Rainy River Hotel to be torn down

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Rainy River will soon no longer have a hotel bearing its name.
Monday evening town councillors voted to have the former Rainy River Hotel demolished some time this spring, possibly sooner.
The Rainy River Hotel has been closed for several years and last year it was put up for tax sale but no buyer was found.
As per the Municipal Act 2001, council's next legal move is to vest the property.
Councillor Brent Anderson asked what the cost to the taxpayers is.
Town Clerk Veldron Vogan said it is $25,460 including unpaid taxes and water and sewer charges.
This figure does not include the cost of demolition.

Sewer projects
Council approved the tender for the final stage of the town's sewer project which included a new force main and a new sewer lagoon cell. The tender for the final stage is to install a new sewer lift station at the base of Sixth St. The tender was awarded to Arnason Industries Ltd. in the amount of $740,220 plus taxes.
Councillor Brent Anderson asked when the project will be completed.
Mayor Debbie Ewald said, "I am hoping by June 30th."
Clerk Vogan also informed council that the tenders for the sewer line replacement on Hwy. 11 from First St. to Tower Road will be let in the next few weeks with a February closing date.
"We need to get the work done by early in 2011," explained Vogan.
The sewer line in that area is in bad shape and will be completely replaced and the road repaved afterwards.

Other business
•Council passed a motion awarding the Northern Lights Credit Union a vacancy tax rebate for the former Globeco factory which it owns (at the corner of Sixth St. and Broadway Ave.).
Clerk Vogan said the rebate is 35% off their taxes.
•Council renewed landfill custodian Dennis Katona's contract for six months at minimum wage.
Councillor Brent Anderson asked why for only six months when most contracts are for a year or more.
Clerk Vogan said it was for personal reasons from Katona.
•Council unanimously approved renewal of the lease for the Rainy River Clinic with the practising doctors.
•Council approved sending Mayor Debbie Ewald, councillor Gerry Marchuk and Councillor Marilyn McAlister to the Annual General meeting of the Rainy River District Municipal Association in Fort Frances on January 30th with expenses paid.
•Mayor Ewald reported that the asbestos inspection of Riverview Manor on Main St. was to be into Rainy River Dist. Social Services Admin. Board last Fri. It is hoped that tenders for work to make larger suites there and add an elevator will begin this spring.
•Councillor Gord Armstrong was appointed to be Deputy Mayor for the rest of council's term which ends Nov. 30, 2010. Mayor Ewald has taken turns, each year appointing a different councillor to be deputy mayor.
•Councillor Gerry Marchuk will represent Rainy River at the grand opening of the new Rainy River District Regional Abattoir in Emo on January 28, 2010 with expenses paid.