Mayor to stay on Town chases pipe dream for third time

Ken Johnston
Editor

Despite rumours to the contrary Rainy River Mayor Glen Armstrong will be completing his term in office, which will expire in early December when a new council and mayor is sworn in.
Armstrong told the Record Monday that he will remain on as mayor at the regular monthly meeting of council. He said at the end of his term he will give the media a statement; for now it is business as usual even though he has taken employment outside the community.
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Hopefully the third time is the charm for Rainy River.
Council passed a motion Monday evening to reapply for funding to fix the town’s dilapidated sewer system.
Both the first and second time the town’s application was rejected by the government and that shocked many in the region including the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association who passed a special resolution urging the government to reconsider.
Rainy River can not expand or attract any industry outside the current sewer system until its system is either majorly repaired or a new lagoon is built.
Town Clerk Veldron Vogan noted that the first two applications were identical and that this time she has worked with Jane Gillon of the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines on the application as well as consulted with the person doing the scoring on the applications.
“Our per capita costs were way out of whack in relation to those of all the projects approved,” explained Vogan. “This time we are concentrating on the areas that really need fixing which will lower the costs.”
Councillor Ed Tymkin questioned the wording of the motion that says “The need to upgrade the Town’s sewer infrastructure is the Town’s highest priority.” Tymkin did not agree that it is the highest priority and voted against the motion. All five other councillors voted for it.
Other business
•Council voted unanimously to lower the billing rate from two to one unit for the Rainy River Curling Club.
•Council approved a request from resident Andrea Weafer to begin the process to allow her to sever two pieces of land in the west end of town at 100 Broadway Ave.
•Council agreed to loan picnic tables to the Morson Bass International this weekend.
•Council declared Sept 1-3 and 21-23 community festivals. A fastball tournament is on the first weekend and the RR Walleye Tournament is the second one.
•Council appointed Gerry Marchuk to replace Mayor Armstrong on the Rainycrest Board and the DSSAB.
•Advanced and regular polling dates were established. Advanced polls for the municipal and school board elections will take place on Nov. 4, 2006 at the town hall from 12-5 p.m.
Regular poll date is Nov. 13, 2006 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. A special poll will be held that same day at the Rainy River Health Centre for residents there to vote from 2-2:30 p.m.
•Councillor Brent Anderson reported that the Recreation Board has received good news regarding getting a new director. He noted that they have been approved for funding for an intern and are now in the process of hiring someone .
•There has been very little action on CNR crossings and councillor Gerry Marchuk noted that the timbers on them are in bad shape.
Vogan noted that she has been in contact with the railway and they have forwarded their concerns to someone in maintenance.
•Council donated $120 to the Rainy Rive Valley Horse Council to help defray the costs of their newly built horse arena in Emo.