Fort Budget Finalized

Fort Frances town council has finalized its 2010 budget.

It calls for an average of a 3 per cent increase in the tax levy charged to residential ratepayers.

But Treasurer Laurie Witherspoon says the tax rate used to calculate what they actually pay is less than half that.

"In dollars and cents, if someone paid $1,872.50 last year for an assessment of $100,000, in 2010 they would see $1,863.77," says Witherspoon. "So that's an increase of $8.73."

Witherspoon says commercial and industrial ratepayers will see their tax rates drop due to decreases in both assessment and the education portion of their bills.

Councillors accepted the budget by a 6-1 vote - councillor Ken Perry the lone objector.

Mayor Roy Avis says given what the town is facing financially, he's pleased, as it sets aside money for potential wage increases for unionized staff.

"I was happy with our final decision on making sure that we had enough money built in there," say Avis, "that if we have a couple of unknowns that are quite costly, if that comes to fruition, then we have money put aside to look after that."

The budget, however, does not take into account a possible increase in the town's cost to the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board, which has yet to be determined.

Toll Details Released Tomorow

More details on Couchiching First Nations plans for a toll booth on Highway 11 are expected to be revealed tomorrow.

Band council meets tonight to discuss the toll which is scheduled to go in effect this Friday at noon.

The band has said its setting up the toll over a number of unresolved issues involving both the federal and provincial government.

Among things yet announced are the cost charged to motorists and how long it will be in effect.

Northern Hospitals Report Released

The Ontario Health Coalition has released a report on northern and rural hospitals.

Thunder Bay Health Coalition Co-Chair Barb Maki says they want to ensure services are kept intact.

"We want to ensure that services are going to be available at our hospitals, still," says Maki. "That would include the hospital emergency department, blood, x-ray, ultra-sound, in-patient services for acute and complex continuing care beds, palliative care and rehabilitation."

Maki says the Northwest Local Health Integration Network has been good at consulting patients about potential service changes, and doesn't foresee any immediate problems.

Fire Hazard Creeps Up

The forest fire hazard is on the rise in northwestern Ontario.

Ministry of Natural Resources Fire Information Officer Mitch Miller says the warmer weather is again leading to an increase in forest fire activity.

"We're looking at the forecast right now and we don't see any significant precipitation in the next two weeks," says Miller. "The humidity is very low and it's very warm. It's going to dry out increasingly over the next two weeks so we could start to see some activity here with forest fires particularly if people aren't careful with their fires."

Five new fires were reported over the weekend, none in the Rainy River district.

Park Site Closed

Voyageur's National Park is temporarily restricting public access to parts of the park because of bald eagles.

A total of 69 bald eagle nests were found during a survey in April.

As a result, the park is closing some land and water areas around the sites during the nesting period.

It's also asking boaters not travel or stop within 200 meters of the nesting sites during the closure period.

Volunteer Awards Presented Tonight

Volunteers from the Rainy River district will be honoured this evening at the Townshend Theatre.

Service awards will be presented to a number of volunteers recognizing years of contribution.

Four residents will be receive awards for forty-or-more years of continual volunteer service.

The ceremony begins at 7 p.m. with a reception to follow.