Senior of the Year
The Northeast Town presented Bill Strain with the Senior of the Year Award for the municipality.
Deputy Mayor Marcel Gauthier noted Mr. Strain’s many volunteer contributions to the community over the years including the Little Current and District Fish and Game Club, minor hockey, Little Current Curling Club, Masonic Lodge and Manitoulin Streams.
Gravel tender
Staff reviewed the received gravel tenders, recommending that council accept the lowest bid from C.C. Construction for $70,302.95 (including HST).
Councillor Paul Skippen said he had heard concerns from ratepayers in the rural area that some companies have an unfair advantage by not having to pay a royalty on the gravel that leaves the quarry (to the Ontario government, a percentage of which goes to the municipality the quarry is located in).
Council deferred the tender to discuss further in camera at the end of the meeting. After the in camera session, council carried a motion to award the tender to C.C. Construction.
Water/wastewater tender
Council reviewed the only tender received for water/wastewater treatment from the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA), the municipality’s current company.
They presented two options: a five-year contract and a 10-year. The price for 2016-2017 based on a five-year contract would be $220,853 or $211,946 based on a 10-year contact. The five-year total would be $1,149,327 or $2,336,491 for 10 years.
Council carried a motion to accept the tender from OCWA.
Stop up and close
Council reviewed a proposed amendment to Bylaw 2013-06, being a bylaw to establish a town policy on the use of unopened road allowances.
The amendment would add ‘and whereas it is not the intention of this bylaw to restrict the right of passage down the length off or across any road allowance.’
Council carried a motion to approve the amendment.
Speed limit by new RONA
Councillor Mike Erskine requested that council contact the Ministry of Transportation to lower the speed limit out to the new RONA Little Current Building Centre.
The speed limit throughout Little Current is 40 km/hr., but goes up to 60 km/hr on the outskirts of Little Current along Highway 6 and then up to 80 km/hr. Mr. Erskine proposed that it be changed from 80 km/hr to 60 km/hr by the RONA because of the change to traffic flow in that area.
Councillor Marcel Gauthier seconded the motion, but it was defeated by council.
Mackenzie’s Run and Walk for CHEO
The Northeast Town carried a motion to donate $200 to Mackenzie’s Run and Walk for Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO).
“Mackenzie’s Run and Walk for CHEO has been held the last two years in July at Low Island in memory of my son, Mackenzie, who passed away on September 3, 2011, at the age of two after an unexpected cardiac arrest,” said Ms. Peltier in her donation letter to council. “Mackenzie was being treated for ulcerative colitis at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario.”
The event will be held on July 16 starting at Low Island Park, for more information contact Ms. Peltier at 705-348-1690 or jillianpeltier@hotmail.com.
Canada Day
Council reviewed a letter from the Little Current Business Improvement Area (BIA) regarding Canada Day activities. The BIA requested that Water Street be closed all day Canada Day between Worthington Street and Manitowaning Road intersections between 9 am and 7 pm for festive celebrations. The BIA also requested free launches and pull-outs for the in-water boat sale.
Council carried a motion granting both requests.
Fort McMurray
Council carried a motion to donate $200 to the Red Cross Alberta Fire Appeal to help residents of Fort McMurray.
Highway 6 crossing
Council carried a motion to accept the tender for Howland Drain No. 3, Highway 6 crossing in the amount of $316,358.63 including HST as submitted by MX Constructors and as recommended by K. Smart Associates.
