Town to install three phase power on Main St.

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Last Monday the Rainy River Town Council held a fairly short session dealing with a few issues of importance.
The first item was raised Mayor Debbie Ewald questioning why the town’s apportionment to AMBIS (the area’s building inspector) was so high. It was more than $17,000. Acting clerk Corey Dyck explained that it was high because of all the building activity in Rainy River recently and especially due to the fact that the town garage project required a building permit. If that project was a private project the town would have collected permit fees; instead they had to pay fees for the retrofit to the town garage.
Council also approved the upgrading of the top block of Main Street to three phase power at an estimated cost of $12,000-$18,000. Mayor Ewald said the reason for the upgrade is that any businesses interested in locating on Main St. especially industrial class, need to have three phase power.
Council also heard from the Recreation Board through ex-officio Councillor Gord Armstrong and Rec. Director Meghan Shanks. Armstrong said, “There seems to be some confusion about $10,000 from the town in the Rec. Boards budget.”
Shanks said that the board had been counting on using that money for its share of some major projects they received grants for, but that she was told recently that the money is not there. “We were just stunned,” she added.
Shanks said that she had spoken to Town Clerk Veldron Vogan and that she had put the amount into the town financials. However, Vogan was absent from the meeting last week and could not respond to the queries.
Mayor Ewald said, “I don’t recall seeing a Rec. Board budget.”
Shanks said that since she has been there, the board has been producing a budget and council has received it.
No decision on what will be done regarding the confusion over the $10,000 was reached. However, after discussion was done council unanimously passed a motion to seek assessment quotes from engineering firms regarding structural and energy efficiency needs of the Rec. Centre.