Twenty members of the Rainy River Regional Abattoir project were nominated to sit on the board of directors (or steering committee) at a public meeting Tuesday night at the Chapple Community Centre in Barwick.
Of the 20 nominees, 15 let their names stand in an election for the nine-person board that will try to put together a plan to get the abattoir project off the ground.
After an election by ballot by members (meaning those who had pledged a membership fee of $500 and a $2,000 loan for the project), the board was chosen to include Ken McKinnon, Steve Loshaw, Peter Spuzak, Dennis Brown, Clayton Teeple, Bill Darby, Aarne Hahkala, Trish Neilson, and Todd McLean.
Those who had been nominated, but not elected, included Amos Brielmann, Kim Jo Bliss, Tony Richards, Joe Sletmoen, Kim Cornell, and Stefan Szeder.
“We have our work cut out for us,” conceded Neilson.
“There is talent there,” she added of the new board. “It’s a bit bigger than a usual committee, but this is going to be a big task.”
Neilson, who didn’t really expect to be elected, said it’s a good group of people and it’s going to be interesting.
“We going to have to figure out the answer to the problem,” she remarked. “We’ll have to make it work. We’ve got to go down a different path—we have a big trail to blaze.”
Darby agreed getting the abattoir up and running is going to be a big task.
“It’s important for us to represent the producers in the area,” he noted, adding he was honoured to be elected.
“It’s a good mix [of people],” he remarked, explaining the board encompasses people from across the district, people with different experiences, and both younger and older individuals.
“I’m glad to see the community coming together to support the initiative,” he enthused.
But Darby also stressed they still haven’t got the level of support they need. “It’s just a start—we still need people to pledge,” he warned.
Neilson added since the plan was to come up with a plan, that’s what the board of directors will do.
“Once we have a plan, I think more people will put their money forth,” she reasoned.
Geoff Gillon, economic development officer with the Rainy River Future Development Corp., outlined the actions and responsibilities the newly-elected board will manage.
They include the incorporation, setting by-laws, reviewing the design and location, developing a business plan, developing proposals to FedNor and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp., and other duties as assigned.
“This is not something to take lightly,” he stressed. “There is a lot of work to do.”
Gillon also reviewed the initial plan brought forth at a public meeting in February, which proposed the abattoir be not-for-profit. It also would consist of constructing a 6,000 sq. ft. building and leasing out the operations to a private-sector company.
The plan also suggested the abattoir begin by operating three days a week, processing 20 animals a day, and have coolers to store 80 animals.
The estimated cost of the project is:
•Building—$1,100,000;
•Equipment—$300,000;
•Utilities—$250,000;
•Land—$60,000;
•Miscellaneous—$90,000;
•Total—$1,800,000
Those proposing the plan also had looked into funding sources, with possibly $600,000 coming from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp., another $600,000 from FedNor, and hopefully generating $600,000 from within Rainy River District.
To date, Gillon noted there are 100 members and about $50,000 in seed money from membership fees.
“The steering committee will take that money and come up with a plan to bring to the members,” he explained.
There also is nearly $200,000 in loan commitments, which still brings the group $350,000 away from its target.
Wes Derksen spoke Tuesday night about the legal issues surround incorporation, stressing a not-for-profit organization likely would give them some government funding and nearly eliminate any member liability.
“I want to emphasize this is not a small project,” remarked Gillon. “There will be many twists and turns, long nights, and headaches. And there’s a long way to go.”
While members headed out, most seemed content that much was accomplished at the meeting—and the board got together to plan when it would meet.
Gillon also announced the RRFDC now would be accepting the $500 membership dues, which previously had not been asked for.
Cheques can be made out to the Rainy River Abattoir Project and be dropped off at the RRDFC’s office in Fort Frances (608 Scott St.)
Fort Frances Times
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