Council gets a $114,000 police report

Ken Johnston
Editor

Due to the Remembrance Day holiday Rainy River Town Council held their regular monthly meeting a day late last week.
Two delegations appeared before council, both having the legal system of the district on their minds.
Staff Sgt. Hugh Dennis of Fort Frances gave his semi-annual report on Ontario Provincial Police activities and costs in Rainy River. Dennis noted that the actual policing costs for Rainy River came in around $114,000 in 2001. There are also six constables and two sergeants stationed in Rainy River.
Dennis noted that the new Sgt. Dave Sanders is working hard in the community and has been active in several extra enforcement events such as blitzes at Canada Customs in recent weeks.
Dennis said highlights for the year to date include the grand opening of a new office in Rainy River and the safe hosting of the World Health Organization conference in the spring.
Retired O.P.P. officer Steve Latimer spoke to council about the Ontario Youth Justice Program. He is the coordinator for a pilot project in the Fort Frances Court Catchment area. the OYJP program gives investigating officers a chance to avoid having to lay charges in cases involving youth. It also gives the victim an opportunity to be part of the solution. “We have done a lousy job taking care of victims in this country with our justice system,” said Latimer.
Using a vandalized garden as an example, Latimer said that the officer determines that the youth involved qualify for OYJP. Then facilitators from OYJP bring both the perpetrator and victim together. They have an opportunity to work the problem out, but it only happens if it begins with an apology from the perpetrator. Latimer says that it is a way to try and heal the damage done with a community based solution, rather than a court based one. If it fails then the investigating officer can determine if charges should be laid and it is sent to court.
Latimer said that while it is not available outside the Fort Frances court catchment area he expects it will be soon and he wanted council to be up to speed on it.
Other Business
•Councillor Brent Anderson reported that under the new municipal act that some improvements need to be made improving business licensing within town limits.
•Council unanimously endorsed a resolution put forth by the Town of St. Marys, Ont. to disallow the retroactive rate hike granted to Union Gas.
•Council held a special meeting Friday to re-award the tender to put two new furnaces in the town hall building. It was initially awarded to Olson Heating of Rainy River but he turned it down. Council then awarded it to Webb’s Custom Gas Works of Fort Frances at a cost of $14,703.94.