RR approved for after school program

By Ken Johnston
Editor

Rainy River Town Council's regular monthly meeting was only 17 minutes long Monday evening.
As in years past, the summer agendas are usually light and this week was no exception.
An item that was added to the agenda Monday evening was good news. The town received approval for an after school program. Town Clerk Veldron Vogan said, "It only took a week to come back! It was the quickest grant I have ever seen!"
The grant, $40,000 will see an after school program two or three days per week during the school year.
The only cost to the town is all in kind. "We are going to do the payroll, the rec. board will provide a part time staff member and Riverview School will provide the space."
Council unanimously approved authorizing Mayor Deb Ewald and Clerk Vogan to sign the agreement for the funding with the province.
Sewer project changes
Council also added two motions late Monday to the agenda concerning the Atwood Ave. water and sewer project.
The first allowed the mayor and clerk to sign contract changes accepting a credit from the contractor. Vogan said that since the town provided a detour route the contractor did not have to keep one lane of Hwy. 11/Atwood Ave. open at all times. That saves the contractor time and everyone money.
The second motion dealt with adding costs to put a temporary water line to service customers on the north side of the tracks.
There was only one line through Little St. and when the main was cut off that line was as well.
However, the costs will remain under the $2 million budget the project has been approved for.

Other business
•Council passed a motion to nominate local Dr. David Singleton for the 2010 Council Award of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.
•Council agreed to contribute $1,000 to the Ontario Good Roads Association to be used in litigation hoping to stop the province from declaring the Minimum Maintenance Standards null and void.
•Council agreed to apply for a local improvement initiative grant from Rainy River Future Development Corporation. The $2,500.00 grant will be used to bring a band into the community and hold a concert with all the proceeds going to benefit the Rainy River Rec. Centre and Library.
•Council appointed Jennifer Ivey as Small Buildings Inspector of the Town of Rainy River.
•Council passed a motion 3-1 to contribute $500 to the town of Kawartha Lakes' legal defense fund. That community is fighting against the "unfair responsibility burdens placed on Ontario municipalities for clean up of spills/pollution on private properties." Only Councillor Brent Anderson voted against it.
Council then voted unanimously to support the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association in their resolution to call on the Government of Ontario to not provide any support for Bill 13, Sustainable Water and Waste Water Systems Improvement and Maintenance Act, 2010; the very act that Kawartha Lakes is defending against.
•Council supported Atikokan in their resolution to request that the Minister of Transportation give a directive for a thorough review of the Off Roads Vehicles Act to include UTVs (Utility Vehicles).
•Council also appointed Darren Lowes as Deputy Fire Chief for the Rainy River Volunteer Fire Dept.