Town gets good news marketing tool from consultant

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Monday evening Rainy River town council received a tool to help market the community to industries.
Tannis Drysdale, a consultant recently hired by the town, presented council with an Asset Management Report (AMR).
The report produced by looking at various facets of the community shows Rainy River's positive attributes to be fairly good.
"You have lower industrial taxes than South Eastern Manitoba, Mississauga, Ontario and Northwest Minnesota," said Drysdale pointing to the AMR where it shows Rainy River's average industrial tax rates to be $0.91 per square foot. The others noted range from $1.05-$1.09 per square foot.
The AMR also said Rainy River has a good location in relation to Highway 11 and the CN railway. "We have a highway that is under used here."
The AMR says Rainy River's telecommunications are comparable to a mid-sized city and that a new 1,000 megabit (1000 base T) service is coming soon from Bell Canada.
The border's low wait times is also a plus, noted Drysdale.
She also noted that natural gas rates are lower here than southern Manitoba's.
The town's recent and current investment in water and sewer infrastructure ($2 million) puts the town in a position ready to service new businesses.
Access to major sources of capital for Northern Ontario has just gotten easier, explained Drysdale noting that changes by the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund are putting this region in a good position to get capital.
Finally the AMR says the cost of owning a home in Rainy River is a saving factor on two fronts. Low property costs will save a family interest costs and on lower taxes.
Other business
•Council granted a vacancy rebate of taxes for the former Globeco factory to the Northern Lights Credit Union.
•Council accepted the bid of Mr. Lance Lindal for the garage at 509 Atwood Avenue which went up for taxes recently. Lindal's bid was for $535.53 for the garage which, according to council, he plans to move to another location.
•Council approved several minor variances. The first one was for the district social services board to add onto the current ambulance garage.
The second was for the addition of an elevator to Riverview Appts. on Main St. in Rainy River.
The final was for resident Gordon Prost to be allowed to construct an accessory building exceeding the maximum allowable coverage within the R1 Zone at his home on Fifth St. in Rainy River.
•Council passed a motion to nominate Mr. Terry Cooper for the Government of Ontario Senior Achievement Awards for significant voluntary professional achievements made by persons after the age of 65.