Town to search for software funding

After years of being plagued with computer problems, town administration has put together a shopping list of both hardware and software that would do away with current and upcoming difficulties but doesn’t have the money to buy it.
“The matter of the software upgrade was first put to council after the [tax bill] problems we went through in the year 2000,” said Administration and Finance manager Darryl Allan.
“We were able to put together a fairly comprehensive report of what we have and where we want to go,” he noted. “Today you may be getting stuff in the mail; tomorrow you go to the Web site to get information.”
After listening to the report compiled by new treasurer Diane Pearson, the committee of the whole discussed at length where the money for the $300,000 price tag would be found.
“I don’t disagree that we do need a new computer system that’s compatible to today’s needs but we did not budget [for it] in 2001,” said Mayor Glenn Witherspoon.
Several other councillors agreed that although the recommendation was a good, the $300,000 price tag may be too much.
It was referred back to committee to determine where capital could be found to cover the expense by looking at where belts can be tightened across all the departments.
Also during last night’s regular meeting, council awarded Pat Hickerson and Aurelle Stoessinger with one-year passes to the Memorial Sports Centre as winners of the “Name that Roadway Contest.”
Out of 35 entrants, both had submitted the name Veteran Avenue, which later was chosen by council as the name for a new roadway to be built as part of the new Canada Customs and Immigration facility here.
Council also received a delegation from the Rainy River Watershed Program. Co-ordinator Jennifer Mercer reminded councillors of the annual ManOMin watershed conference to be held April 6-7 in International Falls.
She encouraged councillors and the public to attend.
“The American and Canadian governments and general public should be working together to protect our watershed,” Mercer noted.
Mercer also asked for financial support for waste management days set up to collect hazardous waste across the district.