Monday, March 25, 2013

New Chief Building Official Considered

Travis Rob (r)
A new councillor isn't the only appointment Fort Frances town council is expected to make tonight.

Administration is recommending council appoint Travis Rob as the town's new Chief Building Official.

He's now Facility and Special Projects Coordinator.

Rick Hallam, who is currently Chief Building Official, is retiring at the end of this month, but has agreed to stay on as required in a deputy capacity.

Rob has been recently writing the necessary exams to qualify for Chief Building Official and has one more to go for his inspection qualifications.

DSSAB Passes Budget

It will spend more in 2013, but the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board is giving municipalities a bit of a break on their financial commitment.

The DSSAB's $18.8 million is $2-million more than last year.

Chief Administrative Officer Dan McCormack says it's because of new money from the province.

It means being able to reduce the municipal share of funding by just over one per cent.

There is an increase in land ambulance costs.

A fund set up to handle additional patient transfers from Rainy River will stay in place while officials assess the doctor situation in that community.

Pre-Budget Hearing Set For NWO

File photo
A legislative committee gathering input into the upcoming budget will hold a hearing in northwestern Ontario after all.

It's set for April 3 in Thunder Bay.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell, who had been critical of the committee for not initially  scheduling meetings in the region, is pleased by the decision and hopes area groups and organizations will participate.

Council To Pick New Councillor Today

Fort Frances town council is expected to fill a vacancy at the table today.

A special meeting this afternoon will be held to interview the four candidates up for the job.

Arlene Georgeson, Ed Haglund, Doug Kitowski and Joe Galbraith put their names forward.

The selected candidate is to be sworn during tonight meeting.

Fire Department Honoured

The Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service is being honoured by the Canadian Military.

It's been recognized for allowing one of its own, Nathan Cousineau, to take time from his employment to serve as a reservist.

The Service was presented with an Award of Excellence from the Canadian Forces Liaison Council.

Cousineau nominated the Department for the Award.

The awards are given out every two years.

Strike Vote By LCBO Workers Planned

The Liquor Control Board of Ontario is expressing disappointment that a union representing seven-thousand of its employees is seeking a strike vote.

The contract with the Ontario Public Service Employees Union expires March 31.

The union is upset with LCBO`s demands for a four-year wage freeze.

A LCBO spokesperson complains the union announced the strike vote after only 10 hours of face-to-face bargaining.

Food For Fines

Tardy library users in International Falls can get a break on the fines they may owe.

All this week, the Falls Public Library will accept non-perishable food items as payment.

Director Diane Adams says it's part of a campaign to help fill the local food bank.

Adams says in past years, they've collected between three to five hundred pounds of foods through the campaign now in its tenth year.

Question Of The Week

What do you think about the federal budget?

Let us know on our website 931theborder.ca.

In response to our last question, 59 per cent of respondents would support town council abandoning its plans for a housing division in favour of other uses of the former Huffman School property?

A proposal to use the former school as an extension to the Sister Kennedy Centre comes before council on Monday.