Council writes off nearly $23,000 in delinquent taxes/fees

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Rainy River is now the owner of three properties it recently put for tax sale.
Monday evening town council passed several motions vesting three properties and to write off delinquent taxes and other related fees.
The properties now owned by the Town of Rainy River are at 217 First Street, 310 Fifth Street and 509 Atwood Avenue.
217 First Street cost the town the most with $12,531.51 in taxes having to be written off. It also had another $903.66 written off for unpaid utilities.
The other two properties had about $3,000 each in taxes written off and the balance of the almost $23,000 in total in utility and interest amounts.
Town Clerk Veldron Vogan said now that the Town has vested them, "We can get the Chief Building Official to look at them and get a real idea of what we have (acquired)."
Council has not made any decision on what to do with the properties.
On another property related issue, council recently learned that the total assessment for the community dropped by 5.75% but Finance Chair Brent Anderson said that does not actually translate to a 5.75% drop in revenues. "We are talking about $10,000 lost. Any tax increase, if any will be in my opinion kept to a minimal (next year)"
Mayor Deb Ewald said that the Town plans to increase its operating efficiencies in 2009 and council hopes to keep most of the decreased assessment off the backs of the taxpayers.
Other Business
•Council approved an application for a grant to pay for a feasibility study on a Tourism Plan and a Greenhouse Alternative Energy project. The amount of the application is $50,000.
•Council is applying for $10,000 from the Northern Communities Investment Readiness Initiative from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation.
•Council approved giving the Recreation Board, the Library Board and the Fire Department $150 each to help with Christmas party expenses.
•Council also approved giving each Town employee an extra eight hours off with pay as a Christmas bonus. They have to use it by March 31, 2009.
•Early in the meeting Finance Chair Brent Anderson complimented Clerk Vogan's report in their agenda package on where the Town is with respect to the 2008 budget.
Anderson noted that Vogan reported that they are pretty well on budget for the year. "Does this report include what we are doing tonight?" referring to the vesting of the three properties and the write offs taxes and fees.
Vogan said yes.
Anderson was visibly and verbally pleased.
•Council approved payment of $330.75 to enroll Vogan in a Municipal Law course.
•Council agreed to sponsor Rainy River High School Public Performance License in the amount of $100 so they can host public movie nights, etc.