Popularity of ‘Biggest Loser’ contest pleases Emo council

It would seem the Township of Emo is determined to prove its citizens really know how to lose when it matters.
At its regular meeting last Wednesday night, the official agenda once again was put on the back burner for a few minutes as Emo council appeared to be as caught up in the “Biggest Loser” contest as local residents.
“It’s really going well,” enthused Coun. Geoff Pearce, who also is one of the organizers of the contest. “We’ve dropped 272.5 pounds in the first week.”
Coun. Pearce also speculated the benefits of the competition will have implications well beyond mid-April, when it officially concludes, because people will continue to maintain the activities that are helping them lose weight.
“The direction is a healthy lifestyle—the hook is losing weight,” he added.
There will be a prize for the biggest loser from each week of the contest, which runs until April 15. week. Last week’s top “loser” was Larry Kellar, who managed to shed 13.5 pounds.
When the council meeting officially got underway, the first order of business concerned two delegations.
First, council heard a proposal from Darren and Cindy Robinson regarding their bid on a commercial garbage contract with the township.
The Robinsons propose to supply bins—available in two-, four-, and six-cubic yard capacities—and provide once-a-week pickup. In addition, they informed council they have a compactor that can handle most household and business waste, with the exception of liquids.
They also raised the possibility of two or more businesses sharing a bin and splitting the fee.
“It is the intention of Robinson to expand its business in this area,” she remarked.
Reeve Fortier thanked them for their presentation and said the offer would be taken under consideration.
The other delegation was Philippe Nussbaumer, who petitioned Emo council to have his property re-classified as commercial for tax purposes. It currently is classified as industrial, which is taxed at a higher rate.
After hearing Nussbaumer out, council agreed to re-classify his property retroactive to 2002 and submit a new tax bill based on that assessment.
In a related matter, Emo council considered a settlement reached between a local business and the Municipal Property Assessment Corp., in which the property’s value was revised downward from $352,000 to $188,000—a 43 percent reduction.
Council decided to table that item until it could determine how the new value was reached.
In other business, Emo council:
•agreed to accept the bid from Central Cleaning Beam Systems in the amount of $1,104 to provide central air conditioning for the municipal office;
•approved an invoice from Greg’s Recycling, noting that the township still is paying penalties because some people are placing non-recyclable materials in the bins;
•passed a resolution authorizing the payment of $17,187 as the February, 2005 levy to the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board;
•passed a resolution authorizing the payment of the December, 2004 policing bill to the provincial government in the amount of $10,177;
•declined to support a resolution from the Village of Casselman calling for the banning of smoking in all public and working places in Ontario, electing instead to allow the province to pass all-encompassing legislation;
•supported a resolution from the Township of St. Clair advocating a practice assessment program for physicians;
•supported a resolution from the Municipality of Brockton requesting the federal and provincial governments provide more support for farmers affected by the BSE crisis;
•supported a resolution from the Town of Halton Hills recommending the province bring a return deposit system for all metal, glass, and plastic beverage containers;
•endorsed a resolution for the Canadian Red Cross Society proclaiming March, 2005 as Red Cross Month; and
•agreed to send clerk Brenda Cooke to a seminar being conducted by the Northwestern Health Unit regarding influenza pandemic contingency plans (to be held in Emo on March 22).
The next regular meeting of Emo council is slated for Thursday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. in the municipal office.