BARWICK—About 60 farmers braved a cold night to attend the first annual meeting of the Rainy River District Regional Abattoir Inc. in Barwick on Monday night.
RRDRAI president Steve Loshaw expressed his appreciation to the members for coming out. “We are trying to keep everyone informed,” he said.
He thanked the directors for their dedication, noting the RRDRAI board has met at least bi-weekly since April, 2006.
Loshaw also thanked the Rainy River Future Development Corp. for its support, citing Geoff Gillon as “our mentor on the side.”
At the Jan. 10 general meeting, a committee was struck to deal with membership issues.
The committee recommended the following: Members with no animal commitments (which cost $100 per commitment) would pay a 10 percent higher fee than members with animal commitments while non-members would pay 25 percent more.
Animal commitment fees are due by March 31.
The Rainy River 4-H will become a member and although it will not be required to buy animal commitments, 4-H’ers will be given priority to have their steers slaughtered right after the fall fair in Emo each August.
RRDRAI vice-president Trish Neilson presented the business plan, which outlined the first five years of operation.
“A not-for-profit business is different than a for-profit business,” she noted. “We will not be taxed on profits as they will go back into the business.”
The plant is projected to cost a total of $1.25 million.
“It will open in the fall of 2008, so we are really looking at 2009 as being the first year of operation, with 1,182 animals slaughtered and sales of $140,000 projected,” Neilson said.
“In five years, we will be competitive,” she predicted. “And we will have doubled the numbers to 2,300 animals per year with revenues of $270,000.
When the abattoir begins operations, the slaughter fee will be $149 for members with animal commitments.
“I would hope that the board would review how they made out and reduce the kill price accordingly,” Neilson continued.
“This is a kill-and-chill service,” she explained, adding there will need to be approved transportation to move the carcasses to a butcher shop.
Neilson also stressed that the $50,000 for the land was an estimate. Annual property taxes are expected to be about $29,000.
“If, in the future, you decided to add a processing plant, would it be possible on that land?” asked Pinewood farmer Amos Brielmann.
“We would not do that as a not-for-profit business,” Neilson replied. “Another entity could possibly lease and do that.”
She concluded her presentation by saying, “This is the plan. It will no doubt be adjusted as we move forward.”
A motion was passed to adopt the business plan and move in the direction indicated.
The election of officers for the upcoming year was held, with the following results: Steve Loshaw, Bill Darby, and Trish Neilson were elected to three-year terms.
Aarne Hahkala, Clayton Teeple, and Deb Zimmerman were elected to two-year terms while Ken McKinnon, Todd McLean, and Marvin Smith were elected to one-year terms.
Loshaw talked about the visit the directors had made to the plants in Winkler and Carman, Man., and that many residents of those towns were unaware they were living in close proximity to an abattoir.
The abattoir will be built on Lot 44E on Roberts Street in Emo. The property consists of two-and-a-half acres situated just south of the Emo sewage lagoon.
The decision to locate in Emo was made late last fall because the site is serviced with sewer and water and three-phase power, as well as being zoned “Industrial,” which allows for the construction of an abattoir.
The 3,640 sq. ft. facility will be provincially-inspected (meaning the meat only can be sold in Ontario). The plant will have a capacity of 20 animals per day, and will operate one or two days per week.
One of the stated goals is to build the facility in an as environmentally-friendly manner as possible. The committee is planning to install geo-thermal heating and will be planting trees around the perimeter of the property.
The RRDRAI currently is working with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) to explore the best option in handling offal.
It is considering composting either on or off site, or a bio-digester.
RRDRAI secretary Bill Darby addressed the public consultation process, which is a FedNor requirement.
“The public notice and comment period is from Jan. 31 to Feb. 14,” he noted. He then asked everyone to be sure to fill out the comment sheet.
“There will be a public open house on Monday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. at the Emo Legion,” Darby added. “The board needs to address public concerns and try to mitigate them.”
“At what point will you not come to Emo because of hostility?” asked Emo resident Kathy Leek.
Darby replied the board had the right to put the abattoir at that location.
“But as neighbours, we want to address the concerns,” he stressed. “This is not a big plant and it is beside the lagoon.”
Next Monday’s open house will be hosted by Emo council and RRDRAI board members.
“Monday’s open house will be an opportunity for the community to come and have questions answered,” Emo Reeve Ed Carlson said when reached by telephone.
“I hope everyone will come away with a better understanding of the project,” he added. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see 100 people out for the meeting.
“Most of all, I want the citizens to feel comfortable. They are not being ignored,” Reeve Carlson stressed. “We were elected to look out for their interests.”
(Fort Frances Times)
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
