Dike’s long term future uncertain

Ken Johnston
Editor

The dike, at the base of Rainy River, will remain intact for at least the next several weeks.
That was the word Monday night when council met. Mayor Gordon Prost said, “We will be working through a committee of the Rainy River District Municipal Association (RRDMA) on mitigating flooding across the district.”
Prost said that he would love to say that something will be done quickly to either make it permanent or remove it but he can’t as he feels dealing with the district will take time.
Councillor Lance Lindal said, “We will be leaving it (the dike) up at least until the water goes down.”
The dike was constructed during flooding in early June. That flooding led to the area being declared a disaster by the provincial government.
Council withdrew a motion that would have appointed former mayor Gord Armstrong as the town’s representative on the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program committee. There was no word who would be appointed in his place.
To smoke or not smoke?
Councillor Gerry Marchuk reported that the RRDMA passed a resolution calling for a 100% smoke-free compliance in all workplaces across the Rainy River District.
However the resolution was missing teeth in its bite.
“It will now go back to committee of each council and they can decide if they want to allow any exemptions,” said Marchuk.
Marchuk who happens to be the president of the Rainy River Legion, said that he would like to see the two local bars be exempt for a period of time. “How would council feel about phasing it in for the bars over two years?”
Mayor Prost said that council could not endorse such an exemption as the issue of smoking is a workplace safety issue and those laws would supercede the exemptions.
Councillor Lindal noted that Northwestern Health Unit Chief Medical Officer for the region is not going to compromise on this issue.
Marchuk said that the RRDMA sought legal advice and were told that if they challenged Sarsfield’s efforts to make all workplaces smoke free, RRDMA would lose in court.
Councillor Brent Anderson asked why RRDMA did not come out with a strong resolution that would be the same for all communities.
Marchuk said that Fort Frances Mayor Glen Witherspoon said that he could not support a complete ban of smoking as it would hurt half the businesses in his community.
Sarsfield has said he wants to know by July 31, 2002 what council’s intentions are on the issue.
Councillor Marchuk recommended the resolution be taken up at committee level.
Other Business
•Councillor Marchuk noted that there is a severe problem with the culvert near Fred Hartnell’s. It clogs up with debris and causes water to back up. He suggested that the holes in the grate be made larger. Clerk Deb Bowman noted that the town foreman has been instructed to remove the grate as soon as it starts raining.
•The Rainy River Public Library will be purchasing software to automate the book lending process.