Duane Hicks
Town council took the first kick at the can with the 2010 preliminary budget yesterday, and currently is facing a operating shortfall of $531,268.
Two areas which are seeing big jumps over last year are waste management services and the airport.
Due to the increasing cost of recycling and decreased revenues at the landfill, the budgeted amount for waste management has increased from $61,357 in 2009 to $95,839 in 2010.
Coun. Ken Perry said the town has to find a way to make money off recycling, adding the province is mandating municipalities to recycle more and more and the town has to spend more and more cash to keep shipping it away.
He added he knows of a local individual who has done research on recycling in Denmark and Korea, and may want to do recycling here.
Coun. Perry suggested the town should work with the unnamed proponent, who has not yet contacted council, to see if they can do a pilot project.
Meanwhile, the operating budget for the airport has soared to $206,090 from $143,904 last year.
The airport has been seeing fewer users in recent years, with the most recent number showing 157 fewer flights last year than in 2008.
This, in turn, affected fuel sales.
Coun. Paul Ryan pointed out Bearskin has had an average of 3.5 passengers per flight.
“Our airport is being used less and less, but it’s something we almost have to cope with,” said Coun. Rick Wiedenhoeft.
Coun. Perry noted that perhaps the airport operation could change so that it’s only open when scheduled flights come in.
Something new to the operating budget this year is an increase to the number of staff working at the Sorting Gap Marina this coming summer.
Community Services manager George Bell said two staff will be there from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. to help run the relocated and renovated lookout tower and Hallett, take admissions, and so on.
Last year, the marina was staffed by one person from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and then two from 3-10 p.m.
This staffing increase is a trial run, with Bell saying it may not be necessary in coming years depending on how busy they prove to be.
Also added to the operating budget for 2010 is $53,000 to operate Sunny Cove Camp, which the town took over from the Fort Frances Kiwanis Club late last year.
This operating cost is about the same as what the Kiwanis have been spending there in recent years.
The operating budget also includes two percent wage increases, and five percent benefit increases, for town staff, noted treasurer Laurie Witherspoon.
But the operating shortfall does not include possible increases to the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board levy or any money put into reserves.
On the capital side of the budget, the town’s preliminary figures weigh in at $10.4 million at this point.
Projects on the list for consideration range from upgrades at Sunny Cove Camp and replacing the stage floor at the Townshend Theatre to resurfacing Fifth Street and vehicle replacement.
Council members did not cut any items from the budget yesterday but have asked administration to priorize items and come back with those priorities at the next budget meeting.
The next committee of the whole budget meeting is slated for 4 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 1.
In related news, council also received a report regarding 2010 water and sewer rates from Operations and Facilities manager Doug Brown.
The report indicated a three percent increase to water and sewer rates be used as a starting point to assist council in establishing the new rates for 2010.
The report now will be reviewed by the Operations and Facilities executive committee, and what the final rate change may end up being will depend on what rate scenarios come forth in the future and what council thinks of them.
The first water bills of 2010 will be sent out the first week of March.
