Council rejects sewer tender

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Monday evening, Rainy River Town Council unanimously rejected a bid by T & K Sharp Construction of Stratton to do the major work to the town's ailing sewer system.
Instead council has decided to do the lagoon portion of the project themselves and re-tender the other two portions of it. "We feel the town crew has the expertise to do most of the project and save the taxpayers money," said Councillor Brent Anderson.
Council will be re-inviting those who picked up tender packages for the first round to bid on:
1. Refurbishment of the lift station and construction of the building on that site at the base of Sixth St.
2. Auguring under the highway and railway tracks.
Town Clerk Veldron Vogan noted that bidders can bid on one or both portions of the tender. They will exactly two weeks from today to return their bids.
Councillor Anderson asked why the tenders are only being solicited from previously interested parties.
Vogan said, "Because of the short turn around on the (request for) tender we felt that they would already have the information and be able to submit them on time."
Mayor Deb Ewald said that a representative from T&K Sharp Construction called her and asked council if he could meet with them to discuss the tender before rejecting their bid.
Council opted to exercise a clause in the tendering contract as well as in their own purchasing bylaw and refuse to give a reason for rejecting the tender from T & K.
ATV use now legal in RR
For years people have driven their All Terrain Vehicles on Rainy River lanes and streets illegally. However, Monday evening Council changed all that legalizing them from Dec. 1st to March 31st.
They must have four wheels with balloon type tires of no more inflation than 10 p.s.i. and can only carry a driver.
They are not allowed in town parks and can not be driven on town roads/lanes from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m.
Other business
•Council passed motions to correct monthly account balances dating back as far as August of 2007. Apparently their new accounting software was adding voided cheques into a report given to council from which the council passed motions adopting monthly account totals.
However, the glitch did not affect the actual town books and did not throw them into a surplus or deficit situation.
Council approved the purchase and installation of three evergreen trees at a cost of $200 per tree.
•Council renewed its annual membership in the Morson Tourism Association at a cost of $100.
•Council renewed its membership in Sunset Country Tourism Association at a cost of $160.27.
•Council approved the repair of a cooler at the marina canteen kiosk at a cost of $4-500.
•Councillor Gord Armstrong reported that the Recreation Board is very happy with the work of Rec. Director Meghan Shanks issuing kudos to her.
They are also looking at the possibility of becoming the local bottle return depot for Rainy River as there is none closer than Morson or Devlin at present.
•Council also passed a motion waiving the building permit fee of $50 for the Rainy River Walleye Tournament when it erects the tent at Hannam Park for its tournament later this month.