The closure of the Fort Frances Jail, area services boards, and uncontrollable levies will be just a few of the items sure to be discussed during the Rainy River District Municipal Association’s 10th-annual general meeting in Atikokan this Saturday.
With president Emily Watson having been defeated in La Vallee in last November’s municipal election, and vice-president Gord Armstrong opting not to run again in Rainy River, the RRDMA’s first order of business will be to elect a new executive.
Morley Reeve Gary Gamsby was selected in December to serve as the interim president heading into Saturday’s meeting.
One of the items topping the agenda will be the effects of the closure of the Fort Frances Jail announced for 2004.
“We’re going to have a panel discussion about the closing of the Fort Frances Jail,” noted Reeve Gamsby. “We want to have an idea of how it’s going to affect us in a practical sense and in terms of cost because it looks like there may be an increased cost.
“It’s just a panel discussion with representatives from the O.P.P., the [jail workers’] union, and a lawyer,” he added.
Another topic that’s not listed on the agenda but is likely to come up is the formation of an area services board–the next step in the evolution of the Rainy River District Services Administration Board (DSSAB).
“I’m sure that will come up and it’s come up more because one of the ASB’s [responsibilities] is public health,” said Reeve Gamsby.
Levies from the Northwestern Health Unit, the Northwest Ontario Recycling Association, and other organizations also are likely to be a hot topic Saturday as all municipalities try to avoid tax increases.
“The NORA co-ordinator will be there, as well, and that’s a big one because we have old trucks and an increase per capita,” said Reeve Gamsby.
The meeting, which begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Atikokan Legion, also will feature guest speakers such as Liberal MPP Lyn McLeod (Fort William) and Ontario NDP leader MP Howard Hampton, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines.
Other presentations include an update from Bell Canada on upgrades in the district and a representative from Thunder Bay Regional Hospital’s “Care Beyond Compare” fundraising campaign.
The RRDMA has pledged a contribution of $10,000 to that campaign.
Fort Frances Times
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