Three fire depts. may soon be one

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Rainy River, Dawson and Lake of the Woods town councils are currently in the exploratory phase of possibly amalgamating their three fire departments into one.
At Rainy River's monthly council meeting Monday, council met with Rainy River Fire Chief Stewart McNally. He informed council that the local department will be meeting with Frank Shepherd tonight to discuss the idea of amalgamation.
Councillor Brent Anderson noted, "What is pushing this (move) is cost. Frank has told us there will be savings."
McNally said he sees where sharing equipment will definitely be good for all. "Right now we have 14 scott air packs. We will never use all of them. Why not share them with others (Dawson and Lake of the Woods)."
Mayor Deb Ewald said, "This about efficiencies. We are trying to realize efficiencies."
Council will be meeting with Shepherd next week and hopes to make a decision in the new year.
Mayor Ewald said that none of the other communities have made a decision as of yet.
"It is just in the planning stages at this point," said councillor Gord Armstrong.
However, Mayor Ewald did say that Shepherd has met with the other two fire depts. already.
Chief McNally said that some of the members of the Rainy River Dept. feel the concept will not work. "Frank wants us to have at least four guys on call 24-7. and some of our guys say that won't work here."
Mayor Ewald said, "Well maybe we will get some new guys that are interested in the change." She did note that no details of how the new fire dept. would work. "Will they advertise and members have to reapply? That is yet to be determined."
Other business
•Council passed a motion to make the Curling Club board a committee of council. The club has operated at arms length for years, but last year came to council to ask for financial assistance from the taxpayers and received it.
Now they will operate the same as other committees of council like the Rec. Bd. and Library. They will have to present an annual budget and councillor Brent Anderson will represent council on the board at meetings.
•Council approved a $150 contribution to the Rec. Bd., Fire Dept. and Library Bd. to help cover costs of their holiday parties.
•Council approved an extra 8 hours of with pay for town employees to be taken before March 31, 2010 as a Christmas bonus.
•Council approved the early closing of the Town Office at 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24th).
•Council approved proclaiming January as Alzheimers Awareness Month and will fly the Alzheimer Society flag during January.
•Council will be purchasing 1,000 promotional pens at a cost of $785.52.
•Council has decided to have 5,000 promotional brochures printed at a cost of $2,180.

•When council passed the financial statements for the previous month, Councillor Armstrong asked if what he read was correct. "These financials show we are $98,000 over budget. Is that accurate?"
Finance chair Anderson and clerk Veldron Vogan said that the statements do not have some major revenues on them as of yet. "We will be receiving money for the town office and town garage projects which will make the budget very close," said Vogan.
Anderson said, "There is nothing to indicate that we will be above or below budget at this time."
Councillor Marchuk asked if the funding has been applied for the Little St. Rail Crossing closure project.
Vogan said that $20,000 is yet to come and has been applied for from Transport Canada.
•The town will sell Susan Carpenter a piece of property at 216 8th St. for $990 plus applicable transfer fees.
•Council approved a minor variance for John and Sara Jonassen to build an accessory building at their property on 114 Second St. The addition would put them over the maximum allowable lot coverage within in R1 zone.
•Council wrote off the tax penalty for Kors Pater in the amount of $28.11.