Council clears the way for Playschool to utilize fromer Duty Free building

By Ken Johnston
Editor

As reported in last week's Record, a public meeting was held Monday evening prior to the RR Town council meeting. No one showed up to speak for or against a proposal to rezone the former Duty Free Shop building from commercial to institutional.
During the regular council meeting council unanimously voted to pass the amendment to the zoning for that building; clearing the way for Rainy River Playschool Inc. to proceed with purchasing it and eventually locating the Laugh Learn and Play day care centre and the Rainy River Toy Library/Resource Centre there.
Council also passed a motion to urge the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board to consider the existing cost apportionment formula to a levy based on weighted assessment including P.I.L's using municipal tax ratios for municipalities and weighted average tax ratios for unincorporated areas.
Mayor Deb Ewald said that the reason RRDSAB is looking at this matter is because Chapple and Lake of the Woods Townships are unhappy with what they have to pay.
Councillor Brent Anderson asked which option of the three, including leaving the current formula in place would be the cheapest for Rainy River.
Mayor Ewald said that the above noted option is the cheapest and council agreed passing it 4-0.
Council also supported a resolution from Chapple Township regarding forest harvest limits. It asks that MNR assign harvesting limits to the company that can best utilize such resources and are as close to the end user as possible in order to reduce the impact on the environment. It also asks that stumpage fees be tied to forest product commodity prices.
Council also supported a resolution asking the provincial government to assume ownership of all municipal drinking water systems in Ontario and that the province assume responsibility for the operation of all municipal drinking water systems subject to its regulations and oversight.
Council passed a motion to have five wooden garbage barrel containers built by Gary Halverson and Bernie Jenson for Main St.
Mayor Deb Ewald reported that RRDSAB did pass its budget and that there will be a 2.75% decrease in costs to municipalities this year.