Business

A partnership between Northern Bulk (part of the Gardewine Group) and the Rainy Lake Tribal Development Corp. was formed following last year’s announcement that a biomass fuel boiler would be built in Fort Frances by AbitibiBowater.
The two companies, which formed the new business Rainy Lake Logistics, came together to help meet the rising demand for biomass fuel product.

The province is investing $250,000 into Phase II of the local Heritage Tourism Project, helping Fort Frances bring its heritage to life through exciting improvements to tourism attractions.
Through its Rural Economic Development Program, the province is committing a quarter-million dollars to help the town:
•develop a waterfront heritage route;
•relocate the lookout tower; and
•develop an “interpretive centre” and new signage to showcase history and local attractions.
“The McGuinty government is pleased to help the Town of Fort Frances

Ten district businesses were saluted last Wednesday evening at La Place Rendez-Vous here as the Rainy River Future Development Corp. unveiled its annual Customer Service Award recipients.
This year’s winners (in alphabetical order) were Cloverleaf Grocery (Emo), Corner Closet (Emo), Curves For Women, Fort Frances General Supply, Green’s Countrywide Furniture, McTaggarts, NCDS, Northridge Funeral Home (Emo), Northwoods Gallery & Gifts, and Warehouse One.

FORT FRANCES—Despite the pessimism displayed by district tourist camp owners about the overall decline in Ontario tourism, the Victoria Day long weekend and walleye-opener didn’t see much of a dent in numbers at the border here compared to last year.
Kevin Begin, supervisor at the Canada Customs Border Services Agency in Fort Frances, said U.S. visitors were very normal compared to last year as of Saturday afternoon.
“We were swamped yesterday [Friday],” Begin said. “I think we had 2,369 American entries.
“Those are decent numbers for any summer day,” he added.

Last week, 29 representatives from Rainy River to Atikokan, including one from Pickle Lake, gathered at the Emo-La Vallee Arena to take part in a three-day workshop on emergency management.
Acting as host, the Municipality of Emo arranged for paramedics, fire department personnel, municipal officials, and members of the various emergency management boards to take part in a training program offered by Woody Linton, fire chief and community emergency management co-ordinator for the Township of Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls.

FORT FRANCES—At its regular meeting last Thursday, the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board agreed to offset the costs of its four buildings—450 Scott St. and the ambulance bases in Fort Frances, Emo, and Rainy River—from accumulated surplus and reserve for working capital in the amount of $1,347,500.
As such, the DSSAB does not have to go outside to finance any of the building costs for these facilities.

A joint meeting between delegates of the Concerned Citizens’ Committee (Kenora) and the Fort Frances Community Action Group was held in Kenora on April 20.
Both groups discussed the lack of citizen involvement in local municipal decisions due to special interest politics, which exclude the democratic rights of community taxpayers.
Of further interest is the lack of transparency on the part of the Kenora and Fort Frances municipal councils in divulging information to its taxpayers, as required by law under the Privacy and Freedom of Information Act.

Janice Beazley, acting chair of the North West LHIN, announced yesterday that Tom Sarvas has been appointed to the board of directors.
Sarvas’ appointment by the Lieutenant Governor in Council was endorsed by the Health and Long-Term Care minister George Smitherman, and is effective as of April 2.
Sarvas is a chartered accountant and a partner in the firm Buset Sarvas LLP.
He brings to the LHIN more than 25 years of experience as an auditor for all types of not-for-profit social service- and health-related agencies and organizations.

After many months of deliberating and crunching numbers, town council will wrap up the 2008 budget in the coming weeks.
On Monday night, council voted unanimously in favour of a tax scenario that will see residential tax rates jump 3.19 percent, or $57.16 per $100,000 of assessment.
Multi-residential will go up 3.496 percent (or $140.57 per $100,000 of assessment) while commercial will increase 1.071 percent (or $58.92 per $100,000 of assessment).

The Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board’s cost apportionment formula for municipalities will not be altered after the majority of members voted against looking into a change during a recent meeting.
At last month’s meeting, Peter Van Heyst, representing the municipality of Chapple, suggested looking at the possibility of changing the cost apportionment formula because smaller townships feel they are paying too much.
The apportionment schedule is what decides how municipalities are billed by DSSAB.