Non-residents to pay more to use Emo’s landfill

The days of cheap fees for non-residents to use the Emo municipal landfill are numbered, council there revealed last week.
At its regular meeting April 22, Emo council decided it no longer will waive the tipping fees for non-residents and out-of-township businesses as it has for the past few years.
Legislation has been in place for some time that specifies a fee structure for vehicles of different sizes and weights, but up until now, those outside Emo only have been paying the non-resident household rate of $50 per year.
Emo council is prepared to enforce the tipping fee schedule on a per-trip basis as follows:
•passenger vehicles—$7;
•passenger vehicles plus trailer—$14;
•half-ton trucks—$14
•single-axle trucks—$58;
•tandem truck and trailers—$144;
•garbage trucks, containerized units, and tanker trucks—$173.
Emo households still will not have to pay to use the landfill.
In other news, Emo council also is preparing to review its policy on burning permits.
Up until now, residents could purchase an unlimited seasonal permit for $5. But in light of the number of fires last year and the possibility of another dry season ahead, council has decided, in consultation with Fire Chief James O’Sullivan, to draw up a new bylaw regarding burning permits.
The new permits will cost $10 each and be valid for one week only. After that, residents will be required to purchase a new one for each burn.
“One week seems like a reasonable time to issue a permit,” said Emo Reeve Russ Fortier.
Furthermore, Emo council intends to refuse to issue permits during periods of a high or extreme fire hazard.
The new bylaw is expected to be ready for reading and passage by council’s next regular meeting in May.
Also last Thursday, Roads Superintendent Dan Wilson reported his department soon will require more gravel for road maintenance since the township’s reserves are almost depleted.
He did, however, reduce his request to 10,000 cubic yards from his original estimate of 15,000.
At Wilson’s request, council passed a resolution for an open tender to crush 10,000 cubic yards of five-eighths gravel.
Wilson also recommended Emo township restrict use of dust suppressant to areas immediately in front of residences in order to save on resources. He then invited council to accompany him on his annual tour of township roads on May 10 or 11.
Included in the meeting agenda was a resolution from the Town of North Perth, seeking Emo council’s endorsement of a petition to the provincial government requesting that small municipalities be exempt from some of the regulations in new Clean Water Act—specifically public washrooms and other sources of non-potable water.
It is North Perth’s contention that portions of the act impose an unnecessary burden on small business operators. Reeve Fortier strongly endorsed the resolution.
“The Clean Water Act was designed for municipalities, not outfitters,” he argued.
Council was unanimous in its support.
In other business last Thursday, Emo council:
•passed a resolution appointing Ken Brown to the Emo rec council;
•passed a resolution permitting township employee Ed Bullied to write the Water Treatment 3 examination in Kenora on July 14;
•agreed to donate $100 to the annual Manitou Rapids fish fry on May 14;
•passed a resolution required to approve the Municipal Property Assessment Corp.’s quarterly billing in the amount of $4,380.73; and
•agreed to donate $300 to Donald Young School for its “Community Pitch-In” project scheduled for today (April 28).
Emo’s next regular council meeting is slated for May 13 at 7 p.m. in the municipal office.