sent the town a bill until then.
•Council supported a resolution to request more funding from the Ministry of Health for Rainycrest, noting that it is seriously underfunded and that if the province does not kick in more the taxpayers may have to pick up the deficit.
•The Rainy River District Municipal Association will be meeting Jan. 26, 2002 in Fort Frances. Council passed a motion requesting RRDMA find a way to allow the pertinent municipalities their own say in choosing representation on the Northwestern Health Unit Board. Fort Frances and Atikokan appoint their own and concerns have arisen that they being members of RRDMA will have a say on who represents the other municipalities.
•Clerk Bowman reported that the deal to sell the RR Electric Utility to Hydro One is still not finalized. Any monies received have not been spent.
•Council passed a motion to get Burnside Engineering to protest recommendations for upgrades to the local water treatment plant that the engineering firm does not think Rainy River needs. For more details on this issue and a special council meeting held last Tuesday, log onto our web site at www.RainyRiverRecord.com
•Councillor Glen Armstrong reported that the economic development committee had hoped to set up a manufacturing business in Rainy River and had a person that was interested in having his patented product made here. However the major investor they had hoped would come forward did not and now the Rainy River Future Development Corporation is planning to pitch the idea to investors in Emo.
Armstrong said that the person with the idea is originally from this area and has asked him if he could try again to make it work in Rainy River.
“We want people to know that we are working on economic development,” said Armstrong.