A proposal to expand the boundaries of three municipalities in the Lake of the Woods region will be discussed at three separate public meetings this weekend in an effort to debate an issue that affects all property owners.
The municipalities of the City of Kenora, Lake of the Woods Township and the Township of Sioux Narrows/Nestor Falls submitted the proposal in June of this year stemming from discussions in 2002 which addressed concerns regarding the development and use of the lake by cottagers, tourism interests and residents over the past 25 years.
In an effort to curb development and ensure the environmental health of the lake, the municipalities decided to expand the boundaries and implement building and planning controls.
The meetings being held this weekend will take place in Kenora at the Best Western Lakeside Inn from 3-5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 31. The Sioux Narrows/Nester Falls’ meeting will take place at the Sioux Narrows community hall on Saturday, Aug. 30 from 3-5 p.m. and the Lake of the Woods meeting will also take place on Saturday, Aug. 30 from 3-5 p.m.
The municipalities contend the restructuring will help protect the environmental health of the lake but concede that there will be some property owners, who currently pay property taxes to the province, who would have to begin paying school taxes.
For the Lake of the Woods District Property Owners Association, the question being raised is whether the move by the municipalities is really for the health of the lake or if it is a tax grab. By far, the biggest impact on all interested parties will be the implementation of municipal property taxes.
The process is in it’s early stages, with public meetings set to discuss the situation again in May 2004 and again in September 2004 before being voted on in December 2004.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
