At its regular meeting here Monday night, town council declined to be a corporate sponsor and give $5,000 in financial assistance to the third ManOMin Watershed Conference coming up Nov. 20-22 in International Falls.
Coun. Deane Cunningham, speaking on behalf of the Administration and Finance executive committee, said that given the town’s extremely tight budget, “We felt we could not recommend participating at this time.”
But he added the town has supported the Household Hazardous Waste Day event each year it’s taken place, and previously has paid for delegates to attend the ManOMin conference.
“The environmental health of the Rainy River basin is crucial to us. It’s all right to have money, but without your health, you have nothing,” countered Coun. Struchan Gilson. “As the largest municipality in the district, we should show our support in some way,” he added. “I can understand, with our financial problems, $5,000 is a lot. But we should do something along that line.
“If we don’t, we let down the whole district.”
But the request for financial assistance was shot down by a vote of 5-2, with Couns. Cunningham, Sharon Tibbs, Dave Bourgeault, Roy Avis, and Neil Kabel voting in favour of a report from treasurer Peggy Dupuis recommending no money be given.
Coun. Gilson and Mayor Glenn Witherspoon voted against her report.
“I thought we should have done something,” Mayor Witherspoon said after he voted.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
