Council votes to advertise for a part-time fire chief

By Ken Johnston
Edittor

In an effort to save money down the road, Rainy River Town Council voted Monday night to advertise to hire a part-time fire chief between three area fire departments.
The idea being that he or she would help finalize an agreement to have a joint fire dept. with Dawson, Lake of the Woods and Rainy River under one chief.
Council said that with proposed regulations coming down the pipe, it will become very costly for every fire dept. to do much of the same thing.
Councillor Gord Armstrong said, "They will be responsible for being organized and for training all the dept. members."
Armstrong said that the new depts. will be smaller but that the members will be asked to commit. "There will always be a set number of them on standby," explained Armstrong.
Councillor Marilyn McAlister said, "The public will not notice a difference in fire protection."
Before voting on the motion to advertise for a part-time fire chief Councillor Brent Anderson voiced his concerns about the lack of an agreement before council.
"Is there an agreement before council? The paper I have seen has left all capital out of the mix. I don't agree with that. It needs to be in there."
Anderson said he spoke to Frank Shepherd on Monday, from Fort Frances, from whom the area fire depts. have been taking their lead on this matter. Anderson said that he gets the impression that "it looks like we may not save as much if the capital is not in there."
Armstrong and McAlister explained that the new chief would help hammer out the final agreement. "We all agree in concept. We just have to work out the final details," said Armstrong.
Council would not reveal the cost of the new chief. "We have a range and hope to find someone that fits," explained Armstrong. "if we don't find anyone in our price range we are stymied!"
Anderson said he would support the motion to hire a part-time chief cost shared equally amongst the municipalities but wanted to be clear it is not a vote at this point in favour of a final joint fire dept. agreement.
Other business
•Council renewed its cleaning contract with B & B Cleaners of Rainy River for one year at a cost of $1,299.21 plus HST.
•Council hired Dwight Hanson to be the attendent/caretaker at the Rainy River Landfill Site.
•Council hired four students to work for the summer. They are Jaden Chorney, Matt Johnson, Samantha Westover and Branden Brigham. Brandon Hanson will serve as an alternate.
•Councillor McAlister announced that the community is very close to having a dental hygienist. "We just have to hammer out the final agreement," said both McAlister and Clerk Vel Vogan.
•Council declared July 16-18, 2010, Sept. 4-5, 2010 and Sept. 23-25, 2010 Community Festivals. They are the dates of Railroad Daze, Labour Day Weekend and the Rainy River Walleye Tounament.
•Council declared July 3-11, 2010 Family Fishing Week.
•Council agreed with the placement of signage directing people to the Community Garden.
•Council extended the contract of Economic Development Officer Andrew Hartnell until Oct. 1, 2010.
This was the second contract extension since March 31, 2010.