No Bids for Fort Frances Landmark

An attempt to sell the former Rainy Lake Hotel in Fort Frances has attracted no buyers.

The attempted tax sale by the town received fleeting interest from thirty-two parties, but none submitted bids by yesterday's 3 p.m.deadline.

Tax Administrator Tara Redford says the fate of the 82-year-old landmark now lies with town council who has the option of attempting another tax sale or taking ownership itself to determine a next step.

The hotel has been closed since 2005.

Firefighters Union Responds to Award

The Fort Frances Professional Fire Fighters Association is responding to an Arbitration Award that gives its members a new four year deal.

The agreement, retroactive to 2009, includes wage increases totalling 16 per cent plus recognition pay based on years of service.

In a brief one-paragraph statement, the Association says the award is "a direct reflection of the industry norm," and similar to that received by other departments of similar size.

CAO Mark McCaig said Monday the cost of the deal is forcing the town to conduct a review of its Fire Department for potential savings.

Uploading Clarification Sought

There continues to be questions about the savings the town of Fort Frances should be realizing from the provincial uploading of the costs for social services programs.

Councillor Ken Perry says the town should be getting back $897-thousand but is being told otherwise.

"I'm being stonewalled and being told that we're only getting $440-thousand," says Perry. "The $440-thousand is extra this year, more than we got last year. The problem is when the Province starting uploading this funding to the DSSAB (Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board) we didn't get a benefit out of it."

Perry is seeking a clarification from the Province.

Bayfield in Top 50

A mining company doing work in the Rainy River district has been named to this year's TSX Venture 50.

Bayfield Ventures is listed third among ten mining companies in the annual ranking of the strongest performing companies listed on the TSX Venture exchange.

Bayfield has a gold project north of Barwick.

Boil Water Advisory Continues

The town of Rainy River remains under a boil water advisory.

The advisory was imposed last week after a major waterline break forced the town to shut off its water treatment plant for several hours.

A town official says the advisory could be lifted by the end of week depending on the outcome of tests conducted.

Stewardship Council Increases Awareness

(David May (r) speaking recently at Rainy River District Municipal Association meeting)

The Ministry of Natural Resources is working to increase the awareness of the Rainy River Stewardship Council.

The group has been around for the past two years.

Coordinator David May says its goal it work with the public in identifying local environmental concerns and finding solutions.

"We're looking to engage folks to find ways to decrease their impact on the nature world," says May. "It's really about private land stewardship - things that people can do on their own property and in their own lives to reduce their impact on our natural world."

The council's projects have included tree planting and building pine marten nest boxes.

Firefighters Get New Deal

Unionized members of the Fort Frances Fire and Rescue Service have a new contract, but the town of Fort Frances isn't happy.

CAO Mark McCaig says the four-year deal, being imposed by an arbitrator is going to be costly to the town.

"There's some retroactive pay involved and then the costs over four years and there's some new costs the town has to address as listed in the reward," says McCaig. "Being such as significant cost implication as it is, we're taking a look at fire services as a whole in the town of Fort Frances."

The deal, retroactive to 2009, includes a 16 per cent wage increase over the length of the agreement, recognition pay and a full benefit plan for retiring firefighters.