Public meeting to be held on smoking bylaw

Ken Johnston
Editor

Will town council snuff out smoking in public places in Rainy River?
That decision could rest heavily upon what council hears Wednesday evening when it holds a public meeting at the Legion.
All residents are welcome. It begins at 7 p.m. and it will be facilitated by Jennifer McKibbon of the Northwestern Health Unit.
Back to the dogs
Council had to rescind all previous dog-bylaws Monday evening and pass a new one. Town clerk Deb Bowman said that the community was challenged by a resident over the previous bylaw and had to pass a new one to clean up some of the wording in it.
Tax ratios passed
Council passed new tax ratios as set out by the provincial average. Finance committee member Brent Anderson said that the residential is 1.00 for 2002 and that some other areas have changed slightly.
DSSAB to ASB
Councillor Larry Armstrong introduced a motion for council to consider approving the movement forward into the second stage of research into whether the district should move from a District Social Services Area Board to an Area Services Board. The ASB would allow the municipalities more control over services such as the health unit.
Armstrong noted that the consensus with the DSSAB group is that if the province does not grant the ASB the power to directly tax the unincorporated areas that ASB will not move forward.
Council passed the motion to enter into stage 2 of the ASB study.

Page turned at Library
The Rainy River Library Board agreed to tighten its belt by 16% this year and asked council for only $20,000 in tax monies to run in 2002. Last year they asked for $24,000. Council unanimously approved the library budget.
Other business
•Council agreed to hire the only applicant it received for the caretaker’s job at the Rainy River Landfill Site. Dennis Katona will fill that position.
•The old dental equipment at the Rainy River Clinic was donated to third-world countries. The town received grants to upgrade to new equipment.
•A motion was carried to give Dr. Albert Beller permission to price out new waiting room furniture and painting of the waiting room.
•Councillor Gerry Marchuk reported that the Northwestern Ontario Recycling Association will be defunct on June 30th. However he noted that a person from Crozier has contacted him and is interested in possibly picking up recyclables in Rainy River.
•Council passed a motion to give clerk Bowman permission to apply for a $100,000 grant to aid in the repairs needed on the town’s sewer system.