KENORA CITY COUNCIL
News
Posted 1 month ago
Council endorses Clearwater Bay property owners Hwy. 17 fourlaning protest
REG CLAYTON
for The Enterprise
Council endorsed the position of a group of Clearwater Bay property owners concerned about the provincial Highway 17 four-laning project west of Kenora. Council agreed with the property owners that the highway expansion should be kept north of the existing highway due to environmental concerns.
City staff will forward copies of the resolution to the Ministry of Transportation, project consultants and the concerned citizens group.
A delegation representing the group Keep Highway 17 North attended council, Monday. Spokesman Rod Giguere explained the group's efforts to protect Clearwater Bay and Lake of the Woods water quality are consistent with the restricted development order for Clearwater Bay implemented by the province in 1991, objectives of the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation and supported by the Lake of the Woods District Property Owners Association.
Council noted Ministry officials and project consultants heard the property owners message "loud and clear" during a public information meeting regarding the highway expansion project in June. As a result, council suggested the province may be reconsidering the selected routes due to concerns of the overall impact to the area from Rush Bay Road east to the bypass.
The Ministry of Transportation and project consultants McCormick Rankin are hosting an additional public information centre to address project route planning and the preliminary design study. The open house is scheduled for McKenzie Clearwater fire hall July 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Castle of Learning lease
The City of Kenora's Castle of Learning and Discovery Children's Centre day care program will continue at King George School until 2015. City council renewed the leasing agreement for space in the school with the Keewatin Patricia Public School board at Monday's regular monthly meeting.
Councillors and city staff discussed the leasing agreement at the community services committee meeting, July 5. Councillors noted the future operations of daycares and funding arrangements have not been confirmed with recent changes in the education system regarding the move to all day JK and SK programs.
In response to a question on potential changes to the city operated day care program, city recreation manager Colleen noted the initiative is being phased-in with Evergreen to be the first local school designated for all day learning for four and five year olds.
Meanwhile, Neil noted principals are choosing to continue contracting the Castle of Learning program at King George as well as before and after school programs from the city. She referred to situations where youngsters who currently attend kindergarten several days a week can also attend the Castle of Learning program the remaining week days which assists in the transition to all day learning.
The city run program was saved from cancellation earlier in the decade by a group of concerned parents who rely on the services provided. At the time, the program was located in a building next to Beaver Brae high school and suffered from annual operating approaching $250,000 by 2004. Council worked with the parents to achieve a solution regarding staffing and relocated the program to King George School where the city rents space to reduce operational costs.
Graffiti gone
The writing is on the wall for graffiti artists and vandals spray painting tags, logos, symbols and slogans on public and private property in the City of Kenora.
Council passed its Anti-Grafitti bylaw Monday. The new bylaw encourages property owners to remove graffiti as soon as possible after it appears.
During committee discussion July 7, operations manager Rick Perchuk said the city will assist home and business owners whose property has been vandalized by providing them with graffiti removal kits. The bylaw also includes provisions for enforcement.
The new bylaw was developed by city council and city staff over the past year following an April 2009 deputation on graffiti and its connection to local street gangs by Kenora Jail corrections officer Roger Cumberland.
CAV motorcyclists return
The Canadian Army Veteran motorcyclists are due back in town for their fourth annual national rendezvous over the August long weekend. The CAV riders have made Kenora the destination of choice for their annual gathering since 2007.
During their stay the motorcyclists will take part in the Lewis McKenzie Order of Canada ICROSS Honour Ride, in support of the group's charitable efforts to send medical supplies and equipment to Africa. General McKenzie (retired) is the patron of ICROSS Canada.
Mayor Len Compton and members of council accepted an invitation to take part in the flag raising ceremony at Memorial Park next to Lake of the Woods Museum, 10:30 a.m. July 31.
Council also authorized the CAV riders to hold a Memorial Service at Lake of the Woods Cemetery at 11 a.m. July 31. Vehicle traffic will be prohibited in the cemetery from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. during the Memorial Service.
Firearms Bylaw
City council approved amendments to the bylaw regulating the discharge of firearms including air guns, cross bows and long bows within the municipal limits, Monday.
The changes address wording relating to the former municipalities of Jaffray Melick and Keewatin incorporated into the City of Kenora in 2000. Exemptions include the fenced in area of Kenora Airport as required by the Kenora Airport Authority to control nuisance deer on runways. The exemption also and law enforcement officers including Kenora OPP, city bylaw enforcement officers, police, correctional services staff, OSPCA inspectors or agents and MNR conservation officers in the performance of their duties.
At the July 7 operations committee meeting Coun. Wendy Cuthbert questioned the possibility of easing the restrictions to permit property owners in rural areas of the municipality south of the Hwy. 17 bypass to allow hunting on their land. She noted hunting is allowed within city limits north of the bypass and easing restrictions south of the highway would also help bring the area's deer population under control.
"Hunters are safe people, trained in the use of firearms," she said.
Coun. Rory McMillan recalled the issue was raised during the term of the previous council and proved to be "quite contentious" in discussions with MNR and rural property owners. Council opted to restrict hunting activity to rural areas of the municipality north of the bypass.
Coun. Cuthbert accepted the explanation, adding if there are provisions in the bylaw to allow hunting north of the bypass there could also be recognition for properties south of the bypass where hunting could occur with some restrictions.
