Sewer project almost on tap

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Rainy River Town Council moved one step closer to dealing with two major issues Monday evening when they held their regular meeting.
Just hot off the press was a report from Burnside Engineering. The thick report arrived at the office Monday and is filled with information on the environmental assessment of the town’s planned third sewer lagoon and sewer system upgrades.
Mayor Deb Ewald said she began plowing through the document Monday and will pass it on to other council members to read as soon as possible.
Councillor Brent Anderson asked if there was a summary page on the front but the Mayor said she had not seen one. “At least it is an indication that we are moving forward with the project,” she noted.
Anderson also asked if the clearing of the site for the new lagoon has begun.
Town Clerk Veldron Vogan said that it had not started but she was told, “He will be beginning any day now.”
Council also unanimously passed a motion to hire another engineering firm to detail the costs of and plan of how to close the Little Street Rail Crossing.
Chief Building Official
Council hired Henry Van Ael as Chief Building Official and named Dave Zutulsky as Deputy CBO.
Councillor Gord Armstrong asked if the new officials would be dealing with condemning old buildings.
Clerk Vogan said that she had sent an email to Van Ael to ask him but was uncertain if the CBO would be dealing with anything but construction matters.
Councillor Brent Anderson said, “If they don’t then there certainly is a gap there.”
Armstrong agreed and noted that if they won’t then, “We need to make a contract with someone else to do it.”
Armstrong also asked if town building permits require work on a project to be completed within a said time. “There is a building on the east end of the highway and one on Third St. that were never completed...they lower property values for all those around them.”
Vogan said she has asked that of Van Ael as well and has not heard back as of yet.
Other business
•Council tabled a motion to hire Stewart Daw as Animal Control Officer for Rainy River until they can all review a draft contract they received Monday from Daw. He is the ACO for Chapple at present.
•Council supported a resolution from Sudbury to urge the province to raise the minimum wage to $10/hr. now rather than phasing it in from now until 2010.
•Councillor Armstrong asked the Clerk to see if a preliminary report on the arena’s structural future is ready. “They have things they want to do like fix the glass. But if the building needs major work they won’t proceed.”
Vogan said she will try and get a report as soon as possible.